Deutschland: Spätzle, Spargel, and Sauerkraut

Das ist sehr gut! Spätzle, spargel and sauerkraut...the eigth, ninth, and tenth world wonders! Well, maybe not, but certainly staples of the German diet that makes other people wonder how the Germans stay so thin!

These are the foods accompanying any German Mann oder Frau while at the biergarten (beer garden). 

Let's begin with Spätzle, my personal favorite German food. Spätzle is a type of egg noodle that is popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary. There are many variations of Spätzle recipes - Spätzle und Saitenwürstle (with lentils and sausage), Käsespätzle (with cheese Spätzle), and Krautspätzle (with sauerkraut, onion, butter and spices). However, the most popular, and the one I will discuss is Käsespätzle. 

The egg noodles used in Spätzle can usually be found in your local grocery store's international food section. The brand I use the most frequently and found to be closest to the German original, is Black Forest Girl Spätzle. Another brand that I have found to represent the original well is Bechtle Blackforest Style Spätzle. This too, can be found in your local international food aisle. Both brands only include the egg noodles, so you will have to get Emmentaler, more commonly known as Swiss cheese. You will also need fried onion. 

Here is a typical Spätzle recipe. 

*Currently, I haven't found any local places that have good Spätzle. If you know of any, please let me know!

Spargel, is the German name for asparagus, and is often found on German dinner plates. In Germany, most asparagus is white, as it is grown in the soil in order to prevent photosynthesis, preventing the green color. Fun Fact: Germany produces 82,000 tons of asparagus a year; however, that is only enough to meet 61% of its consumption demands. 

Spargel can often be found in your local grocery store, most commonly in May-June, during the Spargelzeit, or Asparagus season. 

*Redlefsens, a German restaurant in Bristol, RI has a great asparagus appetizer on their dinner menu called Asparagus Pfannkuchen. (444 Thames Street, Bristol, RI  02809)

Sauerkraut is another German delicacy that has been transported to New England. It is finely sliced green cabbage that has been fermented by lactic acid bacteria. Sounds tasty, right? It really is, I promise! The fermentation gives the cabbage a distinct sour flavor, which is where the name sauerkraut comes from. 

Some local places that serve great, authentic-like sauerkraut are: 

• Mousies Deli, 1619 Warwick Ave., Warwick, RI
• Redfelsens, 444 Thames Street, Bristol, RI

*For an authentic Oktoberfest away from München, visit Redfelsens every Wednesday and Thursday

night OR Newport's International Oktoberfest from October 9-11th! There is German food, beer, music, and culture, all at the Newport Yachting Center. For tickets, click more information and tickets, click here.