Since my mom's family is part German, I've been making and eating German dishes my whole life. As with everywhere else that you travel, German food in America just isn't the same as it is in Deutschland. Of course there are so many different foods that you must try anywhere (like ice cream, hehehe), but there are certain foods in Germany that you have to try! Here are 10 foods you must have in Germany:
1. SCHNITZEL
I know what you're thinking, "I can get schnitzel at any Germany restaurant." Trust me, it isn't the same. The best schnitzel I had was at Gaststätte zur Linde in Geisa. My family doesn't speak much German and the waitress didn't speak English, so we saw the word schnitzel on the menu and pointed to that. The whole thing read "Schweineschnitzel mit Schinkenspeck & Spiegelei dazu Bratkartoffeln" so we weren't quite sure what exactly we were ordering. It turned out to be schnitzel with a fried egg on top and a side of potatoes. I usually don't like fried eggs on any lunch or dinner meal, but this was AMAZING! It was lick the plate good!! So, do not leave Germany without trying schnitzel... And if you can, order the schnitzel with the fried egg ;) .
2. BROT
Almost every meal I had came with bread! I once read an article that talked about Germany being the "Bread Capital of the World" and I don't doubt that that's true. For the perfect snack, grab a brezel (pretzel) from a stand or shop around town. If you're in Nürnberg, try Brezen Kolb! A lot of restaurants will have a basket full of different types of bread ready when you sit down. Just pay attention to how much the bread is (the prices are usually on the menu).
3. LEBKUCHEN
Oh my gosh, I can't get enough of these amazing treats. Similar to gingerbread and usually known as a Christmas treat, lebkuchen is full of nuts, honey, ginger, and spices. If you're somewhere that has a daily market, you may be able to find a vendor selling different types.... Yes, I said different types. They have regular, iced, and even chocolate covered lebkuchen!! Otherwise, check out the local grocery store to see if they have any. Note: lebkuchen is usually in cookie form, so look for a package of cookies.
4. NÜRNBERGER BRATWURST
If you ever have the opportunity to eat these tiny bratwursts, definitely try them! They are perfect with a side of Bavarian Potato Salad and red cabbage or in brotchen with sauerkraut and spicy mustard. It is said that the first time Nürnberger bratwurst was mentioned was way back in the 14th century.
5. FLAMMKUCHEN
Flammkuchen is actually from the French-German border region and is known as tarte flambée in France. It's sort of like a pizza, but the crust is super thin and crunchy. You can order flammkuchen with different toppings, but I highly recommend getting one with minced meat (ground beef) and onions.
6. BIER
You obviously can't go to Germany without trying beer! I don't like it, but I still had to try it. There are so many different types you can try and everyone, of course, has their own recipes (often dating back hundreds of years). Don't be afraid to ask your waitress/waiter which one they recommend... and if you love it, remember to ask the name of the beer so you can enjoy it again in the future!
7. DÖNER KEBAB
Obviously a döner kebab is Turkish food, but definitely don't pass it up. These wrap sandwich things (I don't really know what to consider them... they're similar to gyros) are actually considered street food in Germany. It's basically cooked lamb or beef wrapped in pita, or sometimes on a light bread, with veggies. It's delicious!
8. SCHOKOLADE
Wow. Wow. Wow. German chocolate is soooo good! It's beyond creamy and it just melts in your mouth... as chocolate does... There are so many different kinds and brands of chocolate, so just try them all ;) My personal favorite German chocolate brand is Schogetten, but I haven't tried enough German chocolate brands to say that it's the best.
9. RUMKUCHEN
First, let me just say YUM! Rum cake is just delicious. The best rum cake I had was from Café St. Goar... I think it was called Loreley Felsen, but I'm not positive about that one. It's a pile of rum cake covered in chocolate and it's shaped like rocks (Felsen is the German word for rock). The Loreley is a massive rock on the bank of the Rhine and there are many legends about it and its significance. If you're able to make it to St. Goar, definitely try the Loreley Feslen. If not, I'm sure there are plenty of bakeries (bäckereien) that serve rumkuchen.
10. HONEY WINE
Everyone I talk to now knows all about how delicious honey wine is because I just can't stop talking about it. The one I tried was Weingut Friedrich Bastian's Bachracher Posten and I swear it tastes like sweet white grape juice. Also known as mead, honey wine can be found in several different places around Germany. When I was in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, an American lady bought about 12 bottles of it. My family brought home six bottles and we don't even drink wine... so that should show you how good it is haha!
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