German Food and Dining Customs

Dining Customs and Food in Germany

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German Breakfast

• Typically, a German breakfast has:

• Coffee/Tea

• Bread/Rolls/Butter/Jelly

• Fruit

• Deli meat/Cheese

• Hard-boiled eggs

Multiple Select

Select the TWO items you would NOT see at a German breakfast

• Waffles

• Bread/Rolls

• Bacon

• Deli meat/Cheese

• Hard boiled eggs

Lunch

• Many Germans do not traditionally eat breakfast/lunch/dinner

• They usually have a large breakfast, a small snack, and a large lunch

• If a German family does have dinner, it is usually a small meal

Multiple Choice

Do Germans usually eat dinner?

• Yes

• No

The Fork and Knife

• Germans traditionally eat with their fork in their left hand and their knife in their right hand

• Germans eat most of their food with a fork-- even french fries!

• To signal they are done with their meal, Germans will lay their fork and knife next to each other on their plate

Multiple Choice

How does a German let their waiter know they are done eating?

• They snap at the waiter

• They yell the waiter's name

• They lay their fork and knife next to each other

  on their plate

Restaurants

• In a German restaurant, if you want the menu, you ask for die Karte or die Speisekarte. Don't ask for das Menü or else you will be served a complete meal. Most German restaurants offer a fixed price meal (various items for a set price) which they refer to as das Menü.  

Multiple Choice

If you want a menu, what do you ask for?

• die Karte/Speisekarte

• das Menü

Multiple Choice

What will you get if you ask for das Menü?

• A complete meal

• A paper menu

Restaurants

• Most German restaurants have their menus posted outside

• This allows visitors to see the selection and prices before deciding whether or not they want to eat there

Restaurants

• In most restaurants, you will seat yourself

• It is also common for strangers to join you at your table if the rest of the restaurant is full

• This doesn't mean you need to socialize with them- you are simply sharing a table

• One would ask "Ist hier noch frei?" if you'd like to share their table

Multiple Choice

If a restaurant is busy, most Germans will...

• Wait

• Share a table with strangers

• SCREAM

Restaurants

• In most German restaurants, when you want to order, pay, or have a question, you will need to call the waiter over

• This is different than restaurants in the U.S. where the waiters typically check in to see how things are going-- German waiters will not do this

• This is NOT considered rude in Germany-- it is common

Multiple Choice

German waiters will come check on you often during your meal to see how things are going.

• True

• False

Restaurants

• If you want the check, you need to ask for it. Waiters will not bring the check unless you ask.

• It is not common to leave a tip in Germany.

• German restaurant workers make a decent wage and service fees are usually included in your meal already, so tipping is not necessary

Multiple Choice

Do you need to ask for your check in a German restaurant?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Do you need to tip?

• Yes

• No

Restaurants

• It is normal for people to bring their dogs to restaurants-- not just service dogs, but pets

• It is also normal for people to spend 3-4 hours sitting in a restaurant with family/friends.

• Restaurants do not rush people out in Germany like how they do in the U.S.

Restaurants

• Your drink will not come with ice in a German restaurant

• If you order water, you must pay for it

• If you don't clarify that you want tap water, the waiter will bring you sparkling water

• REFILLS ARE NOT FREE

Multiple Choice

Will your drink come with ice in a German restaurant?

• Yes

• No

• Only if you ask

Multiple Choice

What kind of water will you get if you don't say "tap water?"

• Sparkling water

• Lemon water

Multiple Choice

Are refills free?

• Yes

• No

Restaurants

• If you order a pizza at a restaurant, it will come with a fork and knife. It is common for Germans to eat an entire pizza for a meal.

• If there is bread on the table, dont eat it unless you plan on paying for it-- it is not free.

Multiple Choice

What will come with your pizza in a German restaurant?

• Parmesan cheese

• Hot peppers

• a fork and knife

Multiple Choice

Is bread on the table free?

• Yes

• No

Traditional German Food

Currywurst

• Currywurst is a fast food dish of German origin consisting of steamed, then fried pork sausage typically cut into bite-sized chunks and seasoned with curry ketchup, a sauce based on spiced ketchup or tomato paste topped with curry powder, or a ready-made ketchup seasoned with curry and other spices.

Poll

Would you like to try Currywurst?

• Yes, I'd love to try this!

• I might try this

• I would not try this

Wienerschnitzel

• Wiener schnitzel, a very thin, breaded and pan fried cutlet made from veal, is one of the national dishes of Austria.

• You can find schnitzel on most German restaurant menus.

Poll

Would you like to try Wienerschnitzel?

• Yes, I'd love to try this!

• I might try this

• I would not try this

Bratwurst

• Bratwurst is a type of German sausage typically made from pork, and less commonly from beef or veal. 

• There are over 1,500 types of sausage in Germany

Poll

Would you like to try Bratwurst?

• Yes, I'd love to try this!

• I might try this

• I would not try this

Sauerkraut

• Sauerkraut is finely cut raw cabbage that has been fermented.

• The cabbage is finely shredded, layered with salt, and left to ferment.

• This process can take 3 to 10 days!

Poll

Would you like to try sauerkraut?

• Yes, I'd love to try this!

• I might try this

• I would not try this

Spätzle

• Spätzle is a pasta made from fresh eggs, flour, and salt

• Spätzle is commonly made with bread wheat flour, which is a grainier type of flour compared to the flours used in common Italian pastas

• Spätzle is typically covered in a cheese sauce

Poll

Would you like to try Spätzle?

• Yes, I'd love to try this!

• I might try this

• I would not try this

Black Forest Cake

• Black Forest cake consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and cherries.

• The German name is "Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte"

Poll

Would you like to try Black Forest Cake?

• Yes, I'd love to try this!

• I might try this

• I would not try this

Bienenstich Kuchen

• "Bee sting cake" has two layers of yeast cake, a vanilla cream filling, and a crunchy gooey honey almond topping.

Poll

Would you like to try Bienenstich Kuchen?

• Yes, I'd love to try this!

• I might try this

• I would not try this

The End :)