My love is Munich

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:50:55 +0000

Every time I’m ascending the stairs from the train station up to the Marienplatz I’m marvelling at the magnificent view.
I mean…I grew up here and I saw the town hall, the dome, the column of virgin mary…. already hundreds of times, but I still love the architecture and the atmosphere, especially on a nice summer evening.
When I came back from New Zealand four years ago, where I’ve been for three months, I was completely convinced that I want to move there, that there is no better place on earth. But when I came into the city centre and saw all the old, beautiful buildings and walked past the dome I couldn’t help myself just being happy to live here.
I think we have the perfect mixture of Bavarian traditions and Italian chic. You can go to a traditional restaurant and have a “Schweinshaxe” and some beer. Around the corner there is an ice cream parlour where the fruit sundae with strawberries, cherries and heaps of cream tastes almost the same as in Venice. But if you want to dream of a trip to Mexico then have some Fajitas and a yummy cocktail afterwards.
It is said that Munich is the northernmost Italian city and I think that’s perfectly right. It is a cosmopolitan city, with maybe a bit too much “Schickimicki” (an expression for snobbish, following the latest fashion..) where you can discover the world but go to sleep in your own bed. J And if you don’t have an own bed then go to the Hotel Monaco next to the main railway station. There you’ll have a cosy and nice stay and it will almost feel like home.

Franzi

Brezel in the Hotel Munich

admin — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:01:13 +0000

Why does the Brezel look like that?

Ther are many stories, sometimes they seem like fairy tales. For example: The first baker who created a Brezel, observed monks, praying with crossed arms. To be honest, the first 100 years Brezels weren´t twisted but formed like a circle. Because it wasn´t easy to connect the two ends neatly, a new form was developed in the the 9th century. It looked like the figure 6 or two connected “sixs”. There were heaps of different ways to form the Brezel.

And why is everyone so crazy about it?

The Brezel, formed like a circle was already “high fashioned” during roman time. It was used as a last supper gift, together with wine, in the second centruy by the Christians. Probably a lot more people would go to church if that tradition would have been held alive.;-) Monks had it as fasting and festival meal. In the Middle Ages the people living in town were crazy about it. The Brezel was eaten at weddings, birthday parties, funerals … . The more popular it became the more it was important at festivals and for customary use – in parts of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Today it is impossible to imagine everyday life without it. Especially in Munich you have to eat the Weißwurst with a Brezel and swee mustard.

Ther are variations from salty to sweet … and what the hell is a “Laugenbrezel” ?

In former days the bakers dipped it into hot water before putting it into the oven. Through that the exterior stayed soft and the Brezel swelled perfectly. During the 12. century they started to cover them with brine so the paste turned crunchy brown and it tasted a lot better.

As a chemical aid soda lye was used, thinned with water, Normally it is acidic and dangerous. But during baking, soda lye turns into sodium carbonate which is normal soda as used for baking. By the way you can find the “Laugenbrezel” in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and the Pfalz on the menu. There, people prefer eating their bread with the traditional aromatic taste. And even in New York, on Time Squares you can buy it!

Take one and enjoy your meal in your Munich Hotel Monaco during your breakfast!

Hotel Monaco and Munich » Special Bavarian food

My love is Munich

Brezel in the Hotel Munich