We are going to Germany on Wed. 
Have never been before. I have had some German food before, like spaetzle and pork schnitzel. I like some pork, but don't love it. Go Italian? What else to order? Also, my German wine experience is very limited too. Blu Nun and some riesling, which I was not fond of at all. I like VERY dry white wine. What wine to order?
Have never been before. I have had some German food before, like spaetzle and pork schnitzel. I like some pork, but don't love it. Go Italian? What else to order? Also, my German wine experience is very limited too. Blu Nun and some riesling, which I was not fond of at all. I like VERY dry white wine. What wine to order? 
Where in Germany are you going? Like most countries, each region has its specialties...
nona1 is right -- there's a huge variety of German wine.
If you like dry white look for "weiss trocken" on the wine list. There are even dry rieslings. But don't limit yourself to riesling. Look for something that is made in the region you are in, or if you are in wine country, the town you are in.
nona1 is right -- there's a huge variety of German wine.
If you like dry white look for "weiss trocken" on the wine list. There are even dry rieslings. But don't limit yourself to riesling. Look for something that is made in the region you are in, or if you are in wine country, the town you are in.
Good German Rieslings, and also other white wines, ARE dry or maybe semi-dry. Hardly anyone drinks the sweet stuff here. We export it;-)
Order wine that is marked "trocken".
Will you visit some of the wine regions? If yes, try the local wines.
"trocken" = dry
"halbtrocken" = semi-dry
"lieblich" = sweet (you'll want to avoid these)
If you want very very very dry wines, I recommend Franken/Franconia where they have a separate category named "fränkisch trocken" which is dryer than dry.
Order wine that is marked "trocken".
Will you visit some of the wine regions? If yes, try the local wines.
"trocken" = dry
"halbtrocken" = semi-dry
"lieblich" = sweet (you'll want to avoid these)
If you want very very very dry wines, I recommend Franken/Franconia where they have a separate category named "fränkisch trocken" which is dryer than dry.
Hi Ju,
As noted, there is more to German food than pork and sweet wine.
There is really good beer and soft pretzels with mustard.
There is
Sauerbraten with dumplings (knoedle).
Sausages and sauerkraut.
Very good fish (pike-perch is excellent)
Real schnitzel (made with veal) with noodles
Roasted piggy feet (Schweinehaxe) with potato salad and red cabbage
Speck and other cured and smoked hams
All sorts of game
Strudel, various kuchens, tortes
Lovely breads
Gruner Veltliner is a relatively dry Austrian wine
Rieslings can also be dry
That should hold you for a while.
Enjoy your visit.
As noted, there is more to German food than pork and sweet wine.
There is really good beer and soft pretzels with mustard.
There is
Sauerbraten with dumplings (knoedle).
Sausages and sauerkraut.
Very good fish (pike-perch is excellent)
Real schnitzel (made with veal) with noodles
Roasted piggy feet (Schweinehaxe) with potato salad and red cabbage
Speck and other cured and smoked hams
All sorts of game
Strudel, various kuchens, tortes
Lovely breads
Gruner Veltliner is a relatively dry Austrian wine
Rieslings can also be dry
That should hold you for a while.
Enjoy your visit.
Thanks Ira, the perch sounds great. I LOVE fish BTW. I will eat some sausages. I also LOVE, and I mean LOVE, pretzels and mustard. Now that I can live on. In fact. I could have those for bkfst!
In that area I prefer the beer...
But, the Franconia whites quokka recommends will be readily available.
You must try the tiny Nurnberger brats! And weisswurst.
Schweinbraten and schweinhaxen are both very popular. Pork in general is popular...
Also look for "forelle" which is trout.
But, the Franconia whites quokka recommends will be readily available.
You must try the tiny Nurnberger brats! And weisswurst.
Schweinbraten and schweinhaxen are both very popular. Pork in general is popular...
Also look for "forelle" which is trout.
Many menus also offer dishes made with boneless, skinless chicken breats, as well as various pastas and pizzas.
The ubiquitous "Fitnessteller" (fitness plate) is usually a nice grilled chicken breast with a salad or vegetable.
And as ira says, the fish dishes are excellent. Most are fresh-water fish. Look for Forelle or Bachforelle (trout), Hecht (pike), Zander (pike perch, similar to Walley and excellent), Saibling (char), and Barsch (perch).
Saltwater fish you might see are Thunfisch (tuna), Schwertfisch (swordfish) and Lachs (salmon) which could also be Rauchlachs (smoked salmon).
The pretzels are the big soft ones, and in Münich they might be served with Obatzen, a cheese spread made of Brie or other soft cheese spiced with various things. (If paprika it will be pink).
The ubiquitous "Fitnessteller" (fitness plate) is usually a nice grilled chicken breast with a salad or vegetable.
And as ira says, the fish dishes are excellent. Most are fresh-water fish. Look for Forelle or Bachforelle (trout), Hecht (pike), Zander (pike perch, similar to Walley and excellent), Saibling (char), and Barsch (perch).
Saltwater fish you might see are Thunfisch (tuna), Schwertfisch (swordfish) and Lachs (salmon) which could also be Rauchlachs (smoked salmon).
The pretzels are the big soft ones, and in Münich they might be served with Obatzen, a cheese spread made of Brie or other soft cheese spiced with various things. (If paprika it will be pink).
