Germany Food Tour
- Admin
- Feb 22, 2018
- 12 min read
I don’t think I’m alone when saying that one of my favorite parts of traveling is trying new foods. Traditional dishes are a huge part of culture and they vary from place to place or even family to family. Some countries, such as Italy or China, are renowned for their cuisine and it is the first thing someone associates with that place. There is so much we can learn from a country’s food, the way they cook, and how they eat. My first trip abroad to Germany gave me my first taste of international cuisine and I wasn’t disappointed.
When people think of German cuisine, three that most often come to mind are sausage, pretzels, and beer. As I was only 15 and on a school trip, I passed on the beer, but I did have my fair share of the first two. While these are very popular and tasty options, German food is so much more than bar foods. I loved the food I tried in Germany, although it wasn’t all purely “German”. In order to showcase these delicious eats, I’ve compiled a tour through some of the meals and snacks I tried during the ten days I spent in Germany.
Day 1: Munich-
Running on just a ham and cheese croissant that I bought during our layover in Dublin, by lunchtime I was eyeing every sandwich, sausage, and sweet in sight. Five euros in hand, I roamed through the food market, not sure how I could decide on just one food to eat - I wanted to try it all! Although I was tempted to try a sausage - or wurst - on a roll, I finally settled on a Caprese panini with basil pesto, melted mozzarella, and sweet tomatoes. This wasn’t the most “German” dish I could have chosen, but I certainly was more than satisfied with my choice. Maybe it was in part due to my hunger, but the panini was one of the best sandwiches I’ve had to this day. Eating it outside, under the bright blue sky by the bustling Biergarten made my first international meal one to remember.
The traditional German meal I desired came later that evening when our group visited a restaurant for dinner. I wanted to go as stereotypical German as I could (minus a pint of beer). Knowing that sparkling water was a more common drink of choice over still water, I decided to try a glass. Unfortunately, that was the time I found out that I really do not like sparkling water. It was much too bitter and the carbonation hurt my mouth. I suppose I should have known, seeing how I dislike soda for that very same reason.
For a starter, our group leaders order the table a basket of pretzels (Brezeln) - but not the dry crunchy snacks that we’ve grown accustomed to in the US. These were almost the size of my head, fresh baked, soft and bready, and sprinkled with salt. These were amazing, of course, much better than the ones in America. I was always happy every time I got the chance to have a pretzel on my trip. There were small stands selling them on the street almost every corner in the cities, so there is no excuse for not buying one while in Germany!
After reading the menu over many times, trying to decide on just one meal, I went for the “Roast Pork”. It was a bit of a risk for me, as I’ve never been much of a fan of pork, but I wanted to try something new. I wasn’t disappointed as I ended up quite liking it! The hearty portion of Bavarian pork, smothered in gravy and topped with a pork rind so think I couldn’t cut into it, was paired with a potato and a pretzel dumpling. The dumplings were unlike anything I’d ever tried, and were not like what I was expecting, as “dumpling” to me was a Chinese takeout menu item. These carb-filled balls were about the size of my fist, soaked with gravy. I like both of them, although preferred the pretzel one a little more, as the potato one had a hidden surprise of rye in the middle, which is one bread I’ve never liked. The pork was certainly the highlight, easy to cut into and melted in my mouth. My only complaint would have been how salty this meal was, as the gravy covered every inch. Although it’s a vegetarian’s nightmare, I would recommend this meal to anyone looking for a filling and traditional dinner.
Day 2: Munich -
Waking up in a new country for the first time was exhilarating, despite how tired I still felt from the six-hour time difference. This made me not as hungry for a big breakfast, as my body still felt as if it was the middle of the night. But our hostel provided us with a breakfast buffet, where I got to see my first German breakfast. Unlike in America, where our traditional breakfast includes lots of sweet cereals, pancakes, syrup, and pastries, Germany had a much larger selection of meats and cheeses. They still had some cereals, fruits, and toast, but also what I would consider sandwich ingredients. There were thinly sliced deli meats, like ham and turkey, some cheese squares, and different types of bread. Since I wasn’t too hungry, I stuck to just a bread roll and an orange, but it was interesting to see what another country eats for a morning meal.
After another morning of touring, we revisited the food market, which became one of my favorite places in Munich. This time I was drawn to another Mediterranean style lunch, picking out a pizza topped with spinach and feta cheese - not marshmallows like my family joked when they saw the photo. Feta and spinach is a classic combo that I’ve always enjoyed and you can never go wrong with a pizza, so, naturally, I was very happy with my choice.
Finally, I couldn’t leave the market without a treat, so I picked up a skewer of chocolate covered strawberries and bananas. I can never eat chocolate strawberries again without thinking of how they will never compare to those I ate in Munich. The sweet fruit was coated with the most amazing chocolate. Unlike the ones I’ve eaten in the US, where the hardened chocolate breaks and crumbles off the berry, when I took a bite of the fruit skewer, the chocolate was so soft and smooth, staying firmly on. It was the perfect thing to satisfy my sweet tooth.
