Summer tastes south and in the middle of northern Germany. After the lockdown, we go on a gourmet trip through the north.
"There is currently a warning about unnecessary tourist trips abroad." These words on the website of the Foreign Office create a bad mood for many summer vacationers and globetrotters. It doesn't have to be, because the Germans are slowly but surely getting their taste for the local area – literally. After the corona lockdown, the German regions open up and whet the appetite for the next trip.
Sniff a breeze of Baltic Sea air in Schleswig-Holstein
Where is the best place to start than at the top? Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost state in Germany and very popular with holidaymakers after the long corona lean period. This is not only due to the sound of waves and the Wadden Sea or the islands of Sylt and Amrum. The land between the seas also attracts with the warmth of its inhabitants and fine cuisine, as operated by star chef Volker Fuhrwerk. Regional cuisine meets Mediterranean flair in his creations. Herbs and tomatoes, which he obtains from Gut Panker's own kitchen garden, are inserted and can also be ordered online. Anyone who has got the taste can treat themselves to a real gourmet break at Gut Ole Liese and smell a pinch of Baltic Sea air. A soft "plop" gives the starting shot.
Because with this sound the transformation into a coastal child begins. Nothing works in the north without a real Flens. The typical beer with the swing top also creates the right holiday feeling on the couch at home. In the Flens online shop you are spoiled for choice: Pilsner beer, gold or would you prefer a light one? If you are more into wine, you can try a Riesling from the Rheingau.
The area between the Rhine and Main invites to hiking trips in the forest or vineyard. After a trip to the Eltville rose garden, Eberbach Monastery or Vollrads Castle, you can take a break at the Prinz von Hessen winery near Johannisberg. Alternatively, with the online assortment around the Riesling Kabinett Royal 2018, the Rheingau also takes a comfortable place on balconies.
Kölsch in Cologne: small but powerful
Cologne's carnival stronghold is more lively. Although the lively metropolis lost some of its momentum during the corona lockdown, the cheerful nature of the Rhenish region is still undimmed. The many traditional pubs in the old town invite you to linger and enjoy a Kölsch that belongs to Cologne like the Maß to Munich. In the shadow of the cathedral, where the Epiphany Shrine can be visited, the hustle and bustle can be comfortably observed with an early Kölsch in the brewery.
A tour of the tower is unfortunately not possible at the moment, but nothing stands in the way of a short foray through the city and along the Rhine. From Chlodwigplatz, lovers of culture and history can walk in the footsteps of the Rose Monday procession past three Romanesque churches to the Heumarkt in the old town. Or how about a sweet visit to the Chocolate Museum? With our next culinary highlight, we will stay sweet and do something for our immune system.
The north tastes sweet: sea buckthorn as candy
If you stroll along one of the many beaches on the Baltic Sea, they cannot be overlooked: Sea buckthorn bushes are crowded together. Properly processed, the berries are not only incredibly tasty, they are also real power packs. In terms of vitamin C content, sea buckthorn even outshines lemons. It far exceeds that of citrus fruits. Niklot Pagels, who uses the berries of his sea buckthorn bushes to make jam, tea, juices and sweets and sells the organic products through the Wohlberger farm shop, on regional markets and in the online shop, knows this too.
Aside from the tourist trails, the north of Germany not only tastes like fish sandwiches, but also feels lively, sweet and has a hint of the south.