We have been moving around Germany for the last 2 weeks, and have been feasting. Really feasting.
At every home, we are have been blessed with the very best of what the homes have to offer. The words 'spoiled rotten' come to mind - and some of us seem to have the kgs to show for it too!
Would you like to join us on the moveable feast we are on? Here is a sampling of what we Eichers have been wolfing down on our Deutschland Reise.
We started our gastronomic journey in Baden Wuertenberg... and were treated on second full day in Germany to Spaetzle (noodles from the Black Forest) with meat and soup.
This particular feast was eaten at the home of Oma's cousin Otto and was lovingly prepared by his wonderful wife Rose.
That evening we had a sumptuous spread of cold cuts at Otto's son Michael's home. Enid Blyton's stories have come to life for us. While not every evening featured the lavish spread below - we have most evenings had cheezes, cold cuts and various forms of multi-grained breads baked in the same way that generations of Germans have chewed on (very different from our Indian 'double rotis').
In Reichenbach it was Klose and raklettes.
Then further in the Erzgebirge in Geyer we were served green "Klose" with red cabbage and goose,
And so the Eichers have been haing fine dining all around ... with more still to come as we write from Berlin and then still have to head over to Leipzig before rounding off our journey in Frankfurt.
But besides the delicious food - it was the company that really counted. Every table was a new adventure in getting to know family and friends, and sharing the joy of being together over sumptuous fare!
Why, Hindusthani Khana of course!
At every home, we are have been blessed with the very best of what the homes have to offer. The words 'spoiled rotten' come to mind - and some of us seem to have the kgs to show for it too!
Would you like to join us on the moveable feast we are on? Here is a sampling of what we Eichers have been wolfing down on our Deutschland Reise.
We started our gastronomic journey in Baden Wuertenberg... and were treated on second full day in Germany to Spaetzle (noodles from the Black Forest) with meat and soup.
This particular feast was eaten at the home of Oma's cousin Otto and was lovingly prepared by his wonderful wife Rose.
That evening we had a sumptuous spread of cold cuts at Otto's son Michael's home. Enid Blyton's stories have come to life for us. While not every evening featured the lavish spread below - we have most evenings had cheezes, cold cuts and various forms of multi-grained breads baked in the same way that generations of Germans have chewed on (very different from our Indian 'double rotis').
Spaetzle appeared a number of times on our plates. A real treat as we wended our way through the Black Forest and other parts of Baden Wuertenberg...
Breakfast in Germany?
Probably because we are guests we have been feasting in the morning as well.
Each day has started with the Lalitpur Eichers digging in to what for us would be a full meal... Here is a sample from Shamshad and Inge's table in a small village along the Neckar river...
The spread above is a huge difference from the normal Eicher breakfast in Lalitpur, which is a cup of tea and a marie biscuit.... In addition to all the delicacies, we have also had liberal lashings of love as well.
You can't argue with a breakfast that has fresh Black Forest pretzels and fruit yoghurt!
And between meals, Germans drink coffee. And for them coffee is not just a hot black liquid to drink... they seem to eat lots of sweet things with it. As least we did, as we had timed our visit very well to be part of the Christmas festivities.
Here is a picture of the coffee table at the home of Manfred and Gerda in Mosbach.
Stollen (not 'stolen') the lovely German Christmas cake anyone? Or perhaps some lebkuchen?
It's Luther year this year. 500 years since the 95 theses. But also 500 years of reformation in every area. On the walls of one of the homes we visited was this picture of Martin Luther at the table of his dear friend Phillip Melanchton. Food, family, fellowship and 'Fuerbitte' (prayer). Four things we received lots of during out time in Germany. 500 years later the fellowship around the table continues...
Christmas Dinner? In Germany Christmas is celebrated as "Heiliger Abend" on the 24th of December.
And at the feast we didn't have goose... we had something very, very different. Raclette at the table of Christian and Irene Walter in Velburg, Bavaria. Cheese melted on small metal shovels, with a bewildering number of options to put on top - and then added to boiled potatoes (Gemany's staple food). Heavenly. We had never had such a meal and will remember this Christmas feast surrounded by amazing people and celebrating the amazing grace of God.
And then the next mid-morning a lazy Christmas day brunch was enjoyed at the senior Winklers home. Dr. Winkler spoiled us with a full German breakfast at 11 AM - and what seemed a full lunch linked in.
As we continued our journey, the gastronomic adventures also ran apace.
After 10 days in the south of Germany it was time to head East. We drove on the amazing Germany Autobahns (a sheer joy - esp. when your speedometer rests comfortably at 130 kmph).
We drove from Bavaria to Saxony, with our first stop being Plauen - where my Grandfather is from - we were treated to 'Klose' - grated potato balls
In Reichenbach it was Klose and raklettes.
Then further in the Erzgebirge in Geyer we were served green "Klose" with red cabbage and goose,
And so the Eichers have been haing fine dining all around ... with more still to come as we write from Berlin and then still have to head over to Leipzig before rounding off our journey in Frankfurt.
But besides the delicious food - it was the company that really counted. Every table was a new adventure in getting to know family and friends, and sharing the joy of being together over sumptuous fare!
And tonight, we were alone - the 5 Eichers - for the first time in this trip.
And so what did we make here in the Capital of Germany, in the Deutsche Kueche of our cousin (thrice removed) Ina Winkler?
