What a Saturday! We attended a strawberry fest in Esslingen, Germany that I would call one of my best experiences since I’ve been in Stuttgart!
So what was so great? Well, number 1 was that as you strolled through the festival, the town businesses were handing around a good quality sekt (sparkling, cremant like wine). Number 2 was that the street musicians were fantastic.
Of course we had to try everything strawberry or it would have been pointless. We began with the wine, a Rose sekt with strawberries.
That worked!
Strawberry danish. Nobody really liked this but it had to be done.
Strawberries in a cup with fromage blanc.
The business owners were friendly, talkative and generous with the wine, served in normal glasses. Esslingen has an enormous and beautiful downtown business area interspersed with churches, old Tudor houses and shaded spots for resting between shopping. The weather was mid 70s (Fahrenheit Roger) and it was a perfect day for a fair.
Onward! Strawberry mustard. Yes, we bought some. It was good spread on the sample bits of bread.
Strawberry liqueur. Tasted, not bought.
Jade just loved this group of young musicians because they were singing in French. I think they were French.
It’s not often that you see a bass saxophone. So what were they playing? You guessed it, Summertime 🙂 They were quite good.
There are 3 American military installations in the Stuttgart area and I think everybody came, most likely in bus loads. It was like Calcutta, shuffling along, cheek by jowl, only with better dressed people speaking American English. No beggars.
Escaping from the “madding crowd”, we found a quiet little oasis for lunch. Gambrinus.
Gambrinus is a legendary king of Flanders, and an unofficial patron saint of beer or beer brewing. Gambrinus is variously depicted as a European king, as an English knight of the Middle Ages, or (less commonly) as a plump old man. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambrinus
We sat outside of the restaurant at a cool, shaded table and enjoyed a glass of “correct” sekt Rose as we looked over the menu. German, the selection of plates were a little on the heavy side but the owners had wisely limited the menu, going for fresh quality over quantity. Their food was good. Underneath this heap of fresh greens was a potato salad with carrots.
Maultaschen with an onion confit.
Salmon roll salad with cheese.
Fresh perch, not frozen, with herb butter and bacon potatoes.
Dessert was out of the question. We had a coffee. A good coffee 🙂
I know we will go back to this restaurant because we want to go back to visit this pretty town when it’s not so crowded.
Converse All Stars.
On the way back to the car in front of, I believe, an insurance company we were handed two glasses of sekt and invited to listen to Joe Vox http://www.joe-vox.com/, a German, multilingual musician who was easily the most popular attraction at the fair. We stayed a while 🙂
I visited Esslingen a few years back, lovely town, shame My visit wasn’t during this festival. The mustard looks intriguing. Thanks!
It was lovely. We’d like to go back soon.
What a lovely sounding day!
It was Karen. As I said, my best time in Stuttgart.
This sounds lovely. I stayed in Esslingen years ago for a German exchange program, and I vaguely recall my exchange partner pointing out some of the hills surrounding the city where they grow the grapes for sekt. I never did get to try any, but it all looks amazing. I think I might go back one day now 🙂
The sekt is very good and compares very well to French cremant.
WOW I’m insanely jealous!! I love strawberries, love the look of the Strawberry mustard, what a bright and vibrant colour
You’ll have to make plans to go to the festival one year. It’s so worth it.
I must say, these colours are gorgeous! 😀
Thank you Varbart.
Sounds like a perfect day, am intrigued by the mustard!
The mustard is good. I’m going to try making a vinaigrette with it.
Brilliant – it looks like a great day out!
How beautiful! The color of those strawberries is divine. I am very intrigued by that strawberry mustard. Was the strawberry flavor prominent?
You can taste the strawberries with a Dijon like, spicy aftertaste.
Intriguing! The mind starts conjuring up all kinds of recipes . . .
Yes!
I once had a mustard ice cream that was actually delicious. Strawberry mustard ice cream, anyone?
If it worked with the mustard, you would think that the strawberry mustard would even be better. http://www.countryliving.com/recipefinder/strawberry-dijon-mustard-3931 Let me know 😀
what a lovely sounding day and what gorgeous food!
The fair, food and music were perfect!
What a beautiful looking place and how fun to be at a strawberry festival! I love that everyone looks bright pink in the reflection of the strawberries 😉
I liked the strawberry effect also 🙂
Strawberry fest!!! Oh, that is Heaven! I want!!
And strawberry mustard sounds too good, I’ll search for a recipe or the way to prepare it homemade, I need it!!
Here in Spain we have a chain of bar named Gambrinus. But… I think they’re less than correct 😛
Hi Paula. I searched on the internet http://www.countryliving.com/recipefinder/strawberry-dijon-mustard-3931
Beautiful pictures, you have! Looks like a lovely time. 🙂
It was great!