Do you remember the cold dog? We used to eat it at Grandma’s and drank it with our dear dead aunt. What sounds like a macabre crime scene was in reality often the exact opposite – namely an idyllic coffee gossip with the family. Chocolate cake and cocoa were served, and well, a little shot in the drink was allowed to be there too.
Many words have entered our language use in such a way that we don’t even question them. But once you start, it’s difficult to stop, as we in the editorial office realize. In the German language (as in others, for sure) there are a whole lot of strange terms – especially in terms of cuisine.
In some cases it’s just a nickname, in others there is actually a story behind it. According to legend, the Hamburg Franzbrötchen was created during the French occupation – when bakers tried to copy the French baguette, but then rolled it in cinnamon and sugar. Folded a few times, today’s cult pastry emerged.
In other cases, the name is simply a simplified explanation by the court, which is likely to be a bit macabre: the blast chicken is nothing more than chicken fricassee in which the chicken meat, well, unfortunately always looks a bit smashed. And the fact that the cool chocolate in a classic cake is reminiscent of a wet, cold dog’s snout is probably not the most appetizing association with the cold dog.
But the main thing is that it tastes good – no matter what it’s called. Either way, these dishes tell a story: either a very personal one, because we learned the terms from our parents and grandparents, or one that actually says something about their origins. And we immediately get an appetite to serve up the old dishes again.