Encounters with Beauty and Grace
(I don’t have the heart to take this post down. Holger passed away unexpectedly last November. He was 57. Thankful our worlds collided.) Sultry vocals of Nora Jones drift overhead in Wingert Vinothek. Disheveled stacks of wine crates, books by Proust, eclectic art, lit candles, …
Scattered below, in no certain order, are observations I’ve made since moving to the land of lederhosen and schnitzel. If you have opinions you’d like to share, please leave a comment below… When greeting a couple, German men often extend their hand to the …
Like his fraying parchment colored linen shirt, Husam (Sam) Al-Badri is a soul who seems to have lived many lives. Born in Baghdad, Sam learned to bind books by age twelve. Adulthood brought him to Berlin, where he went on to build a successful career as …
Dieter Ege’s gunmetal rimmed spectacles complemented his well-groomed gray mane. A tailored suit rested on shoulders with impeccable posture while a crisp white collar framed a poised jawline. For 30 years Mr. Ege has managed a historical property in Wiesbaden, the Schwarzer Bock Hotel. …
In Wiesbaden, regardless of season, there is a tasty staple at every festival – Flammkuchen. Pizza dough is heavy and requires more effort than its German cousin, flammkuchen. With a quartet of simple ingredients (water, flour, oil and salt) and the omission of yeast, this …
A door handle disguised as a rolling pin, that was enough to get me through the door of Dale’s Cake Cafe. But it’s the chandelier dangling over a glass case filled with an assortment of mouth-watering baked sweets and savory quiches that brings me back. …
Christopher Deyer and his wife Antje Probst surround themselves with objects they love and value – books. In 2014 the couple opened a shop where bookworms would feel at home, Buch-Café Nero39. They chose a beautiful location off a quiet street. The store’s interior includes original …
Autumn is coming. In anticipation for my favorite season, I recently cracked open The German Cookbook by Mimi Sheraton (former New York Times restaurant critic). Thumbing through I found a stew that sounded filling and easy, Paprika Pork Stew. Like the country that inspired …
It’s been a year since I received, Classic German Baking by Luisa Weiss. And I’m happy to share, I finally rolled up my sleeves, tied on my apron and stained my first page. The recipe I wanted to tackle first is found at nearly …
Winds in the east, mist coming in, Like somethin’ is brewin’ and ‘bout to begin. ( Mary Poppins – Bert the Chimney Sweep ) Sitting on a pedestrian street in the shadows of the Marktkirche cathedral is a pint sized shop Mary Poppins and …