German cuisine doesn’t even feel particularly popular in Germany. No wonder, since knuckle of pork, black pudding and liver dumplings don’t sound very sexy. Most traditional dishes in this country are very meat-heavy and feel heavy in the stomach after eating. At home there was hardly any German cuisine on the table, with the exception of the roast pork at Christmas. At least since I started eating plant-based food, the rare excursions into local cuisine have been limited to side dishes – I don’t give a damn about dumplings, red cabbage with apples, spaetzle and sauerkraut. Nor on our great bread culture.
“Taste Atlas” selects the ten most unpopular German dishes and drinks
One might think that a person like me, who has been vegan for years, approaches German cuisine with clouded judgment. But so many conversations with other people confirm my impression. Many look forward to the few occasions in the year when mother or grandma serve hearty home cooking. Of course, Germany can be proud of its pretzels, its sausages, its beer – some experts describe Germany’s culinary tradition as “glamorous”. And to this day, many employees still don’t want to miss the schnitzel day in the canteen.
Nor is it about denying someone their favorite traditional local dish. But it is also a fact that – in contrast to Italian, Asian, Oriental, Indian etc. restaurants – there are hardly any restaurants with German cuisine. Neither in this country nor abroad. Because even outside of Germany, our kitchens do not seem to be particularly popular, as a list of the “Atlas button“, the adventure travel guide for traditional food. Based on independent reader ratings, the food guide has compiled the ten most unpopular German dishes and drinks. What some Germans may awaken to lively childhood memories or is considered a historic specialty in certain regions is in the international ranking Part of a ten-course meal that many people’s taste buds (including my own) would consider a culinary nightmare.
But since tastes are known to differ, fans of German cuisine should please not take the picture gallery – and my personal dislike – too seriously.
Sources: “Atlas button“