Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Restaurant Dicker Mann, Regensburg

Dan had asked around as to what might be a good place to eat in Regensburg and people had told him about the Dicker Mann.  As we meandered around seeing the sights we happened upon this restaurant
at Krebsgasse 6, Regensburg 93047


It was indeed lovely with an uneven stone floor at the entrance. It was full of old world charm and they say it's one of the oldest restaurants in Regensburg.
We decided that any restaurant that means FAT MAN in English couldn't be all bad!


Mac had the meat and German dumpling known as Knödel.

Dan had the "wurst" salad.  He says he'll miss the "wursts" and "wheat beer" when he gets home.
I'll have to ship you some Dan!

I believe Anna had the carrot soup which, she said was very creamy and tasted lovely.

I shared my schnitzel and I have to say this was one of the best schnitzel's I've had in Germany.
The service was quick and friendly and the Barvarian food well worth the trip.
The prices were quite reasonable.

Now what to do......well, being a Mom I knew just the thing.
Daniel has to move his student accommodations, so I took pictures for his parents and fiancée.


There's Dan's new doorway!

Dan's new window.  I was sorry we couldn't see inside the room.

Last but not least, Dan's mailbox where he will collect all that lovely post from friends and family.

Thanks for the lovely day Daniel and Anna.
We had so much fun!



Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Café Prinzess, Regensburg, Germany

I am afraid I was on a mission when I heard that Regensburg boasted having the oldest café in Germany.  It seems the first café in Austria opened in 1683 in Vienna. In 1686 the Café Prinzess opened as the first café in Germany. It has amazing chocolates and pralines, but we were there to get out of the gloom and have some cake and coffee.
You will find it located at

Rathausplatz 2, 93047 Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany


This is Daniel and his sister Anna our Regensburg tour companions.
Dan is actually going to school here so he showed us around.

The room we sat in to have our cake was charming and full of atmosphere.


I had the Bienenstich Cake (Bee Sting Cake) which, is one of Mac's favorites.


Dan had the strudel with cream.


Anna opted for the strudel with custard.


Mac chose something none of us had ever tasted but it was lovely.
So good in fact, that I traded him cakes half-way through!




Mac gives it the thumbs up and says, "Do stop in and try this wonderful place if you are in Regensburg,
you won't be sorry."




Regensburg, Germany

Regensburg, Germany which, is part of the UNESCO-world heritage sites had long been on our list of places we wanted to see while we were back in Germany. When we discovered that  our family friend's son was taking a year here at Regensburg University we moved it up to "must see!"
We'd read that Regensburg was one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities.

We were very pleased to discover that Anna, Daniel's sister would be joining us on our Saturday tour of the city.  May I just say that we've known them since they were babies and they are now exceptional young adults.
 I thought we'd start the blog tour with the Porta Praetoria which, is the gate we are standing in.

In AD 179 the Roman's built a camp for their legion called Castra Regina. This is what is left of the North Gate of the camp.  Mac and I had already seen the Porta Nigra the German city of Trier's northern gate that the Roman's built about the same time. These two gates are the only remaining Roman gates geographically located north of the Alps.


This is worth seeing if only to see the massive stones that were placed together.
Those Roman's certainly did have some engineering skills!


Next stop, the Scottish church of St. James, built by Hiberno-scottish monks about 1090. 
It's entrance on the Northside is known as the "Schottenportal".
The entrance is now encased in a glass structure because the sculptures were being destroyed by the environment.

The meaning of the sculptures on the gate have never been fully deciphered.

Someone said this picture was of a man "transforming solid stone grooves into pliable material", I thought it just looked like he was trying to hang himself personally.


Inside the church we discovered this flying monk with the keys of St. Peter.
Anna thought it looked like he was riding a "Quidditch stick" from Harry Potter.  I was inclined to agree.
No wonder they haven't been able to figure out all these sculptures!

It was a grey day but the Steinerne Brucke (Stone Bridge) still looked pretty.
They say it was the only crossing over the Danube River made of stone in the area.


This is the famous WURSCHTKUCHL or Sausage Kitchen.  It was a bit early in the day to stop for a sausage for us, but in the summer you will find tourists lined up to get in. It is even rumured that Goethe ate here.  For people who don't like to read that much, Goethe was a fabulous German writer probably best known for his work FAUST.

