German Restaurant Question

[dejr_8]

We ate at an "authentic" German restaurant yesterday and they didn't have Salt or Pepper shakers on the table. Is that normal?

 

[NHdisneylover]

Funny, I never thought about it--but all 4 of us in the house are now saying--oh yeah; they AREN'T salt and pepper shakers So, I guess it is authentic

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

any places I have been too don't have them

 

[dejr_8]

Funny, I never thought about it--but all 4 of us in the house are now saying--oh yeah; they AREN'T salt and pepper shakers So, I guess it is authentic

The other thing that was missing was ketchup. I had a two brat platter and while the mustard was great I still prefer ketchup - but I didn't dare ask.

As far as being authentic food... I am of German descent and have always rued the fact that I hate sauerkraut. The platter came with sauerkraut and it was absolutely fantastic. I was proud of myself for eating it!

 

[NHdisneylover]

The other thing that was missing was ketchup. I had a two brat platter and while the mustard was great I still prefer ketchup - but I didn't dare ask.

As far as being authentic food... I am of German descent and have always rued the fact that I hate sauerkraut. The platter came with sauerkraut and it was absolutely fantastic. I was proud of myself for eating it!

Ketchup is almost never free here (exceptions being "American" style diners). Even at Burger King and McDonald's a combo meal comes with you choice of ONE ketchup or Mayo packet. Extras cost 40 Euro cent a piece.
I have never seen a German put ketchup on a brat. That would be very odd. Currywurst comes in a curry sauce though and, of course, many times good mustard (like you had) is available. My husband and daughter say it is very good (I do not eat pork or beef so I cannot say).
Oh, and good for you on the kraut

 

[NMAmy]

The other thing that was missing was ketchup. I had a two brat platter and while the mustard was great I still prefer ketchup - but I didn't dare ask.

As far as being authentic food... I am of German descent and have always rued the fact that I hate sauerkraut. The platter came with sauerkraut and it was absolutely fantastic. I was proud of myself for eating it!

People tend to look at me like I have two heads when I rave about having sauer kraut for dinner. I make my own and it tastes nothing like sauer kraut from a can. DH is now a convert.

 

[Christine]

People tend to look at me like I have two heads when I rave about having sauer kraut for dinner. I make my own and it tastes nothing like sauer kraut from a can. DH is now a convert.

I'd love to know how you make your own? Is it difficult.

I never eat sauerkraut from a can but I do by the bags of it, drain it, and then cook it with other things. But I might like to try making my own. How exactly is this done?

 

[tvguy]

We ate at an "authentic" German restaurant yesterday and they didn't have Salt or Pepper shakers on the table. Is that normal?

I'd just like to find a German restaurant here. 40 years ago, when I was a kid there were a dozen here. Now, there are none. We've got dozens of Chinese, Japanese, Mexican and Middle Eastern restaurants, but no German, and only a few French.

 

[plutotek]

I'd just like to find a German restaurant here. 40 years ago, when I was a kid there were a dozen here. Now, there are none. We've got dozens of Chinese, Japanese, Mexican and Middle Eastern restaurants, but no German, and only a few French.

There used to be a restaurant on the way to Grass Valley called Scheidels. Is it gone? That would be too bad, as it was always a special treat to go there.

 

[LilyWDW]

Currywurst comes in a curry sauce though and, of course, many times good mustard (like you had) is available. My husband and daughter say it is very good (I do not eat pork or beef so I cannot say).

Hmmm... I have had Currywurst in both Germany and the states and both times was offered Ketchup with it.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hmmm... I have had Currywurst in both Germany and the states and both times was offered Ketchup with it.

Funny--maybe it is a regional thing. DH gets it about once a week somewhere and the only times ketchup is offered is if it comes with fries (which it often does).

 

[Pixiedust34]

My dh grew up with German relatives, and a child he was taught to never ask for salt at their house because it was considered an insult to the host (chef) if you had to season food they prepared. I'm not sure if this is still a "good manners" thing today or not.

Dh was also in Germany when he was in the army (late 70s) and while visiting family there they did not offer salt with meals.

 

[Bilberry]

I went to my first German restaurant this summer, and was a little surprised that the drinks served did not have ice in them. Didn't know if this was the norm or if the ice machine was broken that days. Don't remember if the salt was missing from the table. Food was delicious.

 

[NC State]

We ate at an "authentic" German restaurant yesterday and they didn't have Salt or Pepper shakers on the table. Is that normal?

My husband loves German food where did you eat?

 

[MandM3]

I've been here 30+ years and have lived in various parts of Germany. I'm married to a German and all my friends are German.

All restaurant tables have salt and pepper pots. Don't know about American ones but they're the opposite to British ones. Pepper pots have one hole, salt cellars have several holes.

