Ever have that feeling when you’ve been away from the kitchen for so long that you may forget how to cook? My European travel only lasted less than two weeks but I certainly felt like it was longer. Friends old and new were so generous to show me the Old World I couldn’t have asked for a better vacation.
I had never been to Germany prior to this trip. I got the chance to spend a weekend in Damp and a night in Husum/Nordstrand, both in the Schleswig-Holstein region near the German-Danish border. Obscure choices for a first-timer I’m sure but it was inline speed skating competitions that brought me there both times. The photo above really says it all. I took it immediately after I completed my race in Nordstrand of which I came third place overall among the women. I skated a good race, received my medal, and rewarded myself with a slice of authentic black forest cake loaded with kirshwasser. It was as good as I hoped it would be.
I am far less familiar with the German language or cuisine compared to other regions of Europe. This made for quite an adventure which I thoroughly enjoyed in my brief stay. The night before my race last Sunday, I ventured from the hotel to the waterfront neighbourhood in Husum. Being a quiet seaside resort town, the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. The lack of an English menu nor any English-speaking waitress did not deter me from enjoying my dinner. I ordered Friesenteller mit nordischen Spezialitaten: Matjesfilet, Nordseekrabben, Fetakase und Sauerfleisch, Holsteiner Schinken, dazu Brot und Butter and hoped for the best.
My dinner arrived piled high with North Sea specialties. There were cured herring fillet, tiny briny shrimps from the North Sea, cubes of mild feta cheese, cured sour pork, thinly sliced ham from local pigs, salad in yogurt dressing, all served with dark rye bread and butter. The ham reminded me of less smoky version of speck. The cured herring was not unlike gravlax. The sour pork was unlike anything I tasted before yet the heartiness was interesting when I ate it with bread and butter. All in all, it was an adventure for my taste buds.
The next morning I woke up extra early so I could take advantage of Hotel am Schlosspark’s complimentary breakfast buffet. If it wasn’t for an impending race in three hours, I would have tried every single item on offer! I polished off everything you see in the photo above but the highlights were pretzel croissant, birscher muesli, pickled herring pinwheel, devilled egg with Nordseekrabben, and the silky ham. You have no idea how tough it was for me to walk away from the table when so many delicious dishes beckoned! For the record, between the Scandinavian influence and the heartiness of German cuisine, this breakfast spread totally sails past a full English on my list of great breakfasts around the world.
Obviously I could not leave Germany without sampling currywurst and my personal weakness, pretzel rolls. Both fed my post-race munchies admirably but I was still left wanting. Remember that I raced in small resort towns in northern Germany, charming for sure but far away from the selection afforded by more vibrant metropolis. Both the currywurst and pretzel rolls were enjoyable but nowhere near memorable. Oh well, next time.
Speaking of next time, it may arrive much sooner than expected. Berlin Inline Marathon is the largest race for inline skating in the world. It is high on the list of many skaters and my skating career would not be complete without racing on the historic streets of Berlin at least once. Buoyed by the wonderful experience of my last two European races, I am determine to make my way once again across the Atlantic in September. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than speeding down the streets of Berlin with over 8000 friends on skates. Great food and even better company. What more can a girl ask for?
