Gourmet Creations

When we think of German food we think of sausage (wurst), saurkraut, and rich desserts. There are over 1500 different kinds of sausage made in Duetschland and pork is the most common meat in German dishes. Chicken and beef are also very common and Trout is ususally the fish of choice. Stews have a variety of vegetables but White Asparagas (Spargel) seems to be a favorite. It's often served with a Hollandaise sauce. In fact sauces, or gravies accompany most German dishes. Thick noodles find their way to a German plate often but potatoes are served in a variety of ways. Salzkartoffeln (potatoes boiled in salt), Kartoffelpüree (mashed potatoes), Fritten (fried potatoes), and Kartoffelsalad (potato salad) are loved side dishes. The noodle that could also be called a dumpling that many think of as the traditional choice is Spätzle. Flour, egg yolks dropped through a sieve, fried, and buttered... yum! It's hard to summarize the wonderful baked goods that keep any visitor to Germany happy and full. Breads and tortes; tarts and multi-layered cakes, such as the German dessert Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Cake) not only end a good meal but are enjoyed by Germans as "snacks".

Similarly to our fare in the US, variations of dishes can be found by regions. A good example are Pfannkuchen. Most Germans know these as pancakes but depending on where you are, they may be served thin and filled (like the french crepes) or thick and stacked.

A typical day of eating starts with a morning meal of open-faced meat sandwiches, fruit and strong coffee. School children traditionally stop for a snack at around 10:00 but, especially in small towns, head home for the main family meal Mittagessen. Late afternoon brings out the beautiful tortes and evening is a smaller meal of breads and cheese enjoyed perhaps with a nice dark lager.

Wisconsinites are no strangers to "good German food" because of the large population of Germans that immigrated here. Many households have enjoyed for generations the hearty dishes and scrumptious sweets passed down because of their German heritage.