Exploring German Cuisine

Introduction to Germany and It’s Cuisine

What do you know?

• What do you know about Germany?

• Travel?• Classes?• Food?

German Geography

• Germany is bordered by:– Two bodies of water– Nine different countries

Image retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications//the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html

German Topography

• Mountains!• Rivers!• Lush Valleys!• Northern Climate!– As far north as Canada

• Coastline!

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What about the United States?• What are some

geographic and topographic features of the United States?

• How do these features influence American cuisine?

Image retrieved from: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/us.htm

What about you?

• Where are you from? • Can you give some examples of how where you grew up impacts what you eat?

What about Germany’s location and features might influence its cuisine?

• Bodies of water– Seas– Rivers

• Neighboring countries (all 9 of them!)

• Topography– Mountains vs river

valleys

Image retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications//the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html

Regional Cuisine

• Northern Regions– Bordered by two Seas– Rivers– Lush valleys

• Northern specialties– Fish

• Eel Soup (Aalsuppe)– Berries

• Summer Berry Pudding (Rote Grutze)

– Cabbage• Sauerkraut

– Marzipan• Almond Paste used in desserts with

spices– Trade Routes

– Potatoes• Potato pancakes with Bacon and

Pear Sauce! (Himmel und Erde – Erdapfel)

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Regional Cuisine

• Eastern Regions– Prior Soviet Block– Cosmopolitan Berlin– Lush River Valleys

• Grain cultivation• Vegetable cultivation

• Eastern Specialties– Currywurst– Kaffee und Kuchen!!

• Dresdener Stollen– Pickled vegetables

• Gherkins– Breads

• Burger Knaeckebrot (Multigrain flatbread)

– Havelberger Bierfleisch• Stew made with fish,

potatoes, bacon, dark beer and gingerbread

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Regional Cuisine

• Southern Regions– Mountains

• Hunting– Cold Climate– Pig Farming

• Southern Specialties– Noodles

• Spaetzle• Maultaschen

– Dumplings• Knoedel or Kloesse

– Gingerbread• Lebkuchen

– Pretzels (Brezeln)– Schnitzel

• Pork or veal cutlets– Ham (Black Forest Ham)

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Regional Cuisine

• Western Regions– Shares borders

with• France• Belgium• Luxembourg• Netherlands

– Lush river valleys• Grain cultivation• Potato

cultivation

• Western Specialties– Potatoes

• Kartoffelknoedel– Beef stews (Sauerbraten)– Bread

• Pumpernickel– Mustards (Senf)– Sauces

• Gruene Sosse

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Bring it on home!• Why do different food habits develop in different parts of the

same country?– Ability to produce certain foods in certain areas– Neighboring countries– Topography

• How is German cuisine similar to and different from American cuisine?– Regional specialties are impacted by geography and topography– Same ingredients may exist throughout a country, but are treated or

prepared differently in different regions– Different influences

• Mexico vs France• Immigration

DANKE SCHÖN!

References

Central Intelligence Agency. (2012). The world factbook. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications//the-world-

factbook/geos/gm.html

GermanFoods.org. (n.d.). Germany’s states and regional food specialties. Retrieved from

http://www.germanfoods.org/consumer/facts/foodregions.cfm