Food and Drink in German-speaking Countries

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When most people think of German foods, they may think of Wurst, Wienerschnitzel, and beer. While these are definitely traditional German foods, they are by no means the only options when one visits Germany or any other German-speaking country. In truth, Germany is one of many options for satisfying your culinary desires. There are numerous nearby countries like Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Denmark, and all of these have their own traditional foods and drinks.

As is true with our culture, Europeans (German-speaking countries included) tend to have three meals per day. They are breakfast (Frühstück), lunch (Mittagessen), and dinner (Abendessen). There are a few exceptions to this „rule”, and Bavaria is one of them. In Bavaria it isn’t uncommon to have what they call Second Breakfast (Zweites Frühstück), which is simply a smaller meal composed of the same foods that would normally be found in breakfast. In America we might call this meal „brunch,“

Breakfast in German-speaking counties is close to what we know as the continental breakfast. It’s composed of meats, cheeses, eggs, fruit, and many variations on the simple staple of western life: bread. With over 200 varieties, German bread is some of the most varied in the world. Another typical German food is the ubiquitous sausage. The average German consumes over 60 lbs of sausage every year, and supposedly more than 1500 different types of sausage originate in Germany. There are many recipes for „German Pancakes,“ but this is a contested topic, some claiming that a German Pancake is more like a crepe, while others say that German Pancakes are cooked in an oven.

The next main meal is lunch, the midday meal. Typically eaten around noon, this meal was traditionally the main meal of the day, although in the past century, it has become sort of a place-holder or a small meal to hold you over until dinner. It’s sometimes composed of many of the same foods as breakfast. In formal lunches, a soup course is almost always served, followed by the main courses. Popular soups are normally made with asparagus, beans, potatoes, or lentils.

Dinner, the last meal of the day, is usually eaten at a later time than most customs in the United States. Traditionally a smaller meal than lunch, it has most of the same staples though.

Although the areas in and around Germany are famous for their Wiener Schnitzel and sausage, Germans normally don't eat this every day. Popular meats include pork (the most popular), beef, and chicken, while those less common include venison, boar, rabbit, lamb, and goat. The most common vegetables of the area are potatoes and asparagus; some meals are entirely devoted to these crops. Some lesser vegetables include carrots, spinach, beans, and broccoli, and these may be used as side dishes. Noodles and dumplings are also considered popular side dishes, with the noodles being thicker than those common in other parts of Europe.