Everyone I know has them in their cupboards at home. I've never actually seen anyone be offended when asked for them but I haven't seen it happen often. They have lovely mini ones for boiled eggs. I grew up in the UK and was told that about asking for salt

European drinks don't normally have ice. It's one of the biggest culture shocks for Americans I think McDonald's might have. Could be because we don't have free refills over here. Fill the glass with ice and people feel cheated of their drink.

I know a lot of people who just have ketchup on their Bratwursts at home. I can't see anyone looking twice if you asked for it when out. Currywurst in bottles is already mixed but the real stuff is sliced sausage covered in ketchup and sprinkled with curry powder. The mixed stuff isn't as good and looked down on if used at a stand. Same with packets of ketchup. The good stalls have tubs of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise so you can help yourself. The next best thing is when the server ladles it on for you. Bottom of the list is the packets.

My husband hated sauerkraut, till he tried the tinned stuff. Discovered then it was just his mother's he hates

Hope that helps

 

[NHdisneylover]

I went to my first German restaurant this summer, and was a little surprised that the drinks served did not have ice in them. Didn't know if this was the norm or if the ice machine was broken that days. Don't remember if the salt was missing from the table. Food was delicious.

As an ice addict I am saddened by the lack of ice here At most I get 2-3 cubes when out. AS the poster below indicates you can get ice at Burger King and McDonalds most of the time (not all have it) and more and more of those (as well as subway) even have free refills now. The McDona'd's at our train station has fill your own and an ice machine--I will go there early when taking a train jsut to enjoy a fountain soda with as much ice as I want At home--the best gift I ever got is the counter top ice machine DH had sent from amazon last summer!

I've been here 30+ years and have lived in various parts of Germany. I'm married to a German and all my friends are German.

All restaurant tables have salt and pepper pots. Don't know about American ones but they're the opposite to British ones. Pepper pots have one hole, salt cellars have several holes.

Everyone I know has them in their cupboards at home. I've never actually seen anyone be offended when asked for them but I haven't seen it happen often. They have lovely mini ones for boiled eggs. I grew up in the UK and was told that about asking for salt

European drinks don't normally have ice. It's one of the biggest culture shocks for Americans I think McDonald's might have. Could be because we don't have free refills over here. Fill the glass with ice and people feel cheated of their drink.

I know a lot of people who just have ketchup on their Bratwursts at home. I can't see anyone looking twice if you asked for it when out. Currywurst in bottles is already mixed but the real stuff is sliced sausage covered in ketchup and sprinkled with curry powder. The mixed stuff isn't as good and looked down on if used at a stand. Same with packets of ketchup. The good stalls have tubs of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise so you can help yourself. The next best thing is when the server ladles it on for you. Bottom of the list is the packets.

My husband hated sauerkraut, till he tried the tinned stuff. Discovered then it was just his mother's he hates

Hope that helps

Just curious as to where you live? I think some thing must be regional because we eat out a lot and do not encounter the bins of condiments except rarely in American style places or at fests nor salt and pepper on tables (except in Italian restaurants)
. Generally the servers ladle it on (except American fast food places that have the packets) at imbisses (German version of fast food type places for those of you not from here). At sit down restaurants they bring a small dish with ketchup (or whatever) in it--not the entire bottle like in the US (except at the American diners). My husband's family is also German (he is second generation American but we still have lots of contact with the German side--spent all day Saturday at a birthday party until the wee hours). They say the curry wurst with a jarred asauce is slightly better than just ketchup with curry powder (which we have always gotten mixed up not as just "ketchup") but the sauce should be homemade ahead of time and ladled out of the pot Again, I do nto eat it so I do not know what tastes better and DH is pretty happy with any of it as it is all "better than American German food"
Anyway, I am just wondering if some of the things are regional. We spend most of our time in and around Heidelberg or near the family which is about an hour away in Hessen.

 

[tvguy]

There used to be a restaurant on the way to Grass Valley called Scheidels. Is it gone? That would be too bad, as it was always a special treat to go there.

I'll be darn, there used to be a Scheidels in Sacramento, on Fulton Avenue, wonder if it's the same family? Closed at least 20 years ago. I see this one in Grass Valley, a 50 mile drive, but may have to check it out.

 

[MandM3]

I love that German restaurants are getting free publicity from this thread. Yey The Dis!

I've lived near Heidelberg for the last 10 years. I've lived in 5 different states and visited a lot more over the last 30 years. Regional differences are not nearly as marked as they once were.
I double-checked with my hubby, (born and bred in Hessen), and he said my post was spot on. Course you're going to find own recipes the family likes better, that's normal. Do you know which bought Currywurst sauce they meant? We've never seen it in a jar.
When you next go to a Kirmes or the Christmas markets, look for the busiest Bratwurst stands. The condiment tubs have spouts and a handle you push down to pump them out. You probably have to know what you're looking for to recognise them and they're always surrounded by people waiting for their turn so you probably missed them.

 

[dejr_8]

My husband loves German food where did you eat?

This place - http://bavarianbrathaus.info/
There is a location in Cary as well.

 

[NC State]

The Cary location would be closer for us. Thanks