two hours in Frankfurt airport -- traditional food?
 

What can I get to eat at the airport that would be really typical food (no bier please)? Yeah, I know it will only be airport food, but this is as close as I'm likely to get to Germany so any thoughts would be great. Specific suggestions even better!

thanks

TF

"Käfer" in Terminal 1 is the place to go. The restaurant is a dependance of the renowned Käfer delicatessen in Munich. There you'll find German cuisine in restaurant quality, notably above the usual level of airport food.

Is there something about the bier (it IS traditional whether you want it or not) and the wurst at any airport that makes it better or worse than if it were served in town? Is the quality better or worse?

Is Wolfgang Puck at O'Hare as good as Wolfgang Puck in Beverly Hills?

Is Brasserie Flo at CDG as good as Brasserie Flo in the city? Well, it's pretty good and better than almost anything else at CDG but the menu is limited, and I think it costs more.

Well "duh", lol. But I'm not going into town, I'm only flying through. Therefore this is as close as I will get. Thus I am looking for recommendations for both where and WHAT to eat. I spent a lovely hour once at an airport in Jordan this way.

Thank you Quokka for your helpful response! Can you suggest a particular food?

Regards,

TF

Bratwurst mit Sauerkraut - there is no substitute.

Pity about the bier exclusion

Go over to the Squaire, where there is a Paulaner restaurant. There you can have some bratwurst and sauerkraut, or schnitzel and some beer, though it will be Bavarian beer. They may even have some applewine, the traditional drink for Frankfurt.

The Squaire itself is an interesting piece of architecture and there are lots of little stores, cafes and a large Rewe grocery store in it. The long distance train station is underneath it.

I'm sorry, is The Squaire part of the airport? (Not being facetious.)

Bratwurst and sauerkraut sounds wonderful. Is there more than one kind, like sausage in the US? Is it eaten with anything on it -- like German mustard perhaps? And I might have to try that wine (will they have it at the airport?). Is there any equivalent to our, France and other Frites? But I have to ask -- what is schnitzel?

Many thanks... yummm

Information on The Squaire;

http://www.frankfurt-airport.com/con...frankfurt.html

There are literally hundreds of different types of bratwurste;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bratwurst

There will always be mustard (senf) available - it's used like ketchup in the US. In my case it is always eaten with something on it - sauerkraut first, mustard second.
They have frites, and call them that, but you won't find them 100% of the time.

Schnitzel is pounded (flattened) veal or pork. breaded, and then fried. It tastes a lot better than that sounds. I like to say that if you give a culture 1000 years to prepare a certain type of food, they invariably get it pretty much right.

Thanks so much for the info. Unless I happen to have gates nearby (???) I fear I won't have time for the Squaire in this direction, but perhaps on my way home.

Well I figured there had to be more than one type of bratwurst... I don't want really spicy, I do love sauerkraut (?pronounced something like soyer in German I think?) -- any suggestions for any particular kind?

Yes, mustard in France is virtually on the tables, but as I understand it German mustard is darker and heavier?

"I like to say that if you give a culture 1000 years to prepare a certain type of food, they invariably get it pretty much right." Oooh honey, I won't touch that one now, but that would be a whole other topic!

As indicated above, except I would have to add in the sides of bratkartoffelen (oven fried potatoes) and rot-kohl (red cabbage). I'm not much for beer, so I enjoy white wine with my German food, usually a Riesling.

I also would choose a mixed sausage platter over the schnitzel at an airport just because sausage quality will always be good to excellent while with the schnitzel some places will take the easy/economic route and use pre-made frozen schnitzel that they deepfry...edible but definitely not that exquisite experience it should be (hearing them pound our schitzel as we enjoy our vorspeisen always enhances the enjoyment for some reason!).

just re reading this and noticed you mentioned a Mixed sausage plate. Sounds great but I've now used up my 10th grade German. Would you be so kind as to tell me how to say that in German?

TF

While in transit through Frankfurt airport, especially after a trans-Atlantic flight, I've often had a Bavarian breakfast (even though Frankfurt is of course not in Bavaria). It consists of a couple of weisswurst (mild white sausages) with sweet mustard, a large pretzel and a weissbier (wheat beer). Delicious!

Unless Frankfurt somehow has managed to do what no other airport concession has ever done, I doubt you will be tasting exemplary food of the region, even if the famous restaurants have a franchise at the airport. I dearly hope nobody passing through a Parisian airport mistakes the re-heated pastries at the Paul's concession stands in the terminals for the real thing, and I likewise hope nobody passing through Rome things the gelato from the airport's San Crispino outlet is as good as the one in Rome.

It has become easy money for some of the famous establishments of major cities to open an airport branch and cash in on their name, but while I don't recommend you starve at the airport, don't judge the regional cuisine by the microwaved fare you get at airports at exorbitant prices.

Yes. It's sad. Sort of like University restaurants (I used to pay for the meal and then just eat all the side dishes -- yogurt, salad, cheese etc.)

But I'm hoping that if they use even the same brand of bratwurst and rolls, it will be decent. And as close as I am going to come in this lifetime...

When I was growing up in Massachusetts there used to be a German restaurant in Harvard Square, where we went regularly for "real stuff" -- it was well know but I can't remember the name. Maybe Wursthous?? But I haven't been there since a child.

Thanks

TF

Turns out I'm flying through MUNICH on the way back. Any suggestions there? Facing a nine hour trip from there so ideas greatly appreciated!

Thanks again!

TF

I have used both airports. I like Munich better. There are these pretzel bread things with ham and cheese melted into them, sort of like an open faced sandwich. They are devine and you find them all over the airport. Munich has a great selection of food and duty free is fab. Chicken Schnitzel, kraut and potato dumplings. Pick up an extra to take on the plane. Senf comes in many styles. I tend to like the brats best.

Great help thanks! That oughta keep me for nine hours lol.

What are potato dumplings called?

Danke schon!

TF

What are potato dumplings called?

Klösse?

Kartoffelknödel

Danke schon! = Thanks already. Sounds funny. Why would you add "already" to your thanks.
Danke schoen! is what you meant to write.