German Food

German Food refers to a wide range of cooking styles, varying by region. Prominent features of this cuisine are specialty breads and heavy use of chicken and pork.

Fast Facts

1. Germans traditionally drink beer with each meal
2. German food has transitioned from heavier ingredients (meats and starches) to a lighter cooking style.
3. Mustard and horseradish are the most popular German condiments.

Regional Favorites

1. Berlin: Soups with cabbage and peas are notable in Germany's capital, as are bratwurst dishes. According to Frommer's, one of the most extravagant German delicacies is pig's knuckles.
2. Westphalia: This region has an abundance of pig farms, and as such, ham is a frequent entree. Frommer's recommends "pickert," or sweet potato cakes.
3. Saxony: Famous for its gingerbread, Saxony offers a multitude of cakes, including stollen and baumkuchen, a golden layer cake.

Das Beer

German beer is famous around the world, with regional breweries providing an authentic taste in most towns. Pale lager is prominent throughout the country, and the German influence on the United States shows through Budweiser, Miller and Coors beers, which all derive from lagers originating in Germany.

The south of Germany has several wheat beer and ale breweries. Stouts and other heavy beers are not regular fixtures, as they are in parts of the United Kingdom.

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