Culinary Heritage Culinary Heritage of Germany, of Germany, Austria and Austria and SwitzerlandSwitzerlandBy: Jes Baldeweg-RauBy: Jes Baldeweg-Rau

Period 7Period 7

Germany and their FoodGermany and their Food• Until the Middle Ages, the German diet mainly consisted of meat Until the Middle Ages, the German diet mainly consisted of meat

and their by-products (milk and cheese). However, to many of the and their by-products (milk and cheese). However, to many of the poor meat was considered a luxury.poor meat was considered a luxury.

• Today, meat such as game bird, rabbit, and sheep are considered Today, meat such as game bird, rabbit, and sheep are considered common foods, with the use of juniper berries, as well as mustard common foods, with the use of juniper berries, as well as mustard and horseradish being commonly used for condiments.and horseradish being commonly used for condiments.

• The food variety changes in different parts of the country. Northern The food variety changes in different parts of the country. Northern Germany still tends to reflect the customs of the nearby Germany still tends to reflect the customs of the nearby Scandinavian countries. The diet here emphasizes on meats and Scandinavian countries. The diet here emphasizes on meats and potatoes,while in the south, a lighter cuisine can be found with potatoes,while in the south, a lighter cuisine can be found with strong influences from nearby Italy and Austria.strong influences from nearby Italy and Austria.

• Germany is home to a number of different wursts(sausages), such Germany is home to a number of different wursts(sausages), such as Bratwurst, Blutwurst, Bockwurst, Knackwurst, etc.as Bratwurst, Blutwurst, Bockwurst, Knackwurst, etc.

• Germany is also globally known for their pastries. For example: Germany is also globally known for their pastries. For example: Black forest cake, Quark Kuchen, coffee cake, etcBlack forest cake, Quark Kuchen, coffee cake, etc

• As hard as it may be to believe, Germany is only the third highest As hard as it may be to believe, Germany is only the third highest in alcohol consumption, behind the Czech Republic and Ireland.in alcohol consumption, behind the Czech Republic and Ireland.

Sheep Meat in GermanySheep Meat in Germany

Quark Kuchen and Black Forest Quark Kuchen and Black Forest CakeCake

Switzerland and their Switzerland and their FoodFood• The style of food in Switzerland can be considered a combination of food The style of food in Switzerland can be considered a combination of food

styles, influenced by surrounding countries such as Germany, Austria, Italy, styles, influenced by surrounding countries such as Germany, Austria, Italy, and France.and France.

• Swiss cooks had little to work with before the country became a tourist Swiss cooks had little to work with before the country became a tourist attraction. They had to employ skill and imagination to turn simple garden attraction. They had to employ skill and imagination to turn simple garden vegetables and fruit into appetizing meals.vegetables and fruit into appetizing meals.

• Today, when people think of Swiss food most think of fondue or Today, when people think of Swiss food most think of fondue or Emmenthaler cheese, but the Swiss are loyal to their cantonal identities. Emmenthaler cheese, but the Swiss are loyal to their cantonal identities. Thus it is much more reasonable to discuss the cookery of Bern, or of Vaud, Thus it is much more reasonable to discuss the cookery of Bern, or of Vaud, or of Zürich, rather than to group them all up.or of Zürich, rather than to group them all up.

• Many recipes have become distinctively Swiss, such as fondue, Raclette Many recipes have become distinctively Swiss, such as fondue, Raclette (more melted cheese), rösti (a dish of fried potatoes), or leckerli (honey and (more melted cheese), rösti (a dish of fried potatoes), or leckerli (honey and ginger cookies).ginger cookies).

• The Swiss also love healthy foods, influencing the creation of many healthy The Swiss also love healthy foods, influencing the creation of many healthy dishes such as muesli.dishes such as muesli.

Cheese Production in Cheese Production in SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Swiss FondueSwiss Fondue

Austria and their FoodAustria and their Food• Austrian food shows culinary reflection of an ethnically mixed people Austrian food shows culinary reflection of an ethnically mixed people

who, during the many centuries, have exchanged culinary know-who, during the many centuries, have exchanged culinary know-how with Turkish, Swiss, Alsacian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, how with Turkish, Swiss, Alsacian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, German, Bohemian-Moravian, Hungarian, Polish, Croatian, German, Bohemian-Moravian, Hungarian, Polish, Croatian, Slovenian, Slovakian, Serbian, and Jewish cuisineSlovenian, Slovakian, Serbian, and Jewish cuisine

• Vienna is the main reason for Austria's food diversity. Vienna was Vienna is the main reason for Austria's food diversity. Vienna was Austria's main marketing location and meeting place for foreign Austria's main marketing location and meeting place for foreign affairs.affairs.

• An Austrian meal can have as little as two courses, or as many as An Austrian meal can have as little as two courses, or as many as seven, varying on the importance of the meal.seven, varying on the importance of the meal.

• Austrians share the same love for meat as the Germans do and are Austrians share the same love for meat as the Germans do and are actually the founders of the well known Schnitzel and all its varied actually the founders of the well known Schnitzel and all its varied styles.styles.

• Austrians are also extreme dessert lovers. One of the most loved Austrians are also extreme dessert lovers. One of the most loved desserts is vanillekipferl, which are crescent-shaped cookies coated desserts is vanillekipferl, which are crescent-shaped cookies coated in confectioner's sugar.in confectioner's sugar.

Austrian SchnitzelAustrian Schnitzel

Quiz QuestionsQuiz Questions

• 1. Up to how many courses can be in an 1. Up to how many courses can be in an Austrian meal?Austrian meal?

• 2. What countries consume more alcohol 2. What countries consume more alcohol than Germany? than Germany?

AnswersAnswers

• 1. Up to 7 courses1. Up to 7 courses

• 2. Czech Republic and Ireland 2. Czech Republic and Ireland

LinksLinks

http://www.enotes.com/food-encyclopedia/germany-austria-http://www.enotes.com/food-encyclopedia/germany-austria-switzerlandswitzerland

http://www.recipes4us.co.uk/Cooking%20by%20Country/http://www.recipes4us.co.uk/Cooking%20by%20Country/Germany.htmGermany.htm

http://world-food-and-wine.com/swiss-foodhttp://world-food-and-wine.com/swiss-food

http://www.sallybernstein.com/food/cuisines/austria/http://www.sallybernstein.com/food/cuisines/austria/