Deutsche Nahrung und Spaß (German Food and Fun)

I love exploring and finding new and unexpected things to see and do. I don't limit it to vacation time...it's any time. Life is short and I want to see and do all that I can. I've been asked many times how I know my way around so many towns and about so many places. I guess it's because exploring is a way of life for me. I don't always take the roads most traveled. When I do, I keep exploring the area to see what else I can find. When I hear about something new and I have a chance to go see it, I do.

That's what happened last Thursday. My parents had some long time friends visiting for a few days and my daughter and I went to see them. We all drove to Calimesa, California to see something I'd never heard of. It's a little shopping center with a clock tower and characters that come out at noon with music and a little story. People gather around the tower just before noon and wait. Just after the clock strikes 12, doors open and characters start coming out. First, the two side ones come out to blow their trumpets. Then, the king and queen come out and talk.


Rumor has it that the creator of this has some tie to Disney. I can't confirm that but the faces of these characters did resemble the Disney style. It was a little hokey but I bet kids would love it and I'm glad I got to see it.


Afterwards, we went next door to George's Market. It's a German deli, market, and restaurant.


This was fun! My grandmother (my dad's mom) was 100% German and I use to enjoy German food whenever I saw her. She passed away a long time ago and I haven't had much German food since. So, this was a real treat. The meat counter ran the length of one side of the store. Here's one small section...


They had German cheese...


And lots of other things. I'm not sure what it all was but it would be fun to find out and try it...


We all enjoyed sandwiches with German meats, German potato salad, and the best sauerkraut I've ever had. Yummm! I bought a bunch of German foods from the market to take home and enjoy. I had a crockpot of beef stewing at home and enjoyed it that night with spaetzle. It wasn't like grandma's but it was good.

I use to make springerle cookies with my mom every year for Christmas when I was growing up. We've been thinking about making them again. This little German outing just may be the inspiration we need to make them this year. Mom already has her springerle rolling pin out and ready.