OT - European Vacation

jerryb78

So my wife and I are going on a 10 day trip to Europe starting next week.  I will certainly miss cooking on the egg while I'm gone, but I'm really looking forward to finding some good food on the trip.  We'll be visiting Munich, Berlin, and Paris.  Does anyone have any items that they'd recommend as must-have's?  Or any restaurants that you'd highly recommend?

johnkitchens

I have never been, but I would like to go. Have a safe and fun trip.

JohnInCarolina

Don't forget to try the beer! Have fun!

More seriously, the better creperies in Paris are worth seeking out.

nolaegghead

Hold your fork in your left hand to eat.  Also, Europeans find Americans super cute when they all wear matching shirts like this

JRWhitee

A pocket french english dictionary if you don't speak french. Use the french menu's and try to figure out what to order. It is fun and they will really love you for trying, you will get better service too, trust me. Not so sure about Nola's wardrobe suggestion though.... )

HDumptyEsq

You will eat well in all those cities, even in unpretentious cafes and bistros. If you're in Berlin and go to the old Eastern part to Der Grune Wald there are some great restaurants. Karl Lagerfelt (sp?) has a small hotel there and you can eat in the garden or on the terrace - unforgettable.

Paris is beautiful - pity about the French!

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jerryb78

The French will have to imagine the kids in their shirts, since they'll be a few thousand miles away with their grandparents, but I'm sure that my wife and I can come up with something equally awesome.  The World Cup will still be going on, so maybe we'll sport matching Packers jerseys and make a lot of off-hand remarks about "real" football.

nolaegghead said:

Hold your fork in your left hand to eat.  Also, Europeans find Americans super cute when they all wear matching shirts like this

jerryb78

@jrwhitee There are some pretty great translation apps out there now.  There's one for translating print that uses the camera and overlays the translation on the screen for you.  It's pretty impressive stuff.  We don't speak much French or German, so it'll be an adventure for sure.

JRWhitee said:

A pocket french english dictionary if you don't speak french. Use the french menu's and try to figure out what to order. It is fun and they will really love you for trying, you will get better service too, trust me. Not so sure about Nola's wardrobe suggestion though.... )

nolaegghead

I like that.  Don't forget the cheese hats!

JRWhitee

Your a Packers fan? Forget the dictionary, ask for menus in english then complain when they don't have them. Go Bears!  :((

Eggcelsior

Yes! The "ugly American" trope. Wear fanny packs and socks with sandals.

nolaegghead

Ask for something off the menu, like squeaky cheese curds.

Seriously though, I lived there for 7 years, and they really like it if you make an attempt, not matter how pathetic, to learn some basic phrases in their language.   Also, tipping is different, whistling is booing to them and personal space has a different definition there.  Also, don't be alarmed if you get your salad after your entree.

jerryb78

@nolaegghead Thanks for the tips.  We're pretty laid back so I think that we'll adjust OK.  I've been trying to do my homework but I'm sure manage to make complete asses of ourselves at least once or twice.  It wouldn't be an adventure if we didn't.

Also, there are several places within a few miles of my house where I can get squeaky cheese curds on a daily basis!  I occasionally lament my lack of options when it comes to fresh seafood in Wisconsin, but we've got the cheese curd thing covered.

jerryb78

@JRWhitee I think that the Bears went through 3 new quarterbacks in the time it took you to write that.   :-*

tulocay

He shoots, he scores!

stevesails

Take money. Patience. And don't wear any outlandish sport or college team gear. No one wears them there

jllbms

The Marling Menu Master is the best pocket sized guide to dining. Country-specific.

JRWhitee

jerryb78 said:

@JRWhitee I think that the Bears went through 3 new quarterbacks in the time it took you to write that.   :-*

lol, we cant keep quarterbacks you cant find a running back we all have issues.

sumoconnell

I travel a bit for work, love Munich and Paris. Berlin is ok, only been there twice.

I've got you many ideas in Munich to list, best you can do is walk the city, it's rather small old center. Great market each day, with a beirgarten right in the middle. It's the only one that changes brewery every day. You must get a pretzel for breakfast, with cream cheese. A dinner at augustiner, a stroll without the kids through the English garden get real ..happy... with all the other tourists at hoffbrau, and be sure, damned sure to get the swinehaxen at haxenbauer.

In Paris, beware the trendy, touristy restaurants in places like the Latin quarter and le havre..No danger, just expensive and poor quality. Outside the city center, great place called "le voq en Seine", a stationary boat. There is another great place near the Eiffel tower, the name escapes me. I'll repost if I figure it out. Best meal in Paris, two sisters run the place, waiter and chef. If you ask, the chef will suggest your full meal from items she shopped for that morning, with wine pairings.

I avoid the Louvre, just not my thing. I really enjoyed a walk from Eiffel to notre dame, etc. I find walking cities is one of my favorite things when travelling.

My biggest suggestion is to live in the timezones you land in. You'll get there in the morning...don't go to bed! Go for a walk, get out of the hotel immediately.... sleep when you get on the plane back home

Have a great time! I'll be in Munich second week of July..

sumoconnell

Found it..I keep it in a file on my pc..

First..

Le vog en scene (play on Seine). www.levog.fr

2 sisters:
Au petit tonneau
20 rue surcouf
75007, paris
(Short walk from Invalides metro stop)

My sales guy recommends:
"La closerie des lilas" on Montparnasse

Dutch_egg

and when in Paris don't expect to eat at 6, or be done within the hour. Enjoy a good brasserie on one of the side streets, excellent coffee with croissants for breakfast and great simple steak frites for dinner. Completely agree with the choices above for Munich. I have never been a big Berlin fan and couldn't suggest anything there. Enjoy yourself and explore the local stuff.

jerryb78

Great advice everyone.  Thank you.  I'll have to copy this down before we leave.  We're staying with friends in Munich so we'll have local guides for everything there.  Probably going to go up to Salzburg for a day.  We're only spending a day in Berlin to see the highlights then heading to Paris and staying in the St. Germain area.  Looking forward to lots of walking and enjoying the sites.

jerryb78

I'm back in the states again. The trip was fantastic. I'd highly recommend Munich and Paris to anyone who loves good food. The Bavarian food in Munich in particular should appeal to most BGE fans. Fabulous sausage of different types, roast pig knuckles, etc. The beer didn't disappoint either.

I've got a "welcome home" butt going on the egg now. Hooray for jet lag helping me to get up early to start a low and slow at the crack of dawn.

Also, this picture is one of the first things that greeted me when we landed in O'hare! Welcome back indeed!

sumoconnell

Welcome back! Glad you had a good trip.