Christkindlmarktimbißbude 2006
Das heißt: Beim frischen Wetter al fresco fressen
For something on the order of the tenth consecutive year, since the first year when it was held on the north side of the river at Michigan Avenue, I went to the Christkindlmarkt and, despite some prelimary reports of a vastly reduced and disappointing set of food offerings at this year's market, I felt the market was much as it was last year and in the first years in this location. Of course, the
Flamme Küche stand was gone but then again, that was the case last year and in any event, it was only present one year, I believe (at most, two years). With regard to the bread used for the sandwiches at the stands from Plauen, it is true that the bread is not as it once was but it has been of this same sort for several years now, if I remember correctly, and though this bread is certainly not a particular attraction in itself, it is a serviceable delivery device for the Bratwürste, which seem to be of the same fine quality as in years passed. I'd be surprised if the other items at the Plauen-stands (Leberkäse, Kaßler, etc.) were not also essentially just as they were in previous years.
Yesterday, I had one of my favourite combinations, a very straightforward order of a Bratwurst sandwich with a portion of German fried potatoes. Schauen Sie mal, meine Herrschaften:
The sausages were delicious as in the past, the Sauerkraut excellent and the mustard just right. In addition, the Bratkartoffeln were especially outstanding, simply owing to the fact that they were uniformly done just right, all cooked through with a good amount of brown bits and lots of flecks of bacon. Es könnte eigentlich kaum besser sein.
Now, JeffB reported
elsewhere that the Kilometerwurst had been dropped from this years offerings. When I read that, I was concerned but also wondered whether he may have gone to the Plauen-stand in the central area, which for reasons unbeknownst to me does not ever seem to offer the K-wurst, despite the fact that it is run by the same folks who run the stand on the Dierborn [neue Rechtschreibung] side. Now there, they still - as always -- offer the infamous K-wurst. Kann ich Beweis dafür erbringen? Jawohl!; das Verzeichnis der verfügbaren Futterage bei der Bude, Dierbornseite des Markts:
K-wurst listed on left, third from top.
For whatever reason, I've always ended up feeling this to be the best of the stands and it was nice to recognise and be recognised by one of the lads at work there (alongside two new guys; no sign of the handsome woman who has hitherto almost always been there).
Here's a view of the eastside of the market, with my favourite stand in the middle:
Just to the north is a stand where they serve Schnitzel sandwiches and burgers and such, as well Gulasch. Along the northside is the Strudel-booth. Both on the eastside and in the middle there are potato-pancake stands alongside the sausage-stands.
All in all, I believe this year's market is much as it has been over recent years, though of course without some of the things that were added for the years when the market had expanded into the Block 37. Of course, JeffB is quite right in lamenting the loss of some of those notable things (the Gulasch and Flamme Küche-specialists) but in a way, things seem to me to have gone back to where they were in the first years at Daley Plaza. The expansion to the east was, alas, short lived.
In any event, my lunch yesterday was great and I shall happily return. The
Flamme Kueche (link) and Gulasch I'll make at home but this year's market -- even if somewhat reduced from the heyday of Blok 37 expansion, will provide multiple simple, good
al fresco meals... Bratkartoffeln, Leberkäse, Kaßler, Bratwürstchen, K-Würste, K-puffer... Das reicht, oder?
VG
Antonius
Alle Nerven exzitiert von dem gewürzten Wein -- Anwandlung von Todesahndungen -- Doppeltgänger --
- aus dem Tagebuch E.T.A. Hoffmanns, 6. Januar 1804.
________
Na sir is na seachain an cath.