Leibspeise – Your Favourite German Food Worldwide

Herman Ze German, London, England

leibspeise — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:39:48 +0000

It’s been a quite a while since our last post on the Leibspeise blog. Not because there are no more interesting German food places around the world, but because we finished our world travels and settled for a somehow more steady life in Berlin. So … this is to all German food culture lovers out there: We reckon this blog is a great idea. Please help us grow it and send in your favorite German food story to Leibspeise.

For this story, Leibspeise didn’t have to travel that far: London – the home of the Herman Ze German sausage stall. It’s the story of a German couple that owned a little stall selling German sausages. Traveling from one festival to another they just had one dream: settling down and opening their own shop in London.

So they did: End of 2010 Florian Frey and his girlfriend Azadeh Falakshahi, both Germans from the Black Forest, opened their own shop right between Charging Cross and Embankment tube station. Florian, originally a hairdresser, says: “When we moved to the UK we both missed German sausages and started to bring them over for us and our friends.” The couple still imports their sausages from a small producer in Germany, from the village the couple grew up in. Needless to say that what Germans consider a sausage and what English consider a sausage are completely different. Thanks to Florian and Azadeh you now can enjoy a real sausage in the underdeveloped sausage city of London.

The couple is not only selling the normal Bratwurst in their shop, they also offer Bockwurst, Leberkäse, sandwiches and German bakery products like berliner, pretzels or German farmers bread. Their bestseller is their yummy Currwurst. The little shop runs well and so the couple started to offer shirts with their logo on it and already have a bit of cult following.

Although not too far from Germany, Leibspeise likes Florian’s and Azadeh’s little shop and certainly could see that they both love what they are doing. Guten Appetit!

Check it out @:
Herman ze German
19 Villiers Street
WC2N 6NE

Link:
http://www.herman-ze-german.co.uk/

Schroeder’s, San Francisco, USA

leibspeise — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:04:00 +0000

Leibspeise would like to thank Karin Leppin for her contribution to our site. Here’s what she wrote about Schroeder’s in San Francisco. According to her report and the video below it looks like an appropriate spot to encounter some authentic Oktoberfest action this coming October…

Searching for a place to watch the final game of the European soccer championship in summer 2008 (Germany vs. Spain) we found a place in San Francisco called „Schroeder’s“. Located downtown in a street busy during the week and quiet on weekends. We almost didn’t find it, but then followed the German flags and T-Shirts. Inside we found public viewing with almost no difference to any Biergarten in Germany. Many German fans, but also the Spanish – who unfortunately won the championship and hence drunk more beer than the Germans! The food was ok. Classical mostly Bavarian dishes such as Bratwurst and Sauerkraut or Spätzle.

Link:
http://www.schroederssf.com/

German Bakery, Dahab, Egypt

leibspeise — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:24:21 +0000

This is Ralph. He could be Leibspeise’s role model: the self-proclaimed “baker nomad” is a passionate baker from Munich and helped to set up bakeries around the globe for many years. Fortunately for all expats living on the Sinai in Egypt, he ended his nomadic life in 2006 to do his own thing: running a true German bakery in Dahab.

As the story goes, a German hotel owner missed her German bread so much that she looked for an adventurous baker. At that time, Ralph was thinking of a place to settle down and open up his own bakery, so the match was made. Some years later, Ralph now owns three bakery shops in Dahab and is about to open a German restaurant.

During our time in Dahab, Leibspeise made several repeat visits to his bakery because the bretzels, nut rolls, cakes, bread rolls and strudels were absolutely amazing. Part of this is due to the fact that Ralph meticulously takes care of the baking process, ingredients as well as training of staff. Further, he only has two machines in his kitchen (an oven and a kneading machine) and still does most by hand.

Ralph already has a strong following in town and even people from Sharm el Sheikh come to his shops for bread and sweets shopping. If you are on Sinai, Leibspeise highly recommends a visit.

