food | Mannheim | local poet | Karl Räder | Germany

Or cut to the chase and procure land jäger, an air-dried or smoked (geräuchert) meat similar to jerky. Your megameat shakedown would not be complete without leber würste (liver pâté) served with essig gurken (pickles) or with raw zwiebel (onion). And don't miss out on the laugen brot (pretzel bread) or vollkorn brot (whole wheat bread). Don't ask detailed questions about these exotic items, just do what I do: Eat and stroll, drink and stroll, repeat.

As you take in all of the festivities, keep in mind that there is no last call during the event - a good number of revelers have been known to frequent the food and wine tents until dawn. There is, however, a last call for trains. So it's a smart idea to make a note of the final departure times for the train back to Mannheim.

I conquered, boldly, the brats and wiener wurstel. I somehow avoided the stuffed pig's stomach. I was never without a glass of wine. My biggest surprise was that I crossed paths with a number of old friends who were also in attendance. The local poet Karl Räder was indeed correct, "The Wurstmarkt is the only festival where you meet old friends you've never seen before."
Pfalz Impressions
The 2004 wines turned out remarkable and well worth long aging, especially the sweeter, later-harvest Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese wines, which are off the charts qualitywise.
"2004 was a very good year in Germany for Riesling and Pinot varietals alike," concludes prominent importer Rudi Wiest. "For those of you who felt 2003 was 'über ripe,' rest assured 2004 will refresh your palate with the whip-cracking acid structure and fruit stuffing you desire. Put side by side, it's clear 2003 is the velvet-gloved heavyweight, while 2004 is exceptionally athletic in form, bright, and full of vim and vigor."