Some of these delicacies--namely, Blutwurst and Mettbrötchen--would be taboo in the States. Blutwurst is "blood sausage." It has such a high concentration of blood, it's more like a spread than a meat. Drooling yet?
You will find many people enjoying a filling Mettbrötchen on the square or in the market as a snack or quick lunch. Imagine ground beef. Raw. On a roll. With onions! yummy. Wanting to have the full German experience while in Frankfurt last year, I hesitantly ate one of these cold, texture-rich sandwiches. When I asked if there was harmful bacteria in it, I was told, "not enough to make you sick." Hmm.
Since then, I've realized that there are countless reasons why I am better fit to be a vegetarian than a meat-eater. There are ethical reasons, environmental reasons and health reasons for it; so many reasons, in fact, that I can't go into them now. I have always wanted to make the plunge. I've been teetering for too long. I have been a vegetarian since early July, and I'm not looking back.
This decision has not affected life here in Germany. Yes, sometimes the smell of Bratwurst in the market square does tempt me--but not enough to abandon my principles. It's easy to forget that factory farming exists in Europe, when you see these old-world, mom n' pop butcher stores. And while there is definitely more such stores here than in the States, you must make a conscious effort to choose this meat over the discount meat in Aldi. A lot of people aren't willing to make that sacrifice. Also, McDonald's is actually kind of chic here. Try putting "McDonald's" and "ethical" in the same sentence. It's not even as good as the German imbisses and bakeries. Yet, every time I walk by the McDonald's at the Martinstor, it's packed. I don't get it.
It can be hard to eat at traditional German restaurants, but it's not impossible. I would say that it's just as hard to eat at a German restaurant as it is at a southern, homestyle restaurant. I'm reminded of the night before I left for Germany when I ate at Cracker Barrel with my parents. I ordered the vegetable soup with an egg and a piece of cornbread. "We use beef broth in the vegetable soup," our server said, " and animal fat for the biscuits." Not wanting to be a cranky customer, I ate them anyway. I shouldn't have told him I was a vegetarian. On the other hand, they should offer more vegetarian options--what, with all of the Canadian and yankee travelers...
So, I've decided to make a list of German dishes fit for vegetarians (sorry, vegans):
1. Käsespätzle. Basically, German macaroni and cheese--but with eggy noodles and carmelized onions on top.
2. Lentil soup. I've made this several times myself, and it usually feeds me for days. I like to put lots of vegetables in it and eat it with a crusty piece of bread. Potato soup and pumpkin soup are also quite popular.
3. Flammkuchen. Flammkuchen is the German answer to pizza. It has a thin crust a white sauce instead of a tomato sauce. Lots of vegetarian options here, and pretty much every restaurant offers it.
4. Aufläufe. Think casseroles, but creamier. Usually baked with rice or pasta (my favorite includes gnocchi), cheese, cream sauce and vegetables of your choosing. Of course, you can also add meat, if you are a heartless animal-hater (joking. sorta.).
In Freiburg, there are plenty of Asian and Italian restaurants to keep vegetarians satisfied. Even Döner stands offer meatless kebabs for vegetarians (or for people who don't like to see their dinner scraped off a spinning tower of lamb meat).
Of course, meatless German staples include potato salad, cabbage and sauerkraut. The outdoor markets also offer a lot of local, fresh produce and fruit. The bread and pastries are also to die for.
Guten Appetit!
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