I just realized something yesterday that all of you have probably knew. Stuttgart is a city and not in a Paris kind of way. It’s a city like Washington, D.C. or New York or Los Angeles. Big, sprawling and impersonal. Bummer, but I can live with it, now that I understand where I am. And another really important thing that I didn’t focus on; Germany is famous for its beers, not its wines. Yes, yes we’ve all heard of Riesling but still, a Gallo Thunderbird headache is still a Gallo Thunderbird headache, no matter what the label says. In addition, we chose some random wines yesterday at a large supermarket to make an effort with German wines, but put them all back when we realized that they were screw tops. I can just see M. Parret’s face 😀 Since the French wines are ridiculously overpriced, we are switching to Italian wines. They’ve got Masi Amarone and good quality Pinot Grigio. Solved!
On Saturday we had lunch at a Greco-German restaurant. The portions were enormous but the food was correct and the Greek mezze assortment was delicious.
The salad was fresh with a nice iceberg lettuce crunch, Roger.
The prices were more than reasonable, especially considering the amount of food on each “trencher”!
Crispy lamb chops with a tzatziki stuffed baked potato. Fried calamari with an unctuous tartar sauce.
Two “grilled” pork steaks with herb butter.
So you won’t be surprised that Sunday found us, again, at the Chinese restaurant for a bit of the healthy and demi-sec Thunderbird in a glass 🙂
If you remember from last week https://cookinginsens.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/chinese-sunday/(see comments section), Jade and I were coveting our neighbors’ noodle soup bowls and we were right! But first, practicing moderation, we shared an appetizer of spicy dried fish decorated with a cute carrot butterfly. Jade and I liked it but dear old Dad was not amused. More for us 🙂
Instead, he drank his pilsner as an appetizer and went straight to the duck, Peking or fried, whatever, it was crispy and tasty.
But the soup bowls! Ooh la, la! Shrimp with baby bok choy in a savory seafood broth.
Shredded pork with garden fresh mustard greens. Yes!
On the way back from dropping Jade at the train station, we stopped for some very good wine at a charming Italian cafe with an interesting menu. We’re going to try to return for lunch next Saturday. Sorry, I still don’t know the name of the Chinese restaurant. Next time.
Cooking in Sens 
yummmmmmmmmy……!!!!
You definitely got you money’s worth in the Greek restaurant.
In case you don’t know, you are allowed to take large quantities of wine from one country to another inside Europe as long as it’s for your own consumption. In theory there’s no limit and you are not required to pay duty, since you have already paid the tax in the country of origin. Even from France to Britain (and British customs are mean), 300 bottles would be considered OK 😉
We’re getting set to buy a car here in Germany and will definitely load up on our next trip to France. I think Roger has taken wine to and from Britain. 300 bottles is a lot!
I checked and am a bit over the limit, it’s about 130 bottles each (90 litres). Here’s a chart:
http://europa.eu/travel/shop/index_en.htm
These are guide levels, in theory there isn’t a limit for personal use, but if you fill a lorry with wine they will assume you are running a business and that changes things.
Thanks Mad. Too bad about the lorry 🙂
Well it’s still almost 300 bottles between two – that should last a month or so 🙂
I believe Mad Dog just made your day! Your photos made mine.. I’ll be looking for some chinese bowls tonight! xx
Thank you Barbara. We are so lucky to have found this restaurant. One doesn’t always find authenticity in Chinese food restaurants.
What a delicious looking array of food! I have never found a German wine that I really like, though have had some good Rieslings, but just not my fave. Sounds like the above commenter has an excellent solution for you, though!
Yes, I think German wines should be drunk as novelty wines, like as in “Hey, look at this Crystal White Ethiopian wine!” “Let’s try it!” Then the pounding of your head the next morning will come as no surprise 🙂
It’s not easy eating in Germany unless you want a lot! I was amazed to find out that there are 9 three star Michelin restaurants in Germany.
I’d really like to eat some 2 or 3 star German cuisine. Once we get settled, we’ll at least try the two star here in Stuttgart. Karen http://backroadjournal.wordpress.com is traveling in Germany now. I’m going to watch her blog to see what she comes up with.
I would never had guessed that you knew about Thunderbird headaches :D!
You know how young people are 🙂
I don’t know too much about German wines but don’t be afraid to try some screw tops. I didn’t want to try screw tops either but we joined a wine club where they send you a case of mixed wines every few months and they sent us screw tops from France and Italy. I was pleasantly surprised to find they were very good. And it’s perfect if I want some wine and my husband doesn’t. Just put the top back on and I can have wine for a couple of days. Of course when we want a nice bottle between us we decant and there aren’t any leftovers. 🙂
Hi. You can also put the cork back in.
Yes but it’s not always a tight fit and the wine can turn. And we have stoppers. But like I said, even the higher end wines are putting out some wine with screw tops. I think they are finding there is less of an oxidation you can get with some corks when they dry out.
Interesting.
I would agree screw tops don’t mean bad quality necessarily. I will hasten to add that I am still looking for a good red German wine…
Are you “joshing” me 😀
You see tons of screw tops. Nothing wrong with them. I want to eat about everything in this post!
You are right Greg. Bali hai, Thunderbird, Ripple, Boone’s Farm, MD 20 20 all have screw tops.
Love your posts Rosemary! I’ve never been to Europe, I now feel transported after reading your posts. So fun!
Thank you Karista. You’ll have to plan a trip! I’ve never been to Spain or Portugal and they would be next on my list.
The mezze looks good and colourful
It was very good rs.
delicious
Thank you Alberto
Dining with you must be counted as one of life’s beautiful blessings!
Wow Cath, so nice of you to say so. Thank you.
Rosemary if the food is so good at the chinese restaurant, that you keep forgetting to look at the name, it REALLY must be good.. being distracted by the food is glorious! c
None of us can remember the name. We just say, let’s go to the Chinese restaurant. Country bumpkins 🙂
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