The List

Some say I’m a picky eater. I like to think I have a refined pallet.

Since moving to Germany – I have started to like, even crave, certain foods I wouldn’t touch before. I guess a piece of it can be attributed to eating out. I mean, I have an idea of what I’ve ordered but could never say 100% what will show up when they bring me my dish.

It’s been kind of fun.

I recognize only a handful of words describing the entrée and take a leap of faith. Most of the time, it works out. Sometimes, not so much… and you end up with Pork Knuckle (not my favorite). But hey, now I know the word for Pork Knuckle. It’s a new way to work on my German vocabulary.

Here are some foods that I have started to eat in the last four months:

Tomatoes: I always ate them cooked but never raw. Now, raw, they are a staple and I put them in everything.

Cucumbers: The only thing I’d eat before were pickles. How I missed 32 years of eating this vegetable I don’t know. I’m trying to make up for lost time. Love them!

Kiwis: sweet and delicious. I think the fuzzy skin always turned me off.

Oranges: I like the juice, always have. Could never bring myself to eat the actual fruit though – too much pulp. Now they make a great snack in the afternoon.

White Fish: I haven’t done this one yet… I’m not much of a seafood person but I have decided I really need to try white fish. I’ve been craving it and can’t wait to see what the verdict is. If I end up adding it to the list it will make my seafood-loving-Glen very happy.

Oh! I almost forgot Oatmeal: I think my father has this nearly every morning and I've always thought it was mushy and gross. Now it is my weekend wake-up call, with fresh fruit and brown sugar - Yum!


…who knows what will be next! Stay tuned.

This Aisle Intimidates Me...

Living abroad, there are certain difficulties you have to overcome. Grocery shopping is high on that list.

I was naive the first time I went to my neighborhood grocery store. I didn't see my non-existent mastery of the German language as a problem. How different could it really be? I could see everything right in front of me - I should be able to recognize what I need. Right? Wrong.

In the produce area, there are vegetables and fruits I am unfamiliar with, don't even get me started on the weird meat section that is not refrigerated.

Four months have passed, and over that time I have learned more and more about my grocery store's offerings. With Blackberry in hand - set to Google Translator - I've moved through the aisles identifying items as I go. There are quite a few things I still don't have a clue about (like the weird jello stuff that has chunks of meat in it) but I have definitely made progress.

For the most part, I pick up all the same stuff as in the states but I now buy milk found on a shelf, not refrigerated, and I'm ok with that. It's a start.

There is one aisle I have yet figure out - and I haven't even tried. Dogs, sausages, wieners, wursts... whatever you call them, they are available jarred, canned, large, small, diced, sliced, pickled, seasoned - anyway you would want them. And they are found here, in aisle 12. ENTIRE aisle 12.

I don't know what to make of this aisle. No one is ever shopping the aisle either. The packaging makes everything look like you step into 1985 too. It is bazaar and I'm not sure I'll ever master this area. I pass through it to get to the pickles but I get embarrassed, quicken my pace and move on. Even taking the picture above - I was all business: walk, snap, keep walking.

One of these days... I will buy a wurst from aisle 12. It may just take me a while.