The Elusive McRib @McDonald’s Munich, Hauptbahnhof

I'm lovin' it

This  “pork” sandwich has a strange cult like following. There are people who eat at McDonald’s daily or almost daily during the brief periods of availability.  Devout followers can become fans of a facebook page dedicated to McRib Sightings. In 2010 McDonald’s even hosted a McRib launch party at the Times Square location! I suppose part of the appeal is you never know how long the McRib will be around for or when it will reappear, so you have to enjoy your fair share (or more) when it is available.  I can’t pretend to understand the mystic surrounding this elusive rib-shaped, porkish sandwich, but what I do know is J absolutely loves it. His friends even taunted him via Facebook when the McRib made it’s comeback this November (about one month after he’d moved here!).

The McRib sandwich at McDonald's in Munich.

So then you can imagine his excitement when we finally ventured into the McDonald’s in Munich’s Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) and found the McRib on the menu! Our only regret was waiting until the day before we left to head to McDonald’s. Hey, we were eating so much good food, we just forgot! Sadly, J only enjoyed one McRib on our vacation. But we did learn that it’s on the menu year round, so if the craving strikes, it’s only a 6 hour flight!

I even felt adventurous and instead of my standard cheeseburgers without meat I tried the Veggieburger, which appeared to be made from a deep fried veggie patty and was rather delicious (btw someone, please, please explain to me what compels nearly all restaurants to offer one vegetarian option and then take this single option and improve the taste by breading and deep frying it?? Because really, nothing says healthy like deep friend veggies, right?).

I'm pretty sure this veggie burger patty is deep fried.

Of course the menu had some uniquely German offerings, including a burger made from not one, not two but three sausages! We skipped that and the tasty looking farmkartoffeln (potato wedges) and instead continued with our theme of deep fried and extremely nutritious, er delicious, and shared an order of käsegipfel. The käsegipfel were cheese sticks with a European twist, instead of the traditional deep fried mozzeralla, they were bites of breaded and deep fried brie with a cranberry dipping sauce. Classy for a burger joint! And deliciious!

Verdict: J says the McRib was just as tasty in Germany. The cheese and bun on the Veggieburger was exactly what I expected. And most importantly, those french fries were spot on as was the ketchup. Yum!

Happy Eating!
~Nikki

Eating my heart out in Munich

This year for Christmas J and I headed to the most Christmas-y place we could think of, Munich. We were hoping to have a white Christmas, but as per our typical vacation standards the weather hasn’t been cooperating much. That aside, the food has been fantastic (and the beer is great too!).  Because we’re staying in hotels, I’m not doing much, or, any cooking this week. But hey, I’ve still got delicious food news to share with you! Munich should be called the delicious food capital of the world.Oh my, the food, the food, the food.  Instead of planning where we would go and what we would see on this vacation, all I have thought about is food. Forget the museums or the history lessons, for two weeks I’ve “researched” what delicious treats I’d like to try!

Rahm Schmankerl @Mariernplatz

These yummy pizza like treats were made fresh at the Christmas Market in Marienplatz with wheat dough, chives, speck and some creamy/buttery/cheesey topping.

Handgemachte (handmade) treats are for sale at little booths all over the city at various Krindlemarkets (Christmas Markets). I can’t wait to get home and start trying to make some of these goodies myself. Rather, I suppose I can wait…because that means I get to enjoy more of these delicious treats!

J and I went back for these candied and roasted macadamia nuts 3 times!!

These chewy and spicy cinnamon cookies were every where.

Lebkuchen, or gingerbread, was available in a variety of shapes and decorations.

Why not have some hot mulled wine with your gingerbread?

Not only are the traditional snacks at the Christmas Markets absolutely delicious, but I’m sure if you were here any other time of year there would be just as many scrumptious choices.

How can you improve pizza? Well, obviously by tossing on not one but TWO slices of bacon!

J Picked up this steak burger from a cart at the Sendliger Tor Market. He’s still talking about it!

It seems like every corner has a deli, bar or food stand with a plethora of easy, on the go food options. The Hauptbahnhof, or Munich Central Station also has a wonderful cafeteria, where they not only serve good eats, but you can also enjoy a beer. Yum!

Really, I ate all of that. Well, most of that!