spamtrap1888 wrote:
> On May 22, 9:04 am, "l, not -l" > wrote:
>> On 21-May-2012, George M. Middius > wrote:
>>
>>> I do like "German style" potato salad (vinegar dressing and bacon
>>> bits).
>> During 1993-1994 we hosted an exchange student from Germany. After being
>> here a few weeks, my (then) wife thought a dinner of familiar food might be
>> a good idea for one living so far from home. Among the items prepared and
>> served at that dinner was German potato salad; after sampling, Anna asked
>> "what is this". When told it was "German potato salad" she broke into
>> hearty, sustained laughter. Once composed, she informed us that she had
>> never had or seen such a dish; sadly, such was true of nearly everything
>> served at that meal that was supposed to be a touch of home.
>
> German cooking is pretty regional -- I remember finding a Bavarian
> restaurant in Berlin, to my amusement. Lacking heat and vinegar, My
> grandma's potato salad was indistinguishable from James Beard's:
> sliced potatoes in oil-heavy vinaigrette, with chopped celery and
> onion for contrast and flavor. And there are some complete non
> sequiturs: German chocolate cake was named after Mr. German, who sold
> baking chocolate. Nothing to do with Deutschland at all.

Re German Sweet Chocolate... I don't know that Samuel German ever
sold the chocolate that he invented. He was Walter Baker's
coachman, who later worked in Baker's chocolate factory, and he
sold the recipe to Baker.

--
Jean B.