I think the pork in Germany is better than the pork in the US. Maybe it's what they feed the pigs, or maybe it's because I'm not having to cook it, but it just tastes better.

Somebody mentioned deserts and one of my ALL TIME favorites is Palatschinken. They are thin crepes filled with ice cream or chocolate or apricot jam, covered in chocolate sauce and whipped cream!! Yum, yum, yum!!! We look for these everywhere we go in Germany and Austria.

Oh yes, so yummy!! And another fabulous dessert, black forest cake.....

Since we are going to the Black Forest in September, I will be on the look out for some BF cake!

Cake is not a dessert. You eat it around 3-4pm and have some coffee with it. It's a seperate meal of the day, so to speak. Like 5 o'clock tea.
In the Black Forest, every godforsaken joint will shower you with their cakes :-)

Cowboy, I like the way you think!

I have to second the votes for Jaegerschnitzel and Spaetzle (preferably together - the sauce from the Jaegerschnitzel is great on the Spaetzle. And Currywurst. And Spaghetti Eis... I worked in a very small "gasthaus" in Germany one summer, where EVERYTHING was made from scratch - the Spaetzle, the stock to make the sauces etc.. You don't need the fancy places for good quality traditional food. Oh, and I LOVE Gulaschsuppe...

bettyk - Palatschinken is the featured dessert at the Pension Schwansee that I mentioned above. They were wonderful.

ooh...I just thought of another thing. Does anyone else like creme schnitten? yummmm

Well, there are good and tasty Cremeschnitten, good Spätzle, cake and Schnitzels and then there is the rest...

Like those from the cheapo bakery chain at Pasing station and at Fürstenrieder Str., those are good, but there's also the stuff that is 100% sugar.
Hardly anybody makes Spätzle at home. I'd buy those 2€ "Knöpfle" from the supermarket, just like the restaurant does.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...%A4tzle-02.jpg

Well, basingstoke2, if we are anywhere near there, we will definitely have to make a Palatschinken stop!

I have to echo swisschocolate's hubby:
Jagerschnitzel und Spaetzle!
Mmmmmm.
The breads are wonderful; my favorite looks like it has birdseed sprinkled on top.
A coffee and cake at a Konditorei is always yummy.
I would try a sausage in Germany; they are of better quality cuts of meat than in the US; less fatty and more tender, in my experience. And Spargeltoast. (asparagus)Ok, I am hungry now.
Have fun!

What I miss most outside Germany is the bread in all its varieties. Make sure you visit at least one bakery when you are here.

Black Forest Cherry Cake: If you come to the area south of Freiburg, visit Münster valley in the afternoon, visit the monastery of St Trudpert, then stop at Café zum Kreuz next to the church - the best I ever had...
Indeed, these cakes are not meant as dessert. They are had with coffee or tea in the afternoon as a separate meal, or if you plan a big dinner they can also be a lunch substitute.

By the way, if you abbreviate Bratwürste to "brats" you don't say "sausages" as you think you do, you call them "grilleds". Yes I see the pun in it but it does not make much sense to German ears...

And I still wonder how the Brezel got that p as first letter in the English-speaking world...

What about ... Rote Grütze, Zwiebelkuchen and Federweisser, Germknödel mit Mohn, Mohnkuchen, Baumkuchen und und und

For a satisfying snack, I like to pick up a bag of <I>Zwiebel-Ringe</i> (onion ring snacks) and a bottle or two of Gaffel K&ouml;lsch to wash it down.

http://www.worldofsweets.de/out/1/ht.../301125_p1.jpg

Yep, can't go wrong with the soups. No usually a soup fan but in Germany it's a great meal at a great price.

Hands down my favorite food in Germany are the fried potatoes ... brat kartolfn (I think is how you spell it) ... they are fried with "speck" (bacon) and I have never been able to replicate the flavors. We are going to Germany next year and I am already dreaming of the fried potatoes. Yum!

>The breads are wonderful
300 different sorts of bread and not one tastes good any more :-(

>able to replicate the flavors
Simple, it's burned butter. Years ago they claimed it would cause cancer and that you shouldn't roast them in that way. But since it's always been done that way, who cares.

Zanderfilets with fresh green asparagus.

We hardly ever eat pork dishes in Germany--so many other interesting things on the menu.

I actually prefer the worst platter on the menu. I can't recall a bad meal, anytime, anywhere in Germany.