German Food: From Schnitzel To Black Forest Gateau – Mahlzeit! | Meet The Germans

Bratwurst, Spätzle, Sauerbraten, Falscher Hase, Maultaschen, Himmel und Erd, or Schweinshaxe, or whatever you want to call it. Let me be very German about this and give my honest opinion of traditional German dishes. They're often very filling, pretty fleshy, and usually sit somewhere in the beige to brown spectrum. German food often tastes good, but doesn't look so great. Let's see what this German foodie makes of my assessment. I mean, I work as a food photographer, and when you have to photograph a goulash, it's always a little challenge. But funny enough, almost everyone understands soul food among these dishes. So when you eat something that conveys a good feeling, something that's associated with memories, something that makes you feel good, Then it doesn't matter if it's not that nice, it just gives a good feeling. And how would you describe traditional German food? A German food has to have a filling. A very classic dish from my childhood, from my grandparents, was noodles and fried potatoes. With cabbage, with cabbage, with cabbage. And what are you going to cook for us? I'm going to cook schnitzel for us today. Because that's really, especially when I think of my childhood and growing up, that's the most typical German dish that we had a lot. Of course, the schnitzel came to Germany via Austria. Germany is bordered by nine different countries, and you can see the influence of those neighbors on regional cuisine near the borders. As well as regional differences, there is a seasonal aspect too. Many Germans are very excited about particular seasonal foods, such as asparagus, strawberries, cherries or kale. Grünkohlessen is a special occasion when people gather to eat the leafy green usually served with cured sausage. Hmm, does barbecuing count as a seasonal specialty? In any case, as soon as the first rays of sun appear in late spring, the Germans are ready to grill. The first barbecue of the year is known as Angrill. And in one study, a decisive 97% of Germans said they like to grill. Some key ingredients at a German barbecue? Lots of meat, potato salad, mustard and little bread rolls that are completely impractical for putting sausages in. Speaking of bread, it's obviously a huge part of the food culture here. So important, in fact, I already made an entire episode about it. Check this out. But what else do we know about German tastes? The nation's favorite meat is pork. About 5% of the population is vegetarian and 1% vegan. The top-rated vegetables are tomatoes, carrots, onions and cucumbers. Favorite fruits are bananas, apples, oranges and melons. The country also has a deep relationship with potatoes in all their forms. Kartoffel is even a somewhat derogatory term for someone who is very German. Finally, some herbs and spices you may regularly spot in German recipes. Parsley, dill or in some regions, cumin seeds. Okay, now we've really worked up an appetite. Take it away, Sascha. To express that you hope someone enjoys their meal, you can say Guten Appetit or more casually Guten Hunger. If you're feeling particularly German, why not throw Mahlzeit in the mix? It literally means meal time. But especially around lunchtime, it's a perfectly acceptable greeting. The appropriate response is Mahlzeit. Mahlzeit! What is it? Mmm, you sucker! Speaking of mealtimes, at breakfast the Germans are generally divided into two camps. Bread with cold cuts, egg, cheese or sweet spreads. Or some kind of muesli, cereal or porridge. The main hot meal of the day is traditionally eaten at lunchtime. Having grown up eating cold lunches, usually sandwiches, I still can't adjust to this. Especially because it can take quite a while to recover from an enormous portion Hot German food in the work of the canteen. Oh, and a lot of Germans eat lunch really early. I have colleagues who go to lunch before noon. The evening meal could be as simple as Abendbrot or evening bread. Which, to be honest, is kind of like having breakfast all over again. But habits are changing and about a third of Germans now eat their main warm meal in the evening. According to a recent report, three-quarters of Germans enjoy cooking. When they're not in lockdown, about half eat out at least once a month. And a quarter eat fast food once a week. The international cuisine offered in Germany tells of the country's immigration history. A small shop or stand offering fast-food take-out is called an Imbiss, Which comes from the old German for meal. But what about between meals? The most popular snacks in Germany are chocolate and chips. I can't for the life of me understand the nation's obsession with paprika flavor. But hey, each to his own. Okay, what's for dessert? I was a little disappointed to find that this course doesn't seem to get that much attention here. But cake lovers, fear not. There's always Kaffee und Kuchen, coffee and cake to look forward to. This traditional German pastime, which dates back to the 17th century, is something you typically do with your parents or your grandparents in the afternoon. For the full experience, crack out the fancy coffee cups and cake forks. Some classic German cakes include Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, or Black Forest Gatto, Bienenstift, which means bee sting, and Marmorkuchen, marble cake. Tell me what you like and dislike about German food below. And look out for more German food delights over on Instagram, The Underground meet the Germans.