The three German Bakeries can be found at Alf Leila’s B&B on the corner of Main Street and Al Fanar, one close to the Lighthouse, and one on the main street in Mashraba. n

Link (click on ‘bakery’ in the navigation bar):

http://www.alfleila.com

German Bakeshop, New Delhi, India

leibspeise — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:59:42 +0000

Since 2008 India’s capital, New Delhi, has its own true German Bakery: The German Bakeshop in Vasant Kunj. The bakery is the brain child of Helmut Schmidtmann who is a real entrepreneurial gypsy having worked in the field of engineering across Asia Pacific for many years. Currently he is Chairman of the ITA-Group, a company that helps German companies to set foot in Asian markets.

So why has he opened a bakery? It just happened to be that he had cravings for a true German Brezel and opening his own bakery was the only way to satisfy his longing. The German Bakeshop was set up with the help of a German baker master and offers a wide range of German breads and buns. There is a small shop in Vasant Kunj, but a lot of customers choose to pre-order online or over the phone.

Most of the ingredients are imported from Germany, but Mr. Schmidtmann is currently exploring options to source more ingredients from India. Interestingly, he considers a cooperation with Micha from the Brown Bread Bakery in Varanasi (read our article about this bakery here).

The German Bakeshop can be found in the ITA-Group building on Main Road in Vasant Kunj. Future plans are to add a Delicatessen section and bistro to the shop. Self-evidently, the sausages and meat products will be produced in-house as well.

Leibspeise sampled a deliciously tasting Apple Strudel while we were invited for lunch at Mr. Schmidtmann’s house. Judging from this we can only recommend to stop by the German bakeshop.

Link:

http://www.organicgermanbakeshop.com/

Brown Bread Bakery, Varanasi, India

leibspeise — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:43:04 +0000

Quite frankly, if you are in search for good German bread and food in India, the subcontinent can be considered quite a disappointment. Although “German bakery” signs are abundant in India’s touristy places, the likelihood of encountering real German bread is very slim (unless you consider croissants, cookies and soft white bread typical German).

Leibspeise therefore was quite happy to find the Brown Bread Bakery in Varanasi. This bakery / restaurant was opened by German Michael Schmid in 2006. Michael is not really a baker by trade, but he spent quite some time learning how to bake in his uncle’s bakery in Mühlacker, Southern Germany (This is probably why you can find such dishes like Spaetzle and Fondue on the menu). The Brown Bread Bakery is committed to offer as many organic products as possible and formed relationships with local farmerswho produce organically grown fruits and vegetables. The bakery also sells different cheeses that come from the mountainous areas in India’s North and South.

At a breakfast visit in Varanasi’s old town, Leibspeise tested two “belegte Broetchen” (see picture), one with organic cheese and the other with salami (yes, even in India this is possible as the salami is imported from Italy). Both bread rolls were served on organic brown bread and were quite nice. If you enter the bakery and walk up to the first floor (shoes off), there is a very cosy restaurant where you can relax and chose from the restaurant’s enormous menu. In addition to the typical India backpacker menu items (including Italian, Thai, Chinese), you can order such German delights like Schnitzel, Cordon Bleu, Kaesespaetzle, Bratapfel, Laugenbrezel. Leibspeise didn’t want to have a Schnitzel for breakfast, so we can’t tell if it tastes nice, but if you happen to be there, please order it and let us know!

As another project, Micha also runs the Charity Learn for Life that works to provide free education and medical assistance for the poor in Varanasi. 20% of the bakery’s profit goes to this NGO.

Finding the bakery is a relatively easy task. Just open your eyes when walking through the small streets or along the gaths and look for the “Brown Bread Bakery” sign on the walls. Also see our map for the exact location. The bakery is close to the Dashaswamedh gath.

Links:

http://www.brownbreadbakery.com/

http://www.learn-for-life.org/

Austrian Hospice, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel

leibspeise — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:18:21 +0000

Although not quite German, the Austrian Hospice in Jerusalem is a must if you should ever make it into the Holy City. In the buzzing, noisy and narrow streets of the Old City this place of German cleanliness, order and precision is outstanding in many ways.

