Germany has ~15 states and that many regional cuisines. Since I was raised mainly in Southern Bavaria, that is my area of food experience. So to start with, I will focus this page on my comfort food. However there is a sense of an overall German cuisine and certainly there are areas near borders with other countries where the cuisine mixes. For instance Bavarian and bordering Austrian foods are similar; in fact, Schnitzel is actually Austrian.
Bavarian Traditions
This is my experience of eating in Bavaria and speaks to the areas I have lived in, which range from farming communities (Odelzhausen), to tourist destinations (Oberammergau), to the city (Munich).
- Frühstück (breakfast) generally has bread (toast, rolls), butter, deli meats, cheeses, marmelade, honey and boiled eggs. Drinks are coffee or tea and sometimes cocoa or milk. Occasionally there would be fruit juice.
- Brotzeit (2nd breakfast) usually Weißwurst, Brezel, Weissbier + sweet senf that is often eaten by farmers. First they have a quick breakfast, attend to the animals, then come back in for a proper breakfast, and go out again.
- Mittagessen, or lunch, is served ~12-1pm
- Kaffee und Kuchen, would be coffee/bakery goods eaten during the time between lunch and dinner. A nice little break, often done on the weekends, Sunday most usually.
- Abendbrot, or dinner, is served ~5-6 and is the smaller meal of the day. Often similar layout as breakfast.
Starch
- Bread: with over 200 types from all types of grains and seeds
- Bretzel: large bready pretzels that can be up to 1 foot in diameter
- Knödel: are dumplings (potato, bread)
- Semmel: bread rolls most commonly used for sandwiches
- Spätzle: are pasta
Meat
Meat is common fare as most of southern Germany is alpine and best suited for raising meat. Meat comes in a variety of ways, mostly the day-to-day consumption is as sausages (1500+ varieties, 1) or deli meats (e.g., Black Forest Ham). The most commonly used cooking technique is braised although schnitzel is always fried.
- Pork
- Poultry
- Beef
Most Common Veggies
- Cabbage
- Potatoes (came to Germany in late 17th century)
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Turnips
- Spinach
- Peas
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Onions
- White Asparagus
Favorite Condiments
- Mustard: hot, sweet, etc.
- Horseradish
Common Herbs/Spices
- Anise seed
- Caraway
- Cardamom\
- Cinnamon
- Chives
- Dill
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Laurel
- Juniper berries
- Nutmeg
Drinks
- Beer
- Wine
- Coffee
- Tea