This building has a famous depiction of David and Goliath.  Dan says David represents Regensburg defeating it's enemies and you'll find it on the Haus Heuport.  This is an example of what they call a "patricians castle".  It was built in the 13th century.


At the end of Goliathstrasse you will see the second highest "patricians tower" in Regensburg.
This is called the Baumburger Turm and was build in 1260 as residences.



The Dom Church St. Peter's in Regensburg is an amazing example of gothic architecture.


Quite an unusual entrance to a church.


This church was begun in approximately 1260 and was built over the Romanesque predecessor church orginally on this site in Regensburg.
The carvings over the front door were extraordinary.


Inside the cathedral.


Regensburg has many intact medieval stained glass along side gothic era stained glass.


St. Peter's window..... the church was named after him and they say he appears nearly 100 times in images and sculptures in the church.



      Here is a romanesque column from the previous church incorporated into the church today.

For my Catholic friends it's important to note that Pope Benedict XVI  was at one time known as  Joseph Ratzinger.  He still remains an honorary professor at Regensburg University where he taught Dogma for many years.  This church is where he worshipped while in Regensburg.

So there you have it folks, a great place to visit and soak in history!
Don't take it from me though, Goethe wrote about it and said,
"Regenburg lies in a truly beautiful location, this place simply had to lure a town here."






Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Red Flannel Hash

What does any good New England girl do after a Corn Beef Dinner.....the answer is of course
RED FLANNEL HASH!
Both of my Maine grandmother's used to say the story was that after a Yankee woman got very angry with her husband, she took his red flannels, cut them up and served it to him that evening in his hash.
Be that as it may, Mac and I worked through our Corn Beef Dinner a few nights ago and used the leftovers in this unique hash.

This is very simple to make folks.  You cut up your left over Corn Beef and potatos from your New England Boiled Dinner. Now open and drain a 15 oz. can of beets.  Cut them into chunks.


Mix all together in a large bowl.


Melt some butter in a frying pan.... and fry up your hash. If you are worried about heart attacks...this probably isn't the meal for you!


Mac doesn't usually like leftovers but, he makes an exception for
RED FLANNEL HASH.
He gives it 2 thumbs up and says, "Try it, you'll like it!"



Monday, February 7, 2011

Castle Weitenburg

Mac and I were very surprised to find that we had a Castle Restaurant 10 minutes from our house.
Recommended by a friend, we set off to see what Castle Weitenburg was all about.
It sits high on the hill overlooking the Neckar River.


Weitenburg Castle was built approximately 1062 and has had a wide variety of occupants through the years.
Imagine the history......knights who came to pillage.....monks who stayed in it to pray
and who knows what else we don't know about?
When Baron Rupert von Rassler bought this castle in 1720 he acquired this rich legacy.


Baron Max von Rassler owns and operates the Castle Hotel and Restaurant today.
When we drove into the grounds we were immediately reminded of Lord Biddulph's estate in Scotland where we used to live. We felt it was a German version of our beloved Makerstoun, Scotland and immediately felt at home.

As the sun was setting we stopped for an aperitif.
The view was breath-taking over the valley.

While we enjoyed our drinks by the flickering candlelight we perused  the literature of all the castle had to offer.  They have cooking courses with their chef, traditional English Tea, concerts and even a New Year's Ball.

They seated us at the lovely window table overlooking the Neckar River.

The very charming Baron Max von Rassler greeted us personally at the table and welcomed us to his home.


The chef came out from the kitchen and greeted us as well.  He said that he had made something special for this evening and would like to offer us a taste.  He spoke so fast that I didn't really catch all that was in this little dumpling of sorts but it was delish!
Mac chose the regional delicacy menu and I chose the castle menu.

Mac had the baked blutwurst on rieslingkraut. It was topped with lemongrass. We both thought it sounded unappetizing but, it was
amazing.  Mac thought it was the best taste of the evening.

I had a marinated smoked wild salmon with trout cavier and cucumber salad.
It was beautifully presented.


Mac's main dish was venison in pepper sauce.


While I had the duck which, was lovely.

I was happy to recieve TWO desserts. My favorite Creme Brulee

and this lovely home-made ice cream with grapefruit.
I did share with Mac, although


he was very happy with his apple pancake and ice cream.


If you are looking for a special hotel or restaurant where you are greeted in the most friendly way and made to feel very welcome this is the place for you!
I even signed up for the cooking course on Feb. 19th with Chef.
 For more information


telephone
07457/9330