Culinaria Germany

Culinaria

by Christine Metzger

Food and culture are inexorably tied together. Culinaria reports on every aspect of a country's cuisine within the context of the people who created it. Profusely illustrated with spectacular photography and abundantly peppered with authentic recipes, these volumes are a treat for both the mind and the palate.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference, Travel, Germany

468 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Redsteve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read. Not just a cookbook, but an account (by region) of all aspects of food in Germany: recipes, history, dining, culture, agriculture, food production, hunting/fishing and even the politics of food. Also useful as a travel guide for foodies. The recipes do presuppose a certain amount of cooking knowledge on the part of the reader. On a second reading, I would emphasize this last observation - in most cases, the recipes are largely a list of ingredients followed by a paragraph or two on cooking procedures, so I should probably change my statement to "mostly not a cookbook." Still great, just buyer beware if you're primarily looking for an introduction to German cooking. 4 stars.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite set of cookbooks. These are like travel guides. Each region is carefully explained, and the food that region is known for is detailed. The pictures are exquisite. The books are so heavy that I have to get them down off the shelf for my mom and put her at the dining room table (as she's too little to hold these in her lap)! In rating this, I realized I have not made any of the recipes in the Germany book, so I will have to give one a try soon. In general, I have much better places for recipes. These are places for ideas. For looking at food and being consumed with the culture behind it.

[Petra X · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is to die for. Not just the food or the fabulous mouth-watering photogaphy, it is a travelogue by food of Germany. Even if you aren't a cook (I'm not) you will be totally absorbed by this amazing book.

[Sarah Dunmire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is impressive in its scope. It covers all regions of Germany and their highlighted foods. But not all of the foods they talk about have recipes in here. The font is extremely small, so it was difficult to read. The recipes are so region-specific that there are many ingredients I would not have access to in the US, so it’s not really meant to be a cookbook. It’s more like a history book than a cookbook, I would say. Kind of disappointment that it’s not more useable and its density.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Culinaria series is well worth having, from both a recipe point of view and from the cultural perspective. The book takes you through distinctive regional styles and popular local dishes. Good eats. Check it out.

[Erin Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thinking Day 2023--Germany

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is REALLY great for learning about the regional variations of food in Germany. The stories about the foods, their origins, and how they are served are really well done, along with the photos. I consider this a cultural tour of Germany's food. However, the recipes aren't very detailed and don't work very well (and I live in Germany, so it's not a problem of getting the ingredients). For this reason, I use this as a reference only, and refer to other cookbooks for recipes.

[SFBlau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arrived... it's a big hardback coffee table style book

Beautiful photography, colorful insights, and mouth-watering recipes of one of my favorite cuisines. Something wonderful on every page. I will refer to this book frequently. I hope to find a good German Deli close by. My favorite Old Country deli in Palo Alto closed a few years back. =(.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cookbook! Each region of Germany has its own chapter including history, culture, and recipes that are central to that area. Great photographs too. I love it when a cookbook is more than just a dry compilation of recipes!