Day 3: Strasbourg, France -
Okay, so these foods weren’t in Germany, but I had to include them! During my 10 day stay, my host family decided to take me to Strasbourg, a historic town on the border of France - only an hour and a half drive away from where they lived in Mannheim. Although it was rainy, it didn’t stop me from enjoying my day in France and all the food!
Stopping in a bakery for a morning snack, my host family bought us each one of these, which I believe was brioche aux raisins. It was like a sweet bread with raisins, dusted with powdered sugar. As I am a fan of all things baked goods, it was really good but not as memorable as some of the other foods on this list.
When in France, it seemed like a requirement to buy a freshly made crepe. From a stand, I had my first authentic crepe, still warm and filled with Nutella. While I did like it, standing in the middle of the street with no fork or knife, wasn’t the best way to enjoy it. Everyone laughed as the beautifully folded crepe turned into a mangled mess as my friend and I attempted to share it by tearing off pieces. If you buy one (especially with Nutella), make sure to ask for a fork!
For dinner, we visited a quaint restaurant outside of Strasbourg, whose decor reminded me a bit of a grandma’s house, with lots of pink, lace, and floral. Here, I was introduced to (what I’d later find out was called) tarte flambée. Reminiscent of a flatbread, the dough was rolled thin and covered with a creamy cheese sauce, onions, and bacon. At first glance, it isn’t the most beautiful, but the taste was out of this world. I kept reaching for another slice until I was almost stuffed. But I made sure to save room for dessert, which was the same thin crust, but with baked apple slices and cinnamon sugar.
On the drive home, we stopped to shop at a French grocery store, where my three years of middle school French class really came in handy. Although my skills were very basic, I found it very exciting when I could understand some of the ingredients on the packages. The host family picked up their groceries for the week, and us kids got to pick out some sweets. On the way home, we opened up a box of macarons to try. While store-bought macarons probably aren’t the best quality of those you can but in France, I was eager to taste one for the first time. I admit they weren’t what I expected. I assumed that the cookie was crispy, almost like a wafer, but I found it was much more soft and chewy. I did enjoy them but wasn’t overly thrilled.
Day 4: Mannheim -
This day I did not eat out, but I enjoyed my host mother’s cooking!
Day 5: Mannheim -
On Monday, I attended school with my host sister and I found it very interesting to see how the German school system works. Unlike my school back home, where just juniors and seniors who could drive could leave campus, all students were allowed to leave for lunch. We walked to a small series of shops, only two minutes away, where we went for Doner kebab. I had never heard of doner, as it’s not very common where I live, but in Germany, there were kebab shops everywhere you turned. I joked about it being the McDonalds of Germany, as these restaurants seemed to be everywhere. Served in a folded flatbread, the shaved meat was matched with fresh salad, including lettuce, tomato, and carrots, then drizzled with a white sauce. These are popular for a reason, as it was very good and worth a try!
Day 6: St Goar -
On a Rhine river cruise with the exchange group, I was introduced to a new flavor of potato chip that was popular in Germany. One of the other girls brought a bag of Jumpys, a paprika flavored potato chip snack shaped like little kangaroos. As far as I know, we don’t have this flavor in the US, but we definitely need to. They taste almost like a sweeter barbecue chip, but personally, I liked them a lot better than barbecue. The cute kangaroo shape was a bonus, as well. I ended up buying a big bag to bring back to America to share with my family. Paprika chips, get on it Lay’s!
After our day out, my host mother made schnitzel for dinner. Schnitzel was something I had heard of plenty of time before, but never actually knew what it was, so I was excited to try! Essentially, schnitzel is a piece of meat (in this case, pork), hammered flat, breaded, and fried. I loved it and even took it for lunch the next day to eat as a sandwich. If you’re looking for a traditional dish, you must try this at least once.
Day 7: Mannheim -
After spending the day in Ladenburg and Weinheim, my host family dropped us off at a bowling alley where I experienced something that I just had to laugh at. While not quite food related, it definitely surprised me. We order drinks while we played and I decided to just get a water (still water, as I still was not a fan of sparkling). I expected just a plastic bottle or a glass of tap water, but instead I was presented with the fanciest water I had ever seen. Served in a blue glass bottle and paired with a small wine glass, I was afraid they had gotten my order wrong and had served me something alcoholic. But it was, in fact, correct. So I sipped my water feeling very posh.
Day 8: Heidelberg -
I didn’t eat this myself, but it was too cute not to share. During our free time while visiting Heidelberg, I went off exploring the old city with some of the other exchange students. We roamed the streets, looking into store windows, checking out the souvenirs, and just admiring the old buildings. But one shop caught my friend’s attention, so we had to stop. We entered a sweet little ice cream store, but not just any average one. This one served ice cream cones shaped like roses. Choosing three flavors, they thinly scooped the layers of the frozen confection into the delicate shape, all balanced on a pointed sugar cone. Although I hadn’t bought it myself, I regretted that decision once I saw the final result. We all stood around it in awe, taking photos for a solid few minutes before she actually got the chance to try it. If I ever return to Heidelberg, I will be sure to get one for myself!
