American German Restaurants

R

richard-in-cincy

Well-known member
Yet again, another American city that touts their German heritage has been exposed as tourist kitsch with bad impersonations of "German" food. My home town is #1 on this list (Visitor: where can we find good authentic German food in Cincinnati? Me: my house.).

So now I'm here in Fredericksburg, Texas where the American misconception of German food is holding full court: drown it in vinegar, then bury it in sugar. ACK!

The sauerkraut was inedible (straight out of a can), the red cabbage hurt my teeth there was so much vinegar in it, ditto on the potato salad.

I should know better than to keep trying this. I quizzed the server on how things were prepared, I was assured that all was authentic. Never mind he'd never been to Germany to try real authentic German food.

OK, rant over. But just curious, are there any cuisines you know very well, and can't stand to eat them in American restaurants?

 
Uh, not in the US. But, in Canada 25 years ago, I learned NOT to go to a Chinese Restaurant. . .

On the way to Alaska by car, up off of the Frasier River (maybe). I had a craving and was EXTREMELY disappointed. Food was edible, but sad.

And 30 or so years ago, I learned not to go to Chinese in the Dallas-Fort Worth area: nuthin' but meat, meat and more meat. Not good if you are hankering for some good chinese with those great stir-fried vegetables.

It's probably changed by now. For the better--I hope!

 
Mexican restaurants drive me crazy. Loads of cheddar cheese, tasteless beans and rice

Sure, we go sometimes, some we enjoy, some not. Years ago, I had a housekeeper from Mexico. She was of Spanish decent and had us to her home for authentic cooking. No cheddar cheese, everything was healthy, fresh and full flavored. Several times a year she would arrive with warm, just made flour tortillas. OMG they were so delicious and I could actually make tacos with them, because they did not break like the store bought ones. Sometimes, even the corn tortillas break.

 
I agree. I avoid all the chain Mexican places. Fortunately where I live there are lots of Mom&Pops

available. I always taste the beans first--that's an indicator of how much they care about flavor.

I don't think I tasted actual Mexican cheese (queso fresco) until well into my 20's, even though I grew up around Mexican food.

 
But I really prefer Tex/Mex rather than authentic Mexican. I love

all the cheese. We don't have any Mexican restaurants down here and I miss them.

 
I love Tex-Mex, as well. it does not have to be authentic, I simply want the food to be very tasty

and well prepared with fresh ingredients. I love it all!

 
No matter what the ethnicity of the cuisine, it truly depends on the talent of the cook.

I love to eat food representative of major world cuisines. The list is long and varied, and though I'm no Anthony Bourdain, I've enjoyed some of the best, and worst, of just about all the "majors".

The best German food in Cincinnati is at Richard's home because he not only cares about authenticity, he is a good cook to boot!

My Tante Friedl was as German as it gets. Born in Magdeburg and lived most of her life in Augsburg, Bavaria. LOVED to eat and cook, but she was, how you say, not good. Terrible cook.

Her daughter and her husband took us all to their favorite countryside restaurant outside Augsburg when I was visiting. Had the Jaeger Schnitzel plate with Spaetzle and Red Cabbage. Pure heaven! All of it!

We have a neighbor from Mexico who loves to cook and share food. It is practically inedible. We know a Mexican restaurant in south Phoenix run by a local family. The line is out the door and the clientele are nearly all Mexican families. Food is authentic and off the charts good.

Authenticity is nice, and when considering true ethnic food it is mandatory. But a good cook, authentic or not, is what makes the experience satisfying.

 
If anyone read Christopher Kimball's essay in the charter issue of Milkstreet Kitchen, he pointed...

...out that the idea of ethnic food is dead to him. Food is food, but what most people consider "ethnic" is simply what is for dinner in another part of the world.

It's his opinion, but I found it interesting.

 
Richard! What are you doing in my (sorta) neck of the woods?

I have never been to a German restaurant that I didn't think was vile.

My former boss moved here when she was in her twenties and she thought I made a great sauerbraten and spatzle.

Stick to homemade.

 
I love both, but the little Mex-Mex taquerias around town tend to be plain sad

Indifferently prepared, unseasoned dried out meat. Crappy commercial tortillas. Rick Bayless, Diana Kennedy and I make far superior "real" (as opposed to Tex-Mex) food.

 
I so agree...

Vile is a great description.

We are visiting very dear friends who retired to Canyon Lake. We've been taking day trips to Austin, Fredericksburg, Wimberley, San Antonio, etc. LBJ Ranch in Johnson City was awesome!

Speaking of Mexican, have you been to MI Tierra in San Antonio? Best Mexican and margaritas I've ever had. As Joe said, taste the beans first. So wonderfully fresh, flavored and cooked in house, not a can. Margaritas were fresh squeezed, not a mix, the first sip I just said Wow! The plates we had were all wonderfully spiced and home-style cooked. Everyone around us was speaking Spanish. They've been open for 70 years in the Mercado and it is not a mystery why.

 
I've never been to Mi Tierra, but it is legendary

My ex brother-in-law and his family lived way out in the boonies (in the 80s) between Wimberly & Blanco. I think the parks around the Pedernales are beautiful.

I worked with a bunch of Czech girls from Ennis years ago. They brough fun stuff to potlucks.

 
Middle eastern such as humus, tehina,masbaha, etc. unless there is a really authentic arabic or

israeli cook and not just someone who grew up in one of the countries

 
Yes, it is really beautiful along the rivers in Texas hill country...

The live oaks in front of LBJ's ranch along the river were so peaceful and serene. We also were on the Guadelupe River a lot.

 
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