Even though I don’t get homesick – the travel bug is way too strong – I do get a pang of missing my favoutire foods every now and then. It might be a whiff of sausages while walking past a restaurant or bread on the supermarket shelf, but reaching out and buying said products is just no replacement. The bread is never as good as at home (don’t even mention white bread in English speaking countries) and sausages have highly disappointed me in Australia and Sweden.
So if you ever get the chance to come to Germany, you must try out our hearty food! And not just any food, but why not start with my favourite dishes? Just so you know, diets have to be thrown overboard, we like it savoury and heavy. But the yumminess factor is absolutely worth it!
Rinderroullade mit Klößen und Rotkohl
Meat lovers, listen up. (Sorry vegetarians, this is not for you today.) Germany is a great place for you. We have all kinds of meat dishes that come with a big ladle of gravy (straight from the meat and not the canned powder, mind you) with a side dish of potatoes and veggies. My favourite version is beef roll with dumplings and red cabbage. There’s nothing better than this combination if you ask me. Juicy meat melting on your tongue, tinted by the faint sourness of the cabbage and the soft mushiness of the dumpling that is soaked in gravy. I could go on and on.
Thüringer Bratwurst
Ok, this is a risky statement because every region in Germany has their own sausages (they are even patented!) and are naturally proud of their trademark food staple. But my state has one of the best, in my opinion THE best sausage. It is not as crip as Frankfurter, as flavoured as Nurembergers or squishy as white ones, it is simply great. Grilled to perfection on a BBQ, it is served in an open fresh bun (we Germans got amazing ones!) and topped with mustard (ketchup is for kids or those that never grow up, like me). It’s got just the right texture and flavour in it. It’s best to get them from BBQ vans especially selling sausages. Some even sell them in cans for you to take home.
Königsberger Klopse
Boiled meatballs? Have you ever had that? Well, you oughta! This specialty from a place called Königsberg is one that tastes better the more you reheat it. So make a huge pot with meatballs swimming in creamy broth with capers, serve it with boiled potatoes with a sprinkle of parsley on top and you’re in food heaven. I think I need to put the recipe on my blog soon. Feel like a food craving is coming up.
Kartoffelpuffer
Hash browns you might call them but they are different from what the English speaking country knows them as. Yes, they are made from grated potatoes and fried to crispy perfection but ours are super slim and much more crunchy. Eat them with a generous dash of apple jam and sprinkle sugar on top and you’re good to go. Nothing quite like it. I once tried to make them myself because nothing else would do when I lived in England and boy was it a pain to make. I sacrificed a nail in the process and didn’t know if you store grated potatoes over night they turn blue. So I had blue hash browns. The taste is all that matters.
Blechkuchen
Now for something sweet. We have lots of tarts and the most well known ones are Donauwelle (‘Danube Wave’) and Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (‘Blackforest Cherry Tart’), but what you get in every bakery and what you also need to try is all sorts of sheet cake. How aboutfruity versions with apple,plum or rhubarb? Ones with chocolate crumbles or a cheesecake like so-called Russian version? My favourite is Zupfkuchen. Just remember that one if it’s the only one you remember. Tip: it has to look fresh and squishy.
I could keep on writing and food dreaming but I think it’s time to stop before I get carried away and you make a rash flight booking decision (even though I wouldn’t judge). Have you maybe even been to Germany and tried some of the food? What was it and how did you like it? If you haven’t, what would you like to try? Feel free to ask me questions as well.
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Tanya Taylor says
Thanks for sharing – most of our family vacations are centered (and booked) around food!! I will definitely add Germany to the bucket list and enjoy some of these fab-o foods!
Travel on the Brain says
Hi Tanya. No worries. And I like the way your family plans vacations! I absolutely love food and think it is an integral part of travelling as well. What has been your best foodie holiday so far? For me, it was Cyprus (I also got a foodie post on that, in case you’re inspired). Where will your next foodie place be?