Not for the Calorie-Conscious

Exhibit A: Pommes und Bier (Fries and beer)

Exhibit B: Schokolade mit Sahne (Hot chocolate with whipped cream)

Exhibit C: Frankfurterkranz

Exhibit D: Homemade Spätzle with carmelized onions

Exhibit E: Tante Ursula's homemade Cheesecake... mit Sahne

Thanks, Baden-Württemberg, for the fat and fun.

Weekend Weg

I am in Karlsruhe for the weekend, visiting my Opa (grandfather) who is here visiting friends. Karlsruhe lies in Baden-Württemberg which is Germany's South-Western state or Bundesland.

Baden-Württemberg is not just the land of Laugen, Spätzle, and Wurstsalat (though these culinary specialities all merit more detailed discussion). It is also home to both Ludwigsburg and Tübingen, towns I spent considerable time in at ages 15, 19, and 20/21. It is the state that I probably know best in Germany, and subsequently one of my favorites.

Karlsruhe is also where my mom grew up, and where her family lived until she turned 14 and they moved to France. Yesterday, my Opa drove me past the house where they lived and then over to the Rhine where, on the other side of the river, lies France.

Tomorrow we are off to Mannheim, where my Opa grew up, to see some relatives, and then it is back in the train for the 6 hour ride back to Berlin. Didn't think Germany was that big, did ya?

Side note on Wurstsalat: Not technically a BW speciality, but I had to include it because it is just so amusing. Many of you have already heard of Germany's well-known Wurst. And Salat you can probably figure out from the strong similarity to its English translation. I'll give you a second to put it together. Sausage.... salad?! Yes, sausage salad. Different kinds of hams and sausages cut into slivers and mixed together.

It's my Opa's favorite "salad".

Personally, I prefer the name "Swine Surprise".