For his book Damascus: Taste of a City, German-Syrian writer Rafik Schami could not visit the city where he was born and spent the first 25 years of his life. He has lived in exile in Germany since 1971. To research his book, his sister Marie strolled thorough the Old City for him, collecting stories and recipes and relaying by telephone what she saw and heard. Continue reading
“Is this bread or cake?” my husband asked when I made a traditional German plum cake with yeast dough a few years ago. He was not adamant about it but I could tell that he was not too crazy about it neither. That’s when I decided that I would not make anything again that he does not like, even if it’s a German classic. Continue reading
It was not the response I expected: Years ago when I still lived in Germany, I took a Canadian friend who was visiting me in Frankfurt to a restaurant highly regarded for its German cuisine. I was glad I had made a reservation, it was Sunday evening and the restaurant was packed. My Canadian friend, however, didn’t pay much attention to the food. Instead, he was totally transfixed by the several dogs lying next to their masters’ feet at the neighboring tables. Continue reading
Spoonfuls of Germany 