Ratskeller in Munich: Dec 2010

This very famous restaurant is just beneath the "Rathaus" in Marienplatz. My colleagues brought me for dinner and I found the decor charming, and the food was tasty Bavarian fare. We arrived after the crowd, so it was very pleasant and gave me the opportunity to poke around and snap a few pictures.

The service station is lovely:

Love the bread cutter:

And like everything in Germany it's sparkling clean. I thought this little old stove was precious:

As we made our way to our table I couldn't believe the size of this place.

 

 

We sat in the Bruno section, which gave us all a chuckle as that's the name of our regional sales VP. I had the braised beef with spaetzle, which was delicious:

I actually had Spaetzle with every meal while in Germany, as I happen to love it. These dumpling like noodles are made by forcing the dough through a sieve, or using a Spätzlepresse.

Let me do a little digging and I'll come back with a good recipe. If my brother happens to read this post maybe he'll be willing to share his. Enjoy!

Christmas Markets in Munich

Business travel has brought me to Munich, where I had the pleasure of visiting the Christmas (Weihnachtsmarkt or Christkindl) markets at Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz, in the heart of downtown Munich.

 




















The markets are held during the four weeks of Advent, are centuries old, and a unique celebration of Christmas. Taking place outside, they're comprised of open air stalls selling food, spirits, and gifts. There's also live music, singing, and entertainment. Seeing people of all ages out enjoying themselves, gave me an appreciation for the value they place on this most loved tradition. It's truly heartwarming and I think that's because it's old-fashioned...which resonates with me.

My first stop was for Bratwurst, served on a crusty roll, with German mustard. We also enjoyed a "boot" of Gluhwein, the traditional mulled red wine that's served warm. We went to the stall that serves it in the boot mug, as it just felt more authentic. I ate the most delicious Lebkuchen cookie, some pretty fabulous Christmas Stollen, and perfectly roasted chestnuts. The food stalls are filled to the brim with traditional Bavarian Christmas cookies, chocolates, sausages, frankfurters with sauerkraut, and much more. We walked for hours eating, drinking, and looking for the perfect handmade Christmas gifts to bring home.

These markets sit amongst the beautiful architecture of Munich, so I've tried to capture both in the photos. I hope you feel transported, if just for a few minutes, to the heart of Munich during this special time of year. Enjoy!
(Click on the slide show to view larger photos online)