Hello Judy:
I haven't seen any reference to red wine. I have had good luck with local dry red wines in both Germany and Austria. The best reds in Germany are made around Asmannshausen on the Rhine Look for Spätburgunder, the German name for the pinot noir, and ask about the local varieties. You may be pleasantly surprised. Good luck. Gradyghost
I haven't seen any reference to red wine. I have had good luck with local dry red wines in both Germany and Austria. The best reds in Germany are made around Asmannshausen on the Rhine Look for Spätburgunder, the German name for the pinot noir, and ask about the local varieties. You may be pleasantly surprised. Good luck. Gradyghost
Judy: I don't know if you are headed for Munich, but even if not this article will give you an idea of some of the foods you might encounter on German menus.
I've not been to Germany in about 10 years, but I do remember lovely duck and even beef dishes on many menus, as well as many of the dishes mentioned above. I was not a pork lover when I made my trips to Germany and believe me, I found lots to eat!
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/...l/07choice.php
I've not been to Germany in about 10 years, but I do remember lovely duck and even beef dishes on many menus, as well as many of the dishes mentioned above. I was not a pork lover when I made my trips to Germany and believe me, I found lots to eat!
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/...l/07choice.php
Glad you enjoyed reading.
If you find Austrian wines on the list and you want a red, look for Zweigelt. Pretty light and good with many foods.
If you find Austrian wines on the list and you want a red, look for Zweigelt. Pretty light and good with many foods.
You will find a load of greek restaurants as well as italians around the place.
There is a lot of pork and cream but also venison, beef, fish, potatoes and cream with the odd soup and cream.
Rieslings from Mosel and Rhinegau or Pfalz often good but like the guys above try for the local foods first, keep asking for salads and don't forget beer is designed to fit in with these meals as well as dry whites.
There are loads of medium and sweet wines still in Germany and well worth the try. I suggest stick to Riesling, Gewurtz. Franken Sylvaner is ok but less good from other places
There is a lot of pork and cream but also venison, beef, fish, potatoes and cream with the odd soup and cream.
Rieslings from Mosel and Rhinegau or Pfalz often good but like the guys above try for the local foods first, keep asking for salads and don't forget beer is designed to fit in with these meals as well as dry whites.
There are loads of medium and sweet wines still in Germany and well worth the try. I suggest stick to Riesling, Gewurtz. Franken Sylvaner is ok but less good from other places
Since you like wine, you could try the Pfälzer Weinstube in the Residenz in Munich. Your hotel concierge will know how you get there. It's very centrally located.
One Bavarian specialty to try could also be a "halbes Hendl" (half a roasted chicken).
Most "typical Bavarian" restaurants should also have a mixed platter of Bavarian starters (like the aforementioned Obazta cheese spread, ham, cheese, onions, bread..), which you can share with your husband. No one expects you to order a full dinner (unless you want to).
One Bavarian specialty to try could also be a "halbes Hendl" (half a roasted chicken).
Most "typical Bavarian" restaurants should also have a mixed platter of Bavarian starters (like the aforementioned Obazta cheese spread, ham, cheese, onions, bread..), which you can share with your husband. No one expects you to order a full dinner (unless you want to).
Judy,
German cuisine is much more than pork. When you are in München, you MUST eat at the Lenbach:
www.lenbach.de
Look up the dinner menu:
http://www.lenbach.de/uploads/dinnerkarte.pdf
In Rothenburg, if you are ready for a splurge, try Mittermeier:
www.mittermeier.rothenburg.de
If you like fish look for the following dishes on the menus:
Zander (pike perch)
Lachs, Salm (salmon)
Forelle (trout)
Saibling (char)
(these are popular freshwater fish)
Wines:
- You will love Rieslings from Mosel, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Saar, Ruwer
- For local wines (Franken), I recommend Silvaner. Silvaner from Iphofen is excellent.
- Do not order German red wines. There are a few German red wines which are good, but they are hard to find (Adeneuer, Meyer-Näkel). Some Dominas of Franken are quite good.
- Try German sparkling wine ("Sekt"
. You won't be disappointed.
German cuisine is much more than pork. When you are in München, you MUST eat at the Lenbach:
www.lenbach.de
Look up the dinner menu:
http://www.lenbach.de/uploads/dinnerkarte.pdf
In Rothenburg, if you are ready for a splurge, try Mittermeier:
www.mittermeier.rothenburg.de
If you like fish look for the following dishes on the menus:
Zander (pike perch)
Lachs, Salm (salmon)
Forelle (trout)
Saibling (char)
(these are popular freshwater fish)
Wines:
- You will love Rieslings from Mosel, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Saar, Ruwer
- For local wines (Franken), I recommend Silvaner. Silvaner from Iphofen is excellent.
- Do not order German red wines. There are a few German red wines which are good, but they are hard to find (Adeneuer, Meyer-Näkel). Some Dominas of Franken are quite good.
- Try German sparkling wine ("Sekt"
. You won't be disappointed.Mmmmmmm Gewürztraminer... yum! It's on the sweet end of the spectrum, but it's good.
I agree with everyone on this thread. If you're not overly picky about food, chances are you'll pleasantly surprised by how wonderful German cuisine can be. Be open-minded and adventurous!
I agree with everyone on this thread. If you're not overly picky about food, chances are you'll pleasantly surprised by how wonderful German cuisine can be. Be open-minded and adventurous!
