Shopping for bread has changed over the last decades, a development I personally regret. Large bakery chains have entered somewhere back in the nineties and many small family-run bakeries have vanished over the years. Buying from a chain bakery or even discount bakery doesn’t automatically imply inferior products, but I always prefer the small and independent or even family-run originals around the corner. No two bread rolls look the same and on Saturdays a line usually starts forming outside the bakery. When I have to leave the house in the wee hours of the morning, the air is already permeated with a heavenly smell from the bake-house in our backyard. They offer what I would – without a hint of hesitation – call the best sourdough bread (Bauernkruste) I have found in Munich so far, great rolls and baguette-like variations. And yet, one important piece is missing, one I rather not speak about: their croissants. The pretzel croissants they make are actually quite ok, but the regular ones are far from what I expect from my croissant.
Opposed to what many believe, croissants are NOT of French origin and despite the plethora of legends and myths that are and have been circulating, the croissant is Viennese.
“O’zapft is!” might have been today’s most anticipated term for every Munich-ian, as it rings in our town’s most loved season: It’s Oktoberfest time again. At 12 o’clock AM mayor Christian Ude taps the first keg with these famous Bavarian words, accentuated by loud cannon shots and heavy applause. So for the next 18 days we’ll be happily feeding the stereotype that Bavarians run around in leather pants and Dirndl at all times ;) Actually, you’ll see them everywhere not just at the Oktoberfest, you can even find locals going to work in full armor! Probably just for convenience – saving an extra hour (for changing clothes) and heading straight from work to the Wiesn.
Except for a brief time-out due to war, the Oktoberfest has been celebrated year after year, for almost 200 years now. The tradition of Oktoberfest was established 1810 with the commemoration of the marriage between Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen. To honor the princess, the location/field was named after her: Theresienwiese or simply “Wiesn”. The entire area covers approximately 42 hectare on which 14 large beer tents, as well as lovely nostalgic rides and food booths share space with the latest high-tech-neck-breaking roller coasters.
Ever had a food deja-vu? I strongly believe that certain food is inseparably linked to childhood experiences. Russian Bread being one of them. Whenever I spent time with my great-grandmother who we called either “Max”, short for Maximiliane, or “Sam” (it’s origin is a mystery to me), I tried to make her stroll around the neighborhood with me. Well, for one, because her apartment, which very much reflected bygone times – dark and heavy furniture with stuffy air, was not exactly the place a kid wants to play all day. On a sweeter note: Leaving the house, I always made sure to steer us in the right direction, never failing to miss that tiny little candy store just two corners away.
The old lady behind the counter was a good friend of my great-grandma and both ladies loved to chitchat about the recent neighborhood gossip, hence my ulterior motives always found her approval. Amidst ordinary single-family houses the little corner shop didn’t quite fit in, but only on the very first sight.
Foodbloggers are a helpful and supportive bunch of people. If somebody raises a question or sets up a meme, we answer (if time permits). Same with Melissa’s effort for an improved and more complete list than the initial BBC one. Meanwhile she compiled an enormous list of her own, much more detailed than the original, with food suggestions making every foodie swoon. I got tagged, got tagged and got tagged again, yet I tried to shirk. You ask why?
How on earth shall I – the most indecisive person in the universe – narrow down my favorite food delights to only five? I’m already having a really hard time to decide wether I want to buy the blue cornflowers or the marguerites, how am I supposed to make this decision about something as important as FOOD? So I thought about sub-categories, which might make it easier for me to pick the essential ones!
Such as typical Bavarian (or Austrian, Czech) delicacies: A juicy Apple Strudel with a large dollup of freshly whipped cream came to mind, then a golden-brown Wiener Schnitzel, smoked ham from Upper Palatinate (“Oberpfälzer Bauerngeräuchertes”) cut in small stripes…
Or should I stick with our beloved Italian cuisine and a thin-crusted wood-fired oven pizza, topped with tomatoes, mozzarella di Bufala and fresh basil from Riva or a bottle of wonderful fragrant olive oil from Lago di Como?
Wouldn’t other countries feel betrayed, if I didn’t mention their signature products such as an outstanding Jamón Ibérico de bellota, delicious Pastéis de Nata or scrumptious La Ratte potatoes, cooked and served with nothing but fresh farm butter and Maldon sea salt?
And what about the simple joys of popping fresh berries in my mouth, which is almost as good as my nostalgic memories of climbing my grandparents trees (which can be seen below, behind my mum and my aunt Claudia) and eating their fruits right in the tree tops, especially Kornapfel/Klarapfel for which I haven’t found an English expression (anybody?).
Which brings me to yet another sub-category – Event-Food: How about the obligatory Dampfnudeln with lots of hot vanilla sauce in a cozy chalet after skiing, each spring’s first roast chicken eaten with your fingers in one of Munich’s countless beergardens, Nürnberger Bratwürsteln at the snowy Christmasmarket or the Käskrainer at Würschtl Toni after a long night of partying in Regensburg…
I need to stop here, now I’m more confused than before I started pondering my choices. Sorry Melissa, I think I messed it up!
