Help please educate about German food for a vegetarian/ flexitarian group
 

Ok, I know this sounds like I am a real Spazz ... But I have no clue about German specialities .. I will be in germany for 6 days in June traveling with 4 adults and one kid ... 2 out of the 5 of us are stric vegetarians (no fish, no meat, only eggs) and 3 out of us 5 eat only chicken for meat (no beef, no pork) ... Can someone help me understand the different common dishes that I will find in Germany and how to navigate my way to find something vegetarian or at a minimum chicken only !!

Thanks!!! and apologize for the somewhat weird question:-)))

You will probably have your best luck with ethnic restaurants.

Although, particularly in larger cities, more and more menus have vegetarian choices. Variety will improve if you are willing to eat cheese and other dairy products.

If you know your itinerary, Google for vegetarian restaurants. Take advantage of grocery stores for snacks.

Hope you like potatoes!

Where in Germany? There might be some interesting regional specialities, depending where exactly you go. "German" cuisine varies widely from region to region.

Generally speaking, you'll have most problems in countryside inns. In cities and towns there is always something vegetarian on every menu because in every larger group of guests there will be someone who wants a vegetarian dish. Restaurants have learned from the demand of their clients. Chicken ("Huhn") and/or turkey ("Pute") can also be found on most menus.
Italian, Thai, Indian restaurants will provide even more choices and can be found (almost) everywhere.

Until June 24 = asparagus season. Many restaurants have it on the menu with varieties of side dishes, some include meat, others don't - ordering asparagus with new potatoes or (in the southwest) pancakes and sauce hollandaise is absolutely common.

Take advantage of bakeries for snacks. Many bakeries offer takeaway rolls, of course some with sausage or ham, but also some with cheese, egg, mozzarella/tomato, white cheese and herbs, and similar.

Check the website www.happycow.net. Have a good trip.

Ditto the Spargel (asperagus) with potatoes. Also, since you can eat chicken you should be able to eat ostrich, called Strauss in Deutschland. It looks like and tastes better than any steak you have ever seen, though not eaten.

Roasted chicken is just about everywhere. Nord Zee cafeterias have a good selection of fish. The totally veggies should stick to chile relleno at TexMex places. Indian restaurants serve lamb and chicken, and some veggies dishes. I don't know what is in the Chinese stuff, except for the Peking duck.

Here's a website that will help you: http://www.germanfoodguide.com/cheese.htm

Kartoffel and Kase potato and cheese. You can always shop at markets and stores and choose your food so you know it will be meat free. Or you can adopt a "don't ask, don't tell" approach. :)

You shouldn't have to avoid German restaurants. Most of them will have some very good vegetarian options. There are almost always noodle dishes (such as Käsespätzle) or often potato/vegetable dishes (Auflauf). I think German cuisine often gets a bad rap for being all meat and potato.

Chicken is not found as often as turkey, by the way. Pork is more common than beek, I'd say. Mix in some good bakeries, pizzerias, and other ethnic food, and you won't even notice any problem.

Perhaps if you tell us where you are headed, folks here can make some suggestions so you can plan ahead a little.

Getting chicken is easy in German restaurants (as is fish i f you eat that). Sometimes main courses are even divided - from the chicken, from the pig, from the cow etc. Don; know about strict vegetarians - unless you stick to omelets and vegatable soups (but they may contain chicken broth) unless you head for ethnic places. If in larger towns I would also checc for vegetarian restaurants.

Thanks, you have saved me asking this same question. We will be in Dresden and Berlin in June. Both my brother and I are vegetarians...don't eat meat or chicken. My husband will the only non vegetarian in our group!! And I love potatoes!!! Would love to know of some good vegetarian resturants in Berlin and Dresden if anyone knows of any.

THanks...Judi

Thanks a lot to all for all the responses .. To answer the specific question of where in Germany? - We will be staying overnight in Berchtesgaden and Mittenwald and also visiting Salzburg, Hallstatt and Dolomites which as I understand it are quite German influenced ...

Big salads are common in many restaurants with a variety of lettuces, veg or things like arugula, fresh parmesan, various mushrooms. Add in some Spätzle, or risotto, Knödel or potato dumplings or fried potatoes. Asparagus as mentioned is everywhere. It is also moving into strawberry season, that both of these items will feature heavily on menus. Assorted veg may be on a menu, like lauch(leeks) wirsing(similar to kale), spinat(spinach), Rotkraut (red sour cabbage), blumenkohl(cauliflower), rosenkohl (brussel sprouts), broccoli. Ask before hand though, if they have been cooked with bacon (speck). You may see a variety of mushrooms on menus like you will never see in the States. Stein Pilze, Austern Pilze, Pfifferlingen and so on. All of them delicious.

My daughter is vegetarian and I was one for many years. Eating in Germany is very easy, as avoiding meat is popular and common. Sometimes you can just ask the restaurant to make you a veggie platter. I have had some amazing meals by doing this, ones that made other people at the table jealous.

Asisan places will of course have a wide variety of menu items without meat, and with tofu. Indian places also. Italian will get you pizzas with things like artichoke, fresh tomatoes, spinach, tuna fish, or rucula. Risotto may come with various mushrooms or asparagus.

Many German restaurants may have schnitzel made with chicken or turkey. I have even had celery schnitzel which is delicious.

Have fun and enjoy the bounty of the seasons

Judi,

an excellent vegetarian restaurant in Dresden is the "Brennessel" www.brennnessel-dresden.de
It is centrally located only a few minutes walk from the Zwinger. They have three special (inexpensive) dishes for lunch from Monday to Friday. Ambience is village-like right in the centre. Love it! Btw, English menu available if I recall correctly.

Another very good option is the Ladencafe right next to the Kreuzkirche off Altmarkt square. www.ladencafe.de/cafe/speisekarte

Seriously, almost any restaurant in Dresden and Görlitz will have options for vegetarians.

I.

Vegetarian restaurants in Berlin:

http://www.schlemmerinfo.de/eng/berl...sch/index.html

Vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Berlin:

http://veganleben.info/gastrolist.htm

Any suggestions for vegetarian restaurants in Hamburg, anyone?
Thanks.

Hamburg:

http://www.hamburg-magazin.de/ga_res...egetarisch.htm

Green Food
Eppendorfer Weg 170
20253 Hamburg
http://www.tassajara.de/
http://www.season-food.de

www.koppel66.de
www.boussifalafel.com
Azeitona
Beckstr.17-19
20357 Hamburg
Tel.040/ 68981481

Thank you very much,Echmaton. Fodorites really come through with the answers!

Try Vapiano in Berlin for lots of choices of vegetarian salads, pastas and pizza, all freshly prepared.

Also check out the gourmet floor at KaDeWe Department store. There is an entire "restaurant" dedicated to potatoes, another to fish and seafood, another to sushi, etc. Truly something for everyone.

Monsieur Vong's is a very good and reasonable Asian restaurant in Berlin.

kfusto reminded me that most train stations (e.g. Hamburg main station) have food courts with wonderful & inexpensive vegetarian eateries.

Echnaton: That's a nice tip. Thanks.