Beer and "Imp Cake" at Wichtel Hausbrauerei

Beer and "Imp Cake" at Wichtel Hausbrauerei

When we first moved to Stuttgart, my husband and I stayed at a hotel in the Feuerbach area of Stuttgart so that he could be close to his work. While he was working, Leo (our beagle) and I spent a lot of time wandering around and getting to know the city. It was a great first couple of weeks and really helped me get used to our new home. One of the restaurants that we frequented on many occasions during this time was Wichtel Hausbrauerei. I loved this restaurant for two reasons: no-fuss German food and beautiful outdoor patio in the summer.

Last night we had the chance to return, and we found it to be as popular as ever. When we walked up to the patio around 18:30, we quickly saw that the tables were completely full. Not to be deterred from our nostalgic return, we waited for about five minutes when, to our luck, a couple who had paid finished their beer and left. 

Recap: Unforgettable Japan Trip Part 4 - Kyoto, Hiroshima, & Osaka Eats

Recap: Unforgettable Japan Trip Part 4 - Kyoto, Hiroshima, & Osaka Eats

This last part of my four-part recap of our winter trip to Japan covers some suggestions of what to eat in Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. This part was a little tricky to write because we ate a lot of informal meals over the holiday due to the shear abundance of available markets and festivals and the holiday closure of many more formal sit-down restaurants. We also only spent a day each in Hiroshima and Osaka, and didn't really have any meals specific to those areas (except one, which is noted).

That said, I was in heaven with the festival food, and discovered how much variety there is to Japanese cuisine; it's not all just sushi and ramen. I should note that I haven't done a very good job of recording all the candies and other snack foods that we saw on our trip, but I'm afraid my memory (and my camera's memory) have failed me there, and I'll just have to return in the future to blog about that!

Recap: Unforgettable Japan Trip Part 3 - Kyoto, Hiroshima, & Osaka Sights

Recap: Unforgettable Japan Trip Part 3 - Kyoto, Hiroshima, & Osaka Sights

After spending some time in Tokyo, we decided to board one of Japan's famous bullet trains and head down the coast. Since we had the time and wanted to see as much as possible, it made sense to use Japan's extensive train network to get around. There were many places that we wanted to see, and we ended up scheduling three days in Kyoto for New Years, as well as a day-trip to Osaka and a day-trip to Hiroshima using Kyoto as our base. We wanted to visit Kyoto in particular because it's known for the large number of temples in and around the city. Osaka became a destination point because it was another major city nearby, and Hiroshima made the list because we were interested in seeing a city that looms so large in American nuclear history. 

Sampling Delicacies from the Sea at the Hamburger Fischmarkt

Sampling Delicacies from the Sea at the Hamburger Fischmarkt

Every year in July the Hamburger Fischmarkt comes to Stuttgart. I really enjoy this fun festival from the city of Hamburg in the north of Germany, because it's one of the few times of the year when I can indulge in seafood. I grew up in the bay area of Maryland, so I really miss seafood in land-locked Stuttgart (especially Maryland steamed crabs). And although the style of seafood here in Germany is obviously different, the Hamburger Fischmarkt still satisfies my craving. 

This year, in an effort to get lots of good pictures for my blog, I tried a lot of the foods on offer. You can find just about every style of cooking at the fish market, including fried, broiled, sautéed, smoked, and grilled. This year I sampled the grilled calamari, fried fish and chips, and smoked salmon with kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes). Each was delicious in its own way.

Recap: Unforgettable Japan Trip Part 1 - Tokyo Sights

Recap: Unforgettable Japan Trip Part 1 - Tokyo Sights

Japan has always been high on my list of places to see. So this past winter when we were given a three week holiday from school, my husband and I decided to make a trip to Japan. He had studied there in college and wanted to return to revisit some places and friends, as well as to go farther in his travels now that we had the means and travel know-how. I wanted to experience an Eastern culture and indulge in the delicious food!

We spent a total of eleven days (not including the grueling 14 hour flight with a layover in Seoul) in Japan, beginning in Tokyo, traveling down the coast to Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka, and ending in Tokyo. It was easily one of the best trips I've ever taken, second only to our honeymoon around the Mediterranean.

Recap: Ambling Through Amsterdam

Recap: Ambling Through Amsterdam

We just got back from our first trip to Amsterdam, and I feel like I ate my way through the city. I had such a great time trying all the delicious foods (and beers) and getting acquainted with Amsterdam. 

We really like major metropolitan cities, and Amsterdam didn't disappoint. Given the number of immigrants to the city, the population (and food) was much more diverse than Stuttgart. The city is also huge, and rather than having a single downtown area (though it does have an Old Town), there are several neighborhoods or boroughs, each with its own atmosphere. 

Summertime And The Biergartens Are Easy

Summertime And The Biergartens Are Easy

One quintessential German experience that I've come to love is that of sitting outside in a biergarten (literally "beer garden") on a summer's day enjoying a cold beer and chatting with friends, which is just the experience that I had today. Though we were saying goodbye to a friend and coworker who's leaving the school for a new adventure, it was hard to be too sad when we were surrounded by good friends, good food, and good weather.

Open only from about April/May through October, biergartens combine the German love for the outdoors and beer. Most have long, wide picnic tables to accommodate several close friends or acquaintances, as well as a play area for the children, making biergartens a relaxing location for the whole family.

Sunday Brunch at Brauhaus Schönbuch

Sunday Brunch at Brauhaus Schönbuch

Brunch is probably my favorite meal because it combines the best of breakfast and the best of lunch at the right time of day. I also love to try lots of flavors, and so buffets really appeal to me. That's why when Brauhaus Schönbuch advertised a brunch buffet, I decided to give it a shot. 

I've been to Brauhaus Schönbuch several times now. They are conveniently open midday until 1:00 on the weekends and have tons of space for large groups of people. They're also located centrally in the Mitte, but just off a side-street from the busy Königstraße, which means the spacious patio is calmer and quiet than the rest of the downtown area. 

Breakfast at Bäckerei Frank

Breakfast at Bäckerei Frank

One thing I love about living in Germany is the bread. Unlike American Wonder Bread, German bread is baked fresh and comes in a variety of flavors besides "white". In fact, "wheat bread" doesn't exist here, because most of the breads you can buy are a kind of wheat bread, or rather, just bread. In fact, the bread is so fresh that once you slice it, it's really only good for two or three days max until it starts to get stale. I suppose this explains why bread is so cheap, and why it's normal to buy fresh bread every day as you need it. 

Bakeries are a much bigger deal here than in the States, and it's not uncommon to see two or three on the same corner in a city. We do most of our shopping at that the bakery just outside our local grocery store out of convenience, although I'll also stop at one of the two bakeries on the way to work when I need bread or breakfast rolls for school. I find that the quality at these bakeries is fine for the everyday (and still above what we used to get at our grocery store bakery in the States), but when I have the time, I like to go to my favorite bakery in our neighborhood: Bäckerei Frank.