Dining Out at Restaurant Ganesha

Dining Out at Restaurant Ganesha

After the delicious tasting plate we had at the Stuttgart Street Food Market, we decided to check out Restaurant Ganesha to see if their other dishes were just as good. Now as a disclaimer, we actually went here about a month ago, and I've been holding off on a blog post because I hadn't quite figured out what to say. I think I'm finally ready for a summary. 

Restaurant Ganesha has three locations -- one in the West, the East, and in Fellbach. We tried the Stuttgart-West location on Rotebühlstraße as it was closest to the friends we were meeting for dinner. My first impression of the restaurant was that it looks stunning. They have a gorgeous entranceway and interior with warm colors, large murals, and lots of plants. Because the weather was so lovely, we chose to sit on the patio out back and were quickly seated despite not having a reservation. This didn't seem to be a problem as the restaurant wasn't very busy, even though it was a Saturday night around 7 pm...

A World of Food at the SommerFestival der Kulturen

A World of Food at the SommerFestival der Kulturen

Part of my intent in starting this blog a little over a year ago was to explore Stuttgart's culinary scene more thoroughly. I often lamented Stuttgart's lack of dining diversity as compared to some of the other cities we've visited, but the more I've blogged, the more I've searched for and found the diversity that I was craving. Though it may not be as obvious as in larger cities like Berlin and London, Stuttgart definitely has a lot of hidden gems. 

One major bonus has got to be the festivals, and imagine my surprise when I discovered a new (to me) one downtown! Just around the corner from the Hamburger Fischmarkt, the SommerFestival der Kulturen has pitched their tents and stage in front of the Rathaus in the Marktplatz. Yes, I'd heard of it, but for some reason never made the effort to go. Now, seeing as I write a food blog, I thought I'd be remiss if I didn't at least make the effort this year, and I was really very pleasantly surprised...

My New Favorite Burgers in Stuttgart at The Burger Republic

My New Favorite Burgers in Stuttgart at The Burger Republic

After the delicious truffle burgers from The Burger Republic that we ate at the second street food festival a few weeks ago, The Burger Republic jumped to the top of my list. If you've been following along with my search for a good burger in Stuttgart, then you know I finally found the right type of patty at the [m]eatery. They had some pretty solid, simple burgers that I really enjoyed. However, at 12-18€ per burger, they're not really an anytime kind of meal. And so, I was super excited to finally have the chance to check out The Burger Republic on Friday night. 

The Burger Republic has a great location on Marienstraße at the end of the Konigstraße in the pedestrian area before the new Gerber shopping mall. Though the restaurant with its all-black, stylized front has a counter seating and a second floor with standard tables, we chose to enjoy the nice weather and sit at the family-style benches out front...

Color and Spice at the Afrika-Festival

Color and Spice at the Afrika-Festival

Last night after the heat of the day had subsided, we decided to get some dinner while checking out the Afrika-Festival at Erwin-Schoettle-Platz in Stuttgart West. I'd seen the festival advertised for some time now, and wanted to see what it was all about. 

We decided to take the u-bahn to Marienplatz and walk up to stretch our legs some. As we approached, the slow trickle of pedestrians around us increased to a steady stream, and we could hear the up-beat rhythm of an African tune blaring from a distant loudspeaker...

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award 2015

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award 2015

Ami im Schwabenland recently nominated me for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award (thanks, Ami!). It's very much like the Liebster Award that I was nominated for last October. The rules are simple:

  1. Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you and share a link to her/his/their blog in your post.
  2. Answer the ten questions you've been sent.
  3. Write ten questions of your own.
  4. Spread the love and nominate up to ten bloggers!

Here are the ten questions Ami im Schawabenland sent, along with my answers...

 

Hot (Hot Hot!) This Year at the Marienplatzfest

Hot (Hot Hot!) This Year at the Marienplatzfest

If you live anywhere on the European continent, then you'll have felt the same heatwave that's been affecting Stuttgart this past week. Temperatures climbed up to 100-degrees Fahrenheit (37-degrees Celsius) this Fourth of July weekend, which though I recognize is nothing compared to the U.S. South this time of year, it's still unseasonably hot for Germany and somewhat challenging in a country without home air conditioning. Still, the weather didn't stop me from going to the Schlosspark for a picnic yesterday afternoon and then out to the Marienplatzfest for my first time. 

The annual festival takes places in the Marienplatz square just above the u-bahn station and next to the Zacke (the old "rack railway") station. To tell you the truth, we stopped by Marienplatz on Friday night to see what the festival was about, but the square was so crowded that we decided to come back on Saturday night without our dog, who was finding it challenging to find space to walk without being stepped on. And so on Saturday we made our way there again around 9 pm -- without the dog -- when the heat had subsided a bit...

Must-Try Eats in Frankfurt

Must-Try Eats in Frankfurt

A couple of weekends ago I found myself in Frankfurt am Main visiting with friends. Frankfurt has the biggest international airport in this part of the country, so we make it there somewhat regularly either to see friends arrive or leave from the airport, to go on our own adventures, or to visit our friends who live there. On this occasion, we had a couple of meals from some past favorites, but we also tried brunch at a our favorite Frankfurt bakery for the first time and loved it! 

If you're ever in Frankfurt, here are three places that I recommend you try...

Upcoming Festivals and Events in July/August 2015 (Updated)

Upcoming Festivals and Events in July/August 2015 (Updated)

The festival season is in full swing now -- just check out the length of this list! Here's what's going on:

July 2nd to 5th Marienplatzfest -- Somehow I've missed this festival in Marienplatz for the past two years in a row due to traveling, and it always looks like a lot of fun. According to my friends who've gone, this four-day festival features live bands, food stands, and some urban art creation. I've marked my calendar and plan to try it this year for sure...

Take Two at the Stuttgart Street Food Market

Take Two at the Stuttgart Street Food Market

Even though the last street food market turned into a bit of a fiasco, I entered the dates for their second event in my calendar as I rarely pass up a food-focused event. The second market took place this past weekend at Turlenstraße 2 in the Mitte. Right away the location was much better. Instead of the winding path through the train tracks that I took to get to the first market, this one was located right across the street from the new Milaneo mall. The signage was also much better with large, bright green announcements along the entrance. 

The venue was a bit like the bottom level of a parking garage with all of the food trucks and stands set up inside. There was a desk set up at the entrance where they required a 2€ entrance fee. When we arrived on the first night, Friday, we noticed a group of Mexican dancers by the entrance putting on a show. It was a very festive atmosphere, although much quieter than the first market. By comparison, there was hardly anyone there. The lines to most of the food stands were only three or four people long at most, and there were plenty of picnic tables set up around the venue for people to stop and eat. There were about 30 different stands set up in total, and we ended up going to the market on both Friday and Saturday night so that we could sample as much as possible...