So many times I think to myself, “Wow, I would’ve never done that, tried that, seen that, had I not moved to Germany”. I’m quite sure if you are a fellow expat, you’ve also had these thoughts.
Food can be a big cultural difference and only further exacerbating that culture shock you feel when you move to a new country. While other countries may have similar things, they are typically different in their own way. Think, pizza. How many different styles of pizza can you think of? Exactly.
Aside from beer and bratwurst, Germany has so many other delicacies to offer. Here are five that were new for me:
Fleischsalat - basically bologna with a sweet mayo type sauce and pickles
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Fleischkäsebrötchen or just Fleischkäse also known as Leberkäse - not necessarily my favorite, but not bad either.
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Kartoffelpuffer
Oh. Holy. Yum. If you went to a Christmas market you most likely had one of these; similar to potato pancakes and served with applesauce.
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Mettwurst.
Yum again. You can have these cooked and they taste like the good all beef hot dogs. Or you can leave them out to dry and eat like a beef stick with some hot mustard.
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My first Dampfnudel (yeast dumpling) with cherries and vanilla sauce at the Christmas Market this year. So. Good.
Ok, so there is definitely a running theme of MEAT, but I haven’t even begun to share all of the many fantastic sweets you can find here. Don’t worry, that’s soon to come.
What did you think? Any you would try or have tried? What’s a food item you tried for the first time in your new country?
***And don’t forget about the Monday Ante next week where you can submit your favorite post from this week for a chance to be published on this site the following Saturday!
Wow you make me miss German food!
Haha! Well I hope you enjoyed the post anyway! :-)
If you travel to Switzerland, try the Rosti there- it’s a great deal like the Kartoffelpuffer you listed, but better.
Before I came here, I’d never had a Döner before- it’s just not something I’d ever come across, but they’re delicious and fast.
Some places do different varieties of Leberkäse- there’s a pizza Leberkäse available over here that’s damn tasty.
If you ever visit Regensburg, you have to try Wurstkuchl. They’ve been using a family mustard recipe for generations. http://stevenglassman.de/2012/10/29/wurstkuchl/
Oh I LOVE Döner! It’s mostly the texture of Leberkäse that I don’t like so it just depends where we get it from. Oh, family mustard? That sounds good! Thanks for stopping by!
In Sweden they have things similar to the mettwurst called beer sausage (ok that is the English translation but that is easier!) and I love them so much! You can get all sorts of various seasonings and just snack away!
Yum! I love the mettwurst. I had actually had them dried before I ever had them cooked. So good!
In Sweden you just buy them dried but we did one time get some from The Netherlands that were like that and was very pleased with how the flavor intensified over time!
Ok now I want some!
Hah, I love that meat features so heavily in Northern European cuisine. My mother in law was visiting recently and wanted to go to a traditional Danish restaurant, but we kind of talked her out of it. Because while there are some really good things that they do here - like pastries, oh my god the pastries - their “traditional” food is mostly a big serving of cooked meat with a side of bland boiled potatoes and a vegetable. They’re not the biggest fans of spice here.
Those potato pancakes look sooo yummy.
Oh really? What are the dishes like? Hey, you should do a post about that! ;-)
Good idea! :)
Thanks!
I hate Wurstsalat! I just don’t like the type of meat that goes into it. I do like Fleischkäse, though. Jan loves those Mettwurst type sausages, and also Kaminwurzl (which are Austrian).
I’ve tried sooo much since moving to Germany - Pfälzer Saumagen, Raclette (I had noooo idea what the raclette grill thingy was the first time I saw it!), Currywurst, Käsespätzle, Maultaschen…
I also lived in Austria for a year, where I had Topfenstrudel for the first time (Topfen is Austrian for Quark) and Serviettenknödel, which I loooove. Actually, the Austrians are all about their Knödel. I also had Germknödel there.
Oh I know! I could’ve gone on and on, but I thought I’d break it out. I love Currywurst and any spätzle, but I don’t really like Maultaschen at all! Knödel are good too! I haven’t had Raclette for a long time as my husband isn’t a fan, but I really like it.
When we were in Russia I tried loads of things I would have normally turned my nose up at. Now I love them so much I miss them!
I know! It’s funny how that works isn’t it? I think your palette even changes as you love different places. Thanks for reading!