Another sweet treat that I actually got to try this day was a Dickmann. I tried this primarily because it had a funny name but ended up enjoying it (and having a few more). These tall domes were filled with soft marshmallow sitting on a round wafer, encased in your choice of dark, milk, and white chocolate. The marshmallow wasn’t overly sweet as I expected, making them perfect for a dessert that didn’t leave me wishing to visit a dentist.
Day 9: Mannheim -
Before heading out for our afternoon excursion to the gardens of Schwetzingen, our tour group stopped for lunch at a pizza place. While pizza isn’t at all new to me, it shows how you can find comfort foods almost anywhere in the world. I would highly recommend trying new or local foods when traveling, but if you’re looking for something familiar you can usually find it.
Day 10: Mannheim -
Our last full day in Germany was spent with our host families before we had to say goodbye. My host sisters decided to cook a full breakfast for me, including waffles, toast, cinnamon rolls, bacon, and beans. I spread Nutella on my waffle, dusted it with powdered sugar, similar to the crepe I had in France, while I introduced the German girls to pure maple syrup that I had brought them from home. The bacon and beans were a new breakfast edition that I wasn’t used to but really liked. While bacon is very common in American breakfasts, what they eat in Germany is much different. Instead of crispy strips, this was what we know as ‘British bacon”, which is more similar to ham. It was more soft and chewy but had the same flavor as the popular breakfast item. The beans were different as well, as they weren’t the sweet Boston baked beans I grew up on. These were in a tomato-based sauce and were a typical breakfast item, uncommon for Americans. This breakfast was such a kind gesture from the girls I had become to know as sisters and the perfect way to start the day.
My last day finished just as sweet, as we went out for ice cream. German ice cream is much different than what is known as “American ice cream,” the hard serve filled with chunks of chocolates or other fillings. It was much smoother and creamier, somewhere in between soft serve and hard serve. I decided to get a more local specialty called “Spaghettieis,” which literally translates to “spaghetti ice cream”. Served on a small mountain of whipped cream, the yellowish vanilla ice cream was pressed through a mold that formed it into long squiggly “noodles”. Topped with strawberry sauce and shaved coconut, it looked just like a bowl of spaghetti. Not only super cute but super delicious!
I will always remember my trip to Germany, not just because it was my first trip abroad, but because of how great a time I had there. Upon my arrival home, I remember telling my mom about how much I missed the food. It not only gave me and insight to the culture, but made my time much more enjoyable.
Good food can be found all over the world and I can’t wait to travel more to try it all!
Here are some more recommendations for food I had in Germany:
Spargel -
We traveled to Germany at peak Spargle season, which ended up being great timing. These white stalked asparagus were displayed at markets seemingly by the ton. I found them much sweeter and juicier than green asparagus and would love to try them again! The only trouble with them would be that they need to be peeled well, or else you get stuck chewing on the tough outer skin, which is not fun.
Milka -
This is, by far, the best chocolate I’ve tried. Creamy, sweet, and featuring so many different fillings and flavors. Very different from Hershey’s and a must have for chocolate lovers. Milka original and Oreo can be found in America now, but I didn’t find the American version quite as good. European chocolate definitely has the advantage here.
Kinder -
Onto another amazing European chocolate that needs to be more popular in the states! These chocolates with a milky white filling are treats that remind me of childhood - even the name Kinder means children in German! Americans may have heard of this company from the infamous Kinder Eggs, which are banned in America since the toys in the chocolate eggs can be a choking hazard. I made sure to stock up on all the different types before I left.
Ritter Sport -
And the third brand in our chocolate trilogy is Ritter Sport, a German company famous for a variety of fillings, from yogurt to tortilla chips (seriously, I tried it). I believe we have this brand in America, although it’s not as popular and there aren’t nearly as many different flavors. Personally, I was not a fan of Ritter Sport. I didn’t particularly like the fillings and I felt as if it was too bitter. Although I didn’t like them, many people do, so it’s worth a try!
Wurst -
As I said, Germany is known for sausage, so it seems like an obligation to try. I had wurst on multiple occasions on my trip and it was very enjoyable. There are so many different types so there is something for everyone (unless maybe you’re vegan).
Gingerbread -
When my German host sister came to stay with us in the US in the November before I traveled on the reciprocal trip, she brought us a box of gingerbread. These were soft like a cake and covered in chocolate with a wafer on the bottom, like pictured below. Gingerbread is a delight and is perfect to have around Christmas or anytime. Hard or soft, traditional German gingerbread is always delicious.
There are so many other delicious foods in Germany that I haven’t mentioned or still have yet to try. I can’t wait to return someday to try it all!
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