Food in Germany

Food is wonderful in many ways, and through my experience on this trip, I have discovered yet another way in which food is wonderful: its ability to demonstrate the personality and culture of a country. In one word, German food is simple. Meals are consistently full of separate components that are meant be eaten as they come, with the occasional exception of a sharp mustard to highlight the flavor of the dish. It is a logical approach to maximize the satisfaction of a meal; a dish is only as good as the summation of its parts. That is why every part is so damn delicious on its own. The bread is always freshly baked, the wurst has a crisp snap, and the beer is as refreshing as the water. The Germans see no reason to hide their food under differing sauces or to combine flavors; rather they desire every component to shine in its own right. It is quite the German ideology: fundamentally deconstruct a problem and then build a solution from the problem’s foundation. I have noticed Germans are very much a “no nonsense” people. Trains arrive on time, there is nearly no litter, and dogs are incredibly well behaved (seriously…incredible). Their food follows this paradigm, and while it is a relaxing cultural difference, it is most importantly a recipe for some very enjoyable food.