It’s so fun how I am German and hate most of the things you described. Sometimes I am in the mood for some Fleischsalat, but the taste of Fleischkäse, Kartoffelpuffer and Mettwurst really throws me off. Dampfnudeln on the other hand… holy yum! Too sad that they are not typical for the region I am coming from (NRW), but when I get my hands on them… there is no holding back :)
Really? Even that Kartoffelpuffers? That is funny. My husband has to be in the mood for Fleischsalat and I can only eat it on a crusty brötchen. But yes, the Dampfnudeln are so good!
I love Kartoffelpuffer! When David came to Germany for the first time he thought it was weird to eat them with apple sauce but he liked them a lot.
I’ve seen the applesauce in the states with potato pancakes. I don’t hate it that way, but I like them just fine by themselves! :-) yum!
I want that Dampfnudel!!!!!! NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Meeeeee tooooooo!!!!
And WITH Vanillesoße. No question.
Absolutely! I like the cherries with it too.
I prefer plums, but cherries will do :)
I would try, and probably like, all of these foodie items! Yum! I have tried a few new American classics which I feature on my blog series, and have enjoyed most of them!
Yay! You have to be open minded when living in a new country, I think. I love your Slice of Americana series! It’s nice being on the other side for a change. :-)
Hahaha Fleischkäse for sure —- it is not easy on the eyes, but it definitely surprised me with how edible it was. I still cannot deal with Wurstsalat, but love Dampfnudeln!
Sometimes I like it, but for the most part I just can’t handle it. The Fleischsalat we get is fresh from our local butcher and I love it. Oh all this talk of Dampfnudeln and now I’m really craving one!
YOU HAVE ANOTHER BLOG???
Lol!! Truly. This really made me laugh. Yes, I do! When did you figure it out? ;-)
When I click on the link to this post from Twitter….
You really shouldn’t have led with the first two. The first one looked like someone had vomited over two pieces of toast AND nearly put me off the idea of moving to Germany. The potato pancakes looked damn good though ;) And the last thing - mmm, I’d like to give that a go! :)
Haha! Nooooooo! Linda, please don’t hold this against Germany. :-)
Omg, the potato pancakes and the dumpling are so, so good. The pastries here are to die for and they have great coffee and tea.
Right. I’m on my way. :)
So jummy!!! :) Fleischkäse is one of my favorite snacks. Americans don’t seem to be into it at all though!?
That wouldn’t surprise me. For me, it’s mostly the texture I don’t like but I have had it before where I really enjoyed it.
I’ll take some potato pancakes please :)
Me too! Yum!
I need to know what is the Fleischkäsebrötchen made of? Looks like sneaky Spam!
It’s very similar to bologna, but to me, if definitely reminds me of spam!
Hmm don’t know if I could stomach the Fleischkäsebrötchen - even the name is a mouthfull!
Haha! It’s not for everyone, but not to worry. There are so many delicious foods here!
this is and was awesome!!! makes me wanna go to deutchland. Im hungry now too though which kinda sucks
Haha! Well I only listed 5 but I’ll definitely do more lists just to show all of the tasty things you can eat here.
list some recipes too. I will grow my mustache like Otto von Bismark and over indulge in food
I don’t have too many German recipes, but I do have a cooking series on here in an attempt to cook as a new expat who is also a mom of a toddler and a girl on a budget! Ha!
Germany or not, I think I’ll pass.
On all? :-)
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I haven’t even heard of the dumplings until last Christmas season - where have I been? Looks amazing and I must make a point to try it soon. But you’re a braver expat than I with the Fleischsalat. I give that a big ‘ole “No thank you”.
Haha! I have a *mostly* try everything once attitude. I was skeptical at first but it’s good! It’s the pasty stuff I can’t stand and I always forget the name. I think I’ll have to do a top 5 of things I wish I never tried. ;-)
Genius! I would love to see the top 5 of things you wish you’d never tried.
Haha! Now I need to remember them!
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I have a slight love affair with the dampfnudel… They are just so delicious! I am also fond of a kartoffelpuffer or 3! :)
Oh me too! I love them both almost equally and I’m just glad I don’t know how to make them. :-)
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I enjoyed this post. I plan to spend time in Germany this summer learning about the cuisine, and am trying to get a head start!
That’s great! Glad you enjoyed it. I’ll be doing more like this soon.