I can't remember how we first heard about Schräglage, but I'm so glad we decided to try it last weekend for brunch. We'd seen that they advertise a "Surfer's Breakfast" with pancakes, and I wanted to find out if they were real, American-style pancakes or just another European imitation...
Before I start my review, I have to confess something: I don't like Pils. At least that is to say, I don't like any of the German Pils that I've had (nor any of the American ones for that matter). Sure, I understand the principal of having a neutral or light beer with your food to quench your thirst, but I prefer my alcoholic beverages to complement my food, not just wash it down.
Unfortunately, it seemed like when we moved to Germany a little over three years ago that Pils and Hefeweizen were the only two options. And while I'm still amazed that we've found longer beer lists on our trips abroad, I am pleased to say that Stuttgart, and to some extent Germany, finally seem to be getting on the craft beer wagon...
A couple of weekends ago I found myself in Frankfurt am Main visiting with friends. Frankfurt has the biggest international airport in this part of the country, so we make it there somewhat regularly either to see friends arrive or leave from the airport, to go on our own adventures, or to visit our friends who live there. On this occasion, we had a couple of meals from some past favorites, but we also tried brunch at a our favorite Frankfurt bakery for the first time and loved it!
If you're ever in Frankfurt, here are three places that I recommend you try...
Every time we go to the Mövenpick Weinkeller in Stuttgart-West, we pass a restaurant called Rat-Rat on the way up the hill. I remember noticing it for the first time about a year ago, but something about the name didn't sound so appealing to my English (language) ears. However, after a particularly long tasting session at Mövenpick, our group decided to give the restaurant a shot and discovered that, to our surprise, they serve some delicious German food.
We returned again this past weekend after Mövenpick's Degustation Frühlingsfestival (spring festival tasting), during which we found a lovely Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington state and a Rivaner Pur! from the Mosel river valley. (If you're interested in trying them for yourself, Mövenpick is having another tasting May 21st-23rd.) Following the tasting, we stumbled down the hill to Rat-Rat and discovered that they had set up their outdoor patio for the summer. We chose a table under an umbrella (which turned out to be a good choice later when it started to sprinkle a bit) and sat down to order...
One of my colleagues decided to get a group of us together for brunch before the start of the work week. His proposed destination: Taverna Yol. I'd never been to Taverna Yol, but my colleague promised delicious Turkish food at their all-you-can-eat brunch and I just couldn't turn down the opportunity. And so this morning, we rushed out the door last minute (per usual) in order to meet the group of about 20 of us. By the time we arrived at 11:15, the restaurant was already packed and brunch was in full swing.
The brunch buffet was set up near the entrance. They had a huge table piled high with food including fresh-baked breads, olives, fresh cheeses, tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted eggplant and zucchini, rice with pine nuts, sausage cooked in a tomato and egg sauce, chicken in a cream sauce, spiced tuna, dolma (stuffed grape leaves), and sigara boregi (long, thin pastries stuffed with cheese)...
Today I had the pleasure of eating brunch with a good many of my dear friends and coworkers. We decided to convene before the official start of the school year at our second annual Sunday brunch at Pier 51. Why Pier 51? Their brunch is one of the few "American-style" buffet brunches that I've found in Stuttgart, and while it is a bit pricey at 32€ per person (half price for children), I think we generally eat our money's worth given what's offered.
When you pay for the Sunday brunch, you get a good many choices including breads and toasts with butter and jam; yogurt and milk with many different kinds of cereal and müsli; fresh-squeezed juices, teas, and coffee; a hot buffet with bacon, sausages, eggs, waffles, and pancakes; and, my favorite section, a cold buffet with sliced meats and cheeses, smoked fish, grilled vegetables, salads, and other antipastos. The price of the buffet also includes one glass of Sekt (sparkling wine). And if you go early (around 11 am) and stay long enough (around 1 pm), they switch the hot buffet from breakfast to lunch, so you can help yourself to an additional array of pasta, vegetables, rice, fish, and meat along with a dessert table with fruit and mini-cups of various sweets...
Brunch is probably my favorite meal because it combines the best of breakfast and the best of lunch at the right time of day. I also love to try lots of flavors, and so buffets really appeal to me. That's why when Brauhaus Schönbuch advertised a brunch buffet, I decided to give it a shot.
I've been to Brauhaus Schönbuch several times now. They are conveniently open midday until 1:00 on the weekends and have tons of space for large groups of people. They're also located centrally in the Mitte, but just off a side-street from the busy Königstraße, which means the spacious patio is calmer and quiet than the rest of the downtown area.