Besides the beautiful rooms that should be booked long in advance, it features a Vienna style Kaffeehaus on the entrance level. Under the views of the Austrian Kaiser on the wall you can enjoy some truly great filter coffee in style. Try it together with an Apfelstrudel and you’ll understand why the Hospice has to be part of Leibspeise. For the real hungry ones they usually offer some proper food as well, like Kässpätzle.

Take your drinks and the paper slip with your order number outside and make yourself comfortable in the beautiful garden, they will bring you the food later on. Sit on one of the two towers in front of the entrance (like on the picture) and enjoy the food, the beautiful view and the silence.

If you enter the city through Damascus gate in the north, try to keep going straight through the dirty market roads and past the obtrusive shopkeepers until at the intersection with the famous Via Dolorosa you will see a huge walled building on the left with a massive metal door. You have to ring the bell and they will usually let you in.

Leibspeise thanks Mario for this contribution to Leibspeise and agrees with him that although not German an Austrian tavern also belongs to this blog.

Pumpernickel, Kathmandu, Nepal

leibspeise — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:53:54 +0000

It came as a surprise to Leibspeise that each Nepalese country village had nearly as many “German bakery” signs as a small town in Germany (see pictures). Hence, it was quite a challenge to find a German bakery that truly is German and doesn’t just put a German sign over the front door.

We discovered Pumpernickel bakery in central Thamel, Kathmandu and of all fake German bakeries this is the only one that actually lives up to its name. It offers a variety of bread rolls, fantastic sandwiches and cakes which all do taste like real German bakery products. Yet, an interview with the friendly Nepali owner Norbu revealed that while Pumpernickel has been around for almost 30 years, it has no connection to Germany: all ingredients are from Nepal (organic), and all staff is Nepali.

Interestingly, all recipes are developed based on a trial and error approach, customers are given samples and asked for their feedback. Norbu is currently creating a rye and sourdough bread which will be available next year.

To portrait Pumpernickel was a tough choice for Leibspeise as it had no connections to Germany in a strict sense, yet, its products are very German, so it would be a shame to not let you know about this German food jewel in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Gasthaus & Bierhaus, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

leibspeise — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:51:35 +0000

Leibspeise was more than pleased to read in their Lonely Planet Guidebook that there is a German Gasthaus in Tashkent. So on their last day in the ‘Stans’ they went on another mission to find German food.

Gasthaus looks like a ‘Fachwerkhaus’ from the outside, quite inviting. Yet, Leibspeise had to pass a bouncer and a “face, bag and dress code control”. That’s something new.

Once inside, we were surrounded by the stereotypical Bavarian decor and nicknack. Waiters were dressed in fake Lederhosen (velvet instead of leather), waitresses wore “appropriate” dirndls (sorry guys, no cleavage).

Foodwise, Leibspeise was faced with a Russian menu only. Basic translations from one staff member was needed, so assumptions are based on what Leispeise saw on other guest’s plates. Leibspeise thinks that Gasthaus offers the typical German menu: schnitzel, sauerkraut, pork knuckle, sausages, etc. Leibspeise sampled a ‘German soup’ which tasted like an Uzbek schorpa and a Schnitzel, which was o.k, nicely presented but a bit soggy. So foodwise, Gasthaus could do with some authentic German cooking lessons, but Leibspeise really liked Gasthaus’ beer. They offer ‘Helles’, ‘Dunkles’, ‘Weizen’, which was delicious.

On their way to their hostel, Leibspeise stumbled across another German labelled restaurant: Bierhaus. Besides the offer of another ‘Helles’ and ‘Dunkles’ which was less tasty than the Gasthaus brew, the menu did have some interesting ideas about German food. Leibspeise found “German Things: toast with tomato and cheese” or ” Stewed Munich cabbage” or “German salad: chicken, mushrooms, pai, cumcumber”.

