Culinary Hamburg
What many don’t know – Hamburg is also a great culinary destination. From traditional fish dishes to tasty baked goods, Hamburg combines northern cuisine with German influences. While travelling, there’s probably no better souvenir to take home than trying local dishes and taking home a few extra kilogrammes. So, don’t leave any dish unsampled this weekend and dig in.
FISCHBRÖTCHEN
Probably the most famous dish straight out of Hamburg and the northern part of Germany is the humble fish roll. The sandwich can be served with many types of fish – whether you like it fried, prefer shrimps or prefer crab meat. However, we suggest trying the one with pickled herring (Bismarckhering) or the soused herring (Matjes). It comes with some onion, pickles and a nice sauce. And don’t forget: It tastes best while enjoying views of the River Elbe at the same time.
FINKENWERDER SCHOLLE
And here’s, of course, another fish dish. This traditional dish is named after one of Hamburg’s districts and consists of baked or pan-fried plaice filets, bacon, onions and North Sea shrimps. For the ultimate ‘Finkenwerder Scholle’ experience, head to the Finkenwerder district, where many restaurants still serve this superb meal.
LABSKAUS
This one might not look fantastic, but its taste makes more than up for it. Traditionally a meal for sailors and seamen, ‘Labskaus’ is made from corned beef, mashed potatoes and onions and is served alongside pickled beetroot, pickled gherkin, herring and fried egg. Interestingly, a variation of this meal also is eaten in Liverpool, UK where it is better known as ‘scouse’.
GRÜNKOHL
‘Grünkohl’ simply translates to kale but in Germany it is far more than the healthy kale fad we’ve come across in recent years. The traditional kale meal is stewed for several hours in North Germany, before being served alongside smoked pork, several types of sausage and boiled or fried potatoes. It is a hearty meal that is perfect for colder days. Even today, people are still celebrating this dish with a ‘Kohlfart’ – a cabbage tour. For this, a group of friends or colleagues go on long walks, while playing drinking games, before heading to a restaurant where a lot of ‘Grünkohl’ is eaten.
ROTE GRÜTZE
Now for something sweeter – the ‘Rote Grütze’ is a popular summer dessert that is made from cooked red summer berries. While it originally comes from the Danes, it has become a staple of the North German cuisine and is best served with milk, vanilla sauce or some ice cream.
FRANZBRÖTCHEN
Representing the baked goods section is the ‘Franzbrötchen’ which translates to French roll in German. These sweet pastries can’t be found anywhere else than North Germany so this is a truly authentic treat. Made with plenty of butter, sugar and cinnamon, you might also find some slighty different types with chocolate or marzipan.
FRESHLY ROASTED COFFEE
Coffee? In Hamburg? It might not be the obvious choice, but Hamburg is known for its freshly roasted coffee with a relationship between the two going back centuries. As a port city, Hamburg became the world’s largest coffee market at the end of the 19th century. Even today, the ‘Speicherstadt’ district is actually one of the biggest trading places for coffee worldwide.