Food

Main Courses

German meals tend to be very hearty and often feature pork or chicken. The ubiquitous Wiener Schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet) is actually an Austrian specialty ("Wiener" = Viennese) but is a staple at restaurants throughout the German-speaking world. Another popular dish is rotisserie chicken (Grillhähnchen), often served in portions of half a chicken.

Hungry (very hungry) visitors to Bavaria may want to try a Schweinebraten (pot-roasted pork) or Schweinshaxe (knuckle of pork). While no trip to the Rhineland is complete without a taste of Sauerbraten (roast beef marinated in a vinegar mixture), courageous visitors to Cologne, in particular, may want to order Heaven and Earth (Himmel un Ääd), a dish consisting of mashed potatoes with stewed apples and black pudding (U.S.: blood sausage).

Sausage

There are nearly as many regional varieties of Wurst in Germany as kinds of beer to wash it down with. The most famous version is the Bratwurst, a specialty of Nuremburg, in particular, although the Thuringian Bratwurst is also extremely popular. Bavarians make an unusual, white sausage appropriately called a Weißwurst and a unique baked sausage known as Leberkäse. The ever-popular Currywurst (a grilled sausage seasoned with spicy ketchup and curry powder) is sold in large quantities throughout the country.

Side Dishes

Although meals are often served with chips (French fries), mashed potatoes or fried potatoes, the most traditional German side dish, especially in the south, is a bread or potato dumpling called a Knödel. Lunches may be served with saurkraut or potato salad. Visitors to Swabia should order a helping of Spätzle, traditional noodles made with egg yolk.

Desserts and Sweets

Coffee and cake are a typical mid-afternoon treat in Germany. A large variety of cakes are available, many of which are made from fruit or berries, especially apples, plums or strawberries, and may be served with Sahne (whipped cream). Cheese cake and marble cake are also popular, as is a type of holeless doughnut filed with jam (Krapfen). Another traditional German dessert is a red berry compote called rote Grütze. Americans may be surprised to find bakeries offering an unusual glazed cookie called an "Amerikaner".