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"What is that?" Yamila suspiciously eyes a yellowish lump of food on the plate before us. "It's a potato dumpling," I say.
I can tell she's trying to equate it with one of the Colombian food groups she grew up with. Doesn't resemble an Arepa or a Paneono. Or even boiled Yucca.
"It has a weird consistency," she grumbles. I think she would feel differently if she could add a splash or two of Tabasco to it, but there's none to be found here.
We're at the Hofbrauhaus, Munich's most famous beer garden, trying to make the most of our arrival day in Munich. OK maybe 20 hours of travel, two planes and four hours of sleep have somewhat diminished our usually adventurous spirits. But we're still upright and taking our first shot at a genuine German draft beer and some of the local fare. The gluten free, vegan, soy and dairy-free movement has not reached this part of the world. This is a Celiac's nightmare. People here love their bread, their beer, sausage and cheese -- in big portions. Not to mention the Bavarian pastries. No calorie counts on these menus.
Sidebar: My friend Patty was a foreign exchange student in her junior year of high school and was based here for a summer. She LOVED the Bavarian pastries so much that they were a staple of her German diet. When she returned home eight weeks later, her younger brother John dubbed her Miss Piggy because of the extra pounds she wore home. (Sorry Patty, brothers can be so mean. But knowing your sweet tooth and the abundance of pastry shops here - I can see now how that all happened.)
Anyway where was I? Oh yeah, the Hofbrauhaus. This beer garden, which is right off the Marienplatz in the heart of the old city, is everything they say about it in the travel guides. It's Octoberfest here every day. Inside, the beer hall is ornate, Bavarian to the core, and touristy. There's a polka band that's situated in the center of the beer house, that loudly belts out ump pahs to go with those gigantic pretzels and foamy beer. "It sounds like Norteno music," Yamila muses. She's not a fan of that style of Mexican music, so the comment isn't lost on me.
We ordered roast pork with crackling that came with gravy and a humungous dumpling. Plus an order of Spaetzle that is heaped with cheese and crispy crumbled fried onions. Spaetzle is the German cousin to our MacNCheese and every bit as rich. We normally don't order MacNCheese at home, but we're not fans of bratwurst, sausage, pig knuckles or pork belly so this is the alternative.
The roast pork is a hit. "Hmmmm... Chicharrone," Yamila moans when she bites into the crackling on the pork. Notice how everything has a Latin parallel? This is my world.
We're sharing both dishes and by the time the carbs hit my system, my eyes fall to half-mast and I slide lower in my chair. Who needs Ambien when you eat and drink like this?
Every good carb load is followed by a carb crash. I think it's time for a nap.
- comments
Nancy Hey this is the same blog that I used before. Off Exploring. I guess they call it Boomer Wanderlust!! The food sounds AWFUL (but it probably tasted good). No wonder you fell asleep in the chair (almost). Hope you had a fun first day. Looking forward to hearing more from you.
(nancy) for Marion Okay, the German I live with wants to chime in about the food. She wants you to try sauerbraten (beef rolled and marinated), Beer soup and drink Danzinger Goldwasser as an apertif. For breakfast order apfelpfannkuchen. (and I wonder why I was put into chubby sizes at the age of 10!!) "Did Yamila really drink those beers? Good for you"-Marion
Mary (the author) Silly (Nancy) ... Boomer wanderlust is what I dubbed my blog on the Off Exploring platform. So the email notification on the blog worked? Tell Marian we'll try the German fare again. We were sleep walking yesterday after all that travel. These people must be in a constant Carb Coma.
nancy Oh I thought it was a platform THEY (off exploring) launched. Carb Coma and I'm guessing constipated. LOL.
Michael Cory and I were at the Hofbrauhaus years ago and yes I remember it as touristy but welcoming and a fun place to watch well-proportioned women carry an immense amount of beer! I must have been in denial about the food choices - only remember some pretzel thing. Have fun girls!!
Carmen Mercado Chicarrone, that is a treat! Get a good night sleep and restore your energy for tomorrow and to keep the blog alive! Have fun.
Lisa mf Living vacariously through you and your blog. Keep 'em coming. Have been to the hafbrauhaus decades ago and had the same experience!
Frances Martinez Myers Love it. Sounds like you made the very best of the food you encountered. Good for you. Can't believe Yamila forgot to pack a little bottle of tabasco. She must be slipping. Have fun and write some more.