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circuits: destination hockenheim |
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HOCKENHEIMFood & Wine:
King Frederick the Great of Prussia brought the potato from the Andes to Germany and made it popular as probably nowhere else in the world. So popular that since the 18th century the potato can be found on every menu. The colourful culinary potato field ranges from Flensburg in the most northern part of Germany to Füssen near the border with Austria.
A typical German meal today may include from two to seven courses. It is commonly made up by an appetizer (Vorspeise), a soup (Suppe), a main course (Hauptspeise) with one or two either raw or cooked side dishes (Beilagen). After-meal treats are called "Nachspeise."
Throughout the day, Germans love to drink drip coffee brewed in large automatic coffee makers with either paper or metallic filters, and then serve majestic "Torte" or "Kuchen" (cake). German coffee is usually lighter in caffeine content compared to Austrian and Italian coffees. When it is very light it is also called "Bluemchenkaffee" (small flower coffee). The tradition of this last term originates from wartime, when real coffee was substituted with the roasted roots of chicory, which has a small blue flower.
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Rhine wine defines the way of life in the south west. The Neckar, Main, Moselle and Ahr river valleys all contribute related wines. But a valuable addition to the local drink are some of Germany's best beers which are brewed between the town of Bitburg in the Eifel region and Rothaus in the Black Forest. In the low mountain landscapes of the south west, where crystal-clear springs offer the best prerequisites, fine beer is brewed and ensures jovial conviviality. 
Baden-Württemberg, renowned for the quality of its asparagus, has established an “Aparagus Road” that winds through some of the most famous asparagus producing towns in the region, including Schwetzingen (known as the “Asparagus Capital of the World”!), Reilingen, Karlsruhe, and Rastatt. You can buy fresh asparagus right there on the farm, visit various asparagus festivals or try local asparagus dishes.
Besides being the largest wine-growing and asparagus producing area of Germany, the region also grows chestnuts, tobbaco and the famous Pfalz potatos. It is not a surprise that restaurants serving specialities and many hundreds of wine festivals of the region serve culinary tidbits.
With a fine meal, Germans drink either beer, wine or "Sekt" (champagnoise type sparkling wine). With their meals, young and old Germans also like to drink soft drinks that have interesting names like "Radler" (literally translated, "bike rider" - a light beer mixed with lemonade or apple juice) or "Limo" (sweetened sparkling water combined with lemonade). 
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