Beautiful Day in the Alps - The Inn Valley

Earth shows it's most beautiful colours and views in autumn. This picture is taken near the German border to Austria. We look down on the Inn (river) valley and the morning mist hasn't really lifted yet. The blue skies and shining colours of the leaves come together in a stunning potpourri that cannot compare to anything else. Well at least, this is how it feels for me.

Fantastic light over the mountains:

And that is exactly the right way to end a wonderful day:

Everbody knows the Oktoberfest?

Yes, the German Oktoberfest is known around the whole World. But I took a look on some websites about it and I found some real strange Ideas about food on the Oktoberfest. So here some information about how it really is:

You do eat Weisswurst, Roasted Duck and Roasted Chicken, Potato Salad and of course bavarian people cannot live without soft Pretzels (Bretzel in German). Some websites state, that French Fried Potatoes or Currywurst has something to do with the big party - that's wrong. Also Sauerbraten, Schnitzel, Gulasch, Rouladen, Cabbage and many more things are irrelevant for the Oktoberfest. The drink is very clear: It's Weissbier - brewed in or around Munich.

Maybe you are in the great position to work with a company being situated in or around Munich? If you are, ask your colleagues in Germany when they are going to the Oktoberfest. Every company or department goes there and usually it starts early - sometimes even in the morning. So be prepared for a very long day and do not try to keep up with those Bavarians in drinking beer - you won't make it (Believe me, I've been living and working in Munich for some years and in September our UK-based people always had to attend REALLY important meetings. Surprisingly they often did not manage to find the way back to their hotel in the night after "the meeting").

Many tourists come to see the huge party in the city Munich, but most of them do not take themselves some time to discover the city and the area around Munich. Thats a shame, because it is nice to see. Castle Neuschwanstein ist not far away, the alps rise just a few kilometes south of munich and there are many more things to see. So if you go there, take yourself a couple of days (at least one to recover from your visit on the Oktoberfest) and look for interesting spots:

• Take a tour around the city. Buses are leaving from the main station which is easy to find.
• Go the Castle Neuschwanstein (http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/tourist/index.htm).
• The small city Hohenschwangau is very close to castle Neuschwanstein an it is worth having a look on it.
• You do not have a car and only little time? Take the S-Bahn (Local Train) to Starnberg and leave the train at the last station. You will find yourself in a beautiful scenery along a large lake, a fantastic view on the mountains and a lot of restaurants.
• You love bicycles? Rent one, ask for a map and ride along the river Isar. There is a trail, that will directly lead you to the mountains - through scenic views, nice and cosy villages, restaurants and more. Ask for the Isarradweg (Isar Bike Trail - www.isarradweg.de).

Obatzda - Bavarian Cheese Spread

Authentic Bavarian Obatzda is a cheese spread of its own kind. To me it is one of the most delicious things, bavarians can offer. You may buy it in a supermarket all over Bavaria, but the home-made version cannot be topped. Mostly you only get a basic variation, that does not offer the strong cheesy and fruity taste of this one. Try it and die for it.

Ingredients:

• 1 Camembert (125 g)
• 125 g Cream Cheese
• 50 g Butter
•  4 Tablespoons Cream
• Bacon or Bacon Cubes
• 1 Pear
• 1 Green Onion
• Half Teaspoon of Ground Caraway and black Pepper

Preparation:

1. Cut Camembert in small pieces. It will work best, if the cheese is not too cold. Mix camembert with cream cheese. Cut bacon and green onion into small cubes or pieces. Also cut half of the pear into small cubes.
2. Heat butter in a pan and add the bacon cubes. Fry until the cubes are slightly roasted. Put butter and bacon  into your camembert-and-cream-cheese-mix, while it is still warm. Add all the other ingredients and mix it all by using a fork.
3. Put the whole thing into the fridge for some hours, otherwise it will be too soft. You need to eat it within a few days otherwise the pear will become unsavory.

Cut Camembert into small cubes

Cut Bacon in small Cubes

Mix all ingredients and keep in fridge for a few hours

Enjoy with Bretzel, on a sandwich or as a Dip

 Enjoy this recipe for an authentic bavarian obatzda with bretzel, on a sandwich or as a dip. If you want the Obatzda to be more liquid, just add some more cream. The pear gives a slight taste of sweetness and fruits and it perfectly points out the intensive taste of the bacon. The basic recipe is without onions, pear, bacon and cream. You may mix in whatever you like. I have tried many variations but I find this one the best.

Weisswurst - How to Eat

Every year many tourists and business travellers come to Germany. Certainly they will go und try out a real German thing: Weisswurst. Show that you a real master of weisswurst-eating-techniques and do not embarrass yourself by eating it by just cutting the sausage into slices. There are some things to know about eating it:

1. Do not eat the skin. This part of a real weisswurst is peeled off, before eating. After it is peeled, you use a fork and a knife. Originally it's been sucked out. Sounds nasty? Yes it does, but it is true. Nowadays people do not do this any more because it not exactly a decent behavior.
2. The skin does only come off, if you peel it right after taking it out of hot water. Only two minutes will make peeling impossible. This is why they always serve it in a bowl of  hot water.
3. Use sweet mustard together with it. This is what belong to a delicious weisswurst-enjoyment and you will miss the taste of the compontents, if you use something else or nothing.
4. Eat it until midday. In former times there was no way of keeping it fresh until after 12.00 p.m. This is why it is traditionally eaten during the morning. In some restaurants you won't be able to order weisswurst after midday.
5. Eat together with a Bretzel. The Bretzel is not the dry thing, you might know. It is a soft pastry with a crisp skin and it tastes absolutely delicous. Do not accept another side dish and of course it should be a fresh one.
6. Weisswurst is a Bavarian thing.  It is known all over Germany, but the best ones are available in Bavaria. If possible: Wait until you are in the southern part of Germany (Bavaria) and give it a go where it originally comes from.
7. Enjoy it together with "Weissbier". This sort of beer is very gentle in taste and it makes the experience perfect.

Weisswurst - Do no eat with skin

Peel it before eating. It is necessary to use your hands, a fork and a knife.

Enjoy with Brezel, sweet mustard and Weissbier

 Now you are ready to eat, drink and feel like a real bavarian. All right, there are some things missing like the strange bavarian clothes. But no need to wear this carnival-alike leather trousers or dresses like from a 1950's film. It's still tasty when you are wearing a jeans and a shirt.