So what did Leibspeise learn? Even in Uzbekistan, (rich) people go for ‘Bavarian atmosphere’ and German style food. Leibspeise’s verdict is that both venues would benefit from some serious development aid in regards to real German food and cooking though.

Bakery 88, Dali, Yunnan, China

leibspeise — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:05:22 +0000

Bakery 88 in Dali in China’s Yunnan province is possibly the biggest jewel Leibspeise encountered so far throughout its travels. Not only because you can get the freshest bakery products with a strong emphasis on organic local ingredients, but mainly because its founder and ‘Mom of all’ Karine has such a passion for her baking hobby and is keen to train young local women both in baking / cooking, but also in English and general life skills. Karine has lived and worked in China since the mid 80s and came to Dali first in 92. She and her husband immediately fell in love with Dali’s relaxed atmosphere and started Bakery 88 in 2007. Since then, the Bakery 88 family grew to 8 people.

First thing you encounter when entering the shop, is a display of really deliciously looking cake. Traditional German cheese cake, chocolate cake, chestnut-pear cake and their ‘Hoernchen’ are bestsellers. Leibspeise’s test of a cheese cake didn’t leave any doubts why. On top of a variety of ‘belegte Broetchen’, the bakery also sells local cheese and organic honey and jam. Surprisingly, 80% of Karine’s clients are Chinese who buy her products because it’s healthy (and obviously tasty).

In winter time when the climate allows for some serious baking and cooking sessions, Karine holds baking and cooking workshops for local women in her bakery. Check out Karine’s personal food blog to get a feel of what’s happening there. Leibspeise loved Karine’s passion for her business, her can do attitude and especially her social thrive to improve lifes of local women.

Bakery 88 can be found on Foreigner Street 52, Bo’ai Lu in Dali’s Old Town. It’s open from 7am to 10pm 7 days a week.

Links:

The Bakery 88

Karine’s food blog

Schnurrbart’s, Hong Kong, China

leibspeise — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:41:54 +0000

In true Leibspeise spirit, Schnurrbart’s was established 26 years ago by 3 Germans who came to Hong Kong and clearly saw the lack of good German beers and food. Leibspeise wonders what this says about English beer and food?! What better idea could they have had than opening a German beer hall / pub / restaurant /Schnapps bar called Schnurrbart’s. By the way, ‘Schnurrbart’ is something typical German and means ‘moustache’.

It doesn’t take long until you realise that this is a real German authentic place. You certainly won’t see anything that refers to modern Germany (Schnurrbart’s looks like a typical Landgasthof), but a first view at the tab reveals some nice German Pilsners (Jever, Koepi, Warsteiner, Veltins). Furthermore, Schnurrbart’s menu boasts with a plethora of other beers and traditional German dishes. Their pork knuckle, mixed sausage plate, Wiener Schnitzel and the Currywurst are bestsellers, but there’s much more on the menu, eg. Suelze, simple salami and cheese bread (belegte Broetchen), Apfelstrudel, fried egg with potatoes, Frikadelle.

Schnurrbart’s guarantees its German authenticity by getting their chefs trained by Germans, sometimes they even invite guest chefs from Germany to create a special dish. And most importantly, Schnurrbart’s buys some of their produce from a local butcher called “Bayern-Gourmet” in close-by Aberdeen (check out their website; it’s mouthwatering). Although Schnurrbart’s has many Germans as regulars, other expats and a growing number of local Hong Kongers enjoy their culinary trip to Germany at Schnurrbart’s.

Leibspeise loved tasting a refreshing Jever after all so many weeks of Chinese Tsingtao and also was impressed by the selection of German imported Schnapps (see picture above). Similar to Koelsch beer, at Schnurrbart’s you can buy Schnaps in meters or even in 2 meters. Make use of their Happy Hour from 5-8pm. Na denn, Prost!

Schnurrbart’s has two branches: one in Lang Kwai Fong on Hong Kong island, the other one Tsimshatsui on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong.