The Month in (German) Food: September

Welcome to my first ever monthly round-up, a mix of food news from around Germany, brief restaurant reviews and previews for Wiesbaden and Mainz plus a selection of the very best of the month’s German food-related reading and recipes.  I’ve no idea what to call this feature, so all suggestions are welcome – if I end up using yours, I might even be able to come up with a prize!  Since September was pretty packed, I’m going to forgo the “Autumn!  Pumpkins!” preamble and just get down to business.  But please be sure to let me know what you think in the comments…

Wiesbaden Schlossplatz on Hessen Sustainability Day

Oktoberfest chocolate from Michi’s Chocolatier, Frankfurt

Grilled lamb chops at Harput

Empanadas by Marc and Magdeline

September was the month I…

✭ …turned off my neanderthal Nokia, switched to a shiny new smartphone and – gasp – joined Instagram.  Come say hello!
✭ …ate a first class Currywurst at the recently-opened Curry Kartell
✭ …brought home a bagful of tasty empanadas from the Marc und Magdeline CateringService stall at Wiesbaden’s International Summer Festival
✭ …went on a food tour of Frankfurt’s Nordend, which I instagrammed furiously – review to follow later this week (edit: I’ve now written all about it)
✭ …attended Hessen’s annual Day of Sustainability, an annual public event to raise awareness of responsible consumption.  The main focus was on food: members of the Slow Food movement encouraged us to think carefully about the food we buy (where it’s from and how it’s produced) and there was a live cookery show from the Food Fighters demonstrating how to use up the foods we often end up chucking out.  Very good, very important stuff.

A Wiesbaden restaurant revolution?

The food scene round here, it seems to be a-changing.  There’s been a spate of new bars and restaurants opening recently, and as long as they’re as good as Curry Kartell, then long may it continue.  Cute-looking, French-inspired bar Tante Simone is doing good business on Sedanplatz; there’s competition for Harput on Wellritzstrasse in the form of shiny new Sultan; and the Cuban Bar on Emserstrasse has also recently opened its doors for the first time.  I’ve heard good things about the food there, so let’s just hope it lasts longer than the its predecessors.

Having finally caught onto the burger trend (you know, the one that’s been and gone everywhere else), Wiesbaden is about to be treated to another burger joint, Das!Burger, which will soon be opening in Shalimar’s old spot on Grabenstrasse (date tba).

Meanwhile, Wiesbaden’s 2nd annual Octoberfest is currently in full swing at the Marktgewölbe (till October 4); there’ll be a pumpkin festival taking place at the Wiesbaden farmers’ market on Saturday 11; and the next walking tour of the Wiesbaden farmers’ market will be taking place on Saturday 25.

B is for biscuits

As usual, there’s been a plethora of Berlin-related food articles this month, the more eye-catching of which included my friend and newly-diagnosed coeliac Kate’s review of the gluten-free pizza at Cielo di Berlino; some wonderful photos of new farmers’ market Die Dicke Linda (named after a potato); and an adventure at a biscuit factory outlet.

I’m disappointed to be missing out on Berlin’s annual Stadt Land Food Festival this weekend (October 2-5 ), a celebration of good food and its ethical production featuring food stalls, tastings, lectures, films, workshops and much more from all over Germany and beyond.  Ah well.  Maybe next year.

Meanwhile in Munich…

Oktoberfest is in full swing, and the internet’s flooded with all sorts of advice on How To Do It.  My favourites have included Emma’s Oktoberfest Secrets, a guide on how to buy Lederhosen and, mostly importantly, what to eat to soak up all that beer.  And if you want to remind yourself why you’re not at Oktoberfest, you can always have a quick browse of München Kotzt (Munich vomits).

This month’s restaurant reviews from elsewhere in Germany

Textor Bar and Restaurant, Frankfurt ✭ Lunch at Helium, Frankfurt ✭ Coffee hunting in Kiel ✭ Where to eat with kids in Karlsruhe ✭ 9 Cafés in Munich offering lactose-free milk

Sauerkraut dumplings for one, please

One of my most favourite recent discoveries is Ginger and Bread, the blog of a London-based German who shares her favourite recipes from home, both savoury and sweet.  Ginger’s posts are informative, her photos beautiful to look at and her most recent recipes have included Kaiserschmarrn (an Austrian take on pancakes) and Krautkrapfen (Sauerkraut dumplings).  I’m hooked.

That’s it for September!  If, over the coming weeks, you see something that might be of interest to other German food-lovers and Germany-based foodies – an article you’ve read, an event or restaurant opening you’ve heard about, or if you think there’s a restaurant I should really check out – please send me a tweet or an email and let me know.  And whilst you’re playing on the internet, don’t forget to pop over to Instagram and say hi!