Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Oh, yes. I went full-on tacky Christmas via PicMonkey. If you can't flaunt your tacky feathers at Christmas, when can you? I missed National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day last week...which was a total bummer. Mom has SO MANY Christmas sweaters covered in glitter, snowmen, and pom poms that I could have won a dozen ugly Christmas sweater awards just from walking outside my house. Mom still wears them non-ironically. She's literally the cutest. 

Since being home and blissed out for the holidays, I've helped mom make at least 400 chocolate peanut butter balls (also known more commonly as "Buckeyes" to many folks-except we cover ours fully in chocolate). They're absolutely a Christmas tradition in our house (the recipe is from an old church cookbook circa 1978). Ever since I can remember, I've helped roll the balls and dip them in chocolate, making a total mess of the kitchen a la Lucy & Ethel. While they do take some patience to make, we love putting "Christmas in Dixie" on repeat, reminiscing about holidays past, and keeping our peanut butter ball assembly line tradition alive. We're all professional dippers, except I lack patience as the years go by (some of my balls aren't really balls after a while). Come to think of it, I don't even really eat many of the ones we make year after year...they all end up in little tins as Christmas gifts for the mailman or the friendly and ever-so-patient post office lady. Everybody deserves a little 'thank you' at Christmastime. No tastier thank you than these decadent treats!

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

-Makes roughly 100 balls per recipe-  

Ingredients:

1 1/3 box of powdered sugar

1 16 oz. jar of Jif peanut butter

2 sticks salted butter (softened)

1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/3 block of Gulf Wax (for keeping the chocolate smooth & shiny--you won't taste the wax & it's totally fine to eat!)

Directions: 

1| In a stand mixer, beat together the butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar until combined into a soft, rollable dough.

2| Roll a small scoop of the peanut butter mixture by hand into small 1 inch balls and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Place balls into the refrigerator to chill for 2 hours before dipping in chocolate.

3| In a double boiler on low heat, melt chocolate chips and Gulf Wax together, stirring as it melts. Pull peanut butter balls out of the refrigerator just before dipping (if they get too soft while dipping, just pop them back into the fridge to firm up again). Use a toothpick to stick the ball and dip into the warm chocolate. Use a spoon to help cover the ball completely with chocolate. Use a toothpick to fill in the hole with chocolate left after pulling out the toothpick.

4| Place chocolate covered balls back into the refrigerator to set (roughly 30 minutes) before eating.

5| ENJOY with a tall glass of milk! 

Do you have any holiday treat traditions? Share them here!

More From Tallinn, Estonia

I couldn't finish sharing our time in Tallinn without showing you a few more snaps of the city and giving you the low-down on a handful of things you should try & buy if you find yourself there someday.

||EAT||

Want to experience cuisine like true medieval Estonians? Dine at Olde Hansa. 

We feasted on wild game delicacies such as boar, elk, and bear sausages as well as a thick meat stew, crusty bread, and juniper & herb cheese. Y-U-M! Don't forget to try their famous house beers--my favorite being the traditional dark honey beer, served in the most rustic of stoneware mugs. Restaurant is located just off the market square.

Want to enjoy a leisurely pint? Stop in at Hell Hunt, Estonia's first pub! Located right on Pikk (street) just a few blocks after you enter the city walls and pass Oleviste Church, this quirky pub and brewery is perfect for a light snack and camaraderie with friends. We ducked in after passing by it for the 3rd time on our walk around the city. Didn't take us long to realize we should have gone in long before! It had a great bar atmosphere and some pretty tasty home brews (as well as a decent selection of Belgian beers), so it made for a wonderful reprieve from all the walking we'd done. D even took home a t-shirt!

I'd also highly recommend trying Estonian chocolate. It's insanely good and again…very unexpected! We tried samples from two different shops and both were well worth the stop:

Anneli Viik--quiet cafe with best hot chocolate in town! 

Right across the street from Hell Hunt, so you can't miss it. :)

Kalev Chocolate Shop & Workshop--we brought some of this back on the ship with intentions to enjoy it back in Germany…but we ate it all before we even got home!

I can't stress this enough, but again…if you ever find yourself with an opportunity to visit Tallinn, GO! Don't hesitate for a second. It's perfectly charming, people are friendly, and you'll just have the best day ever. Stay tuned for the last stop of our Baltic cruise…Riga, Latvia!

Confessions of a Guacaholic

Today marks the first day of October for the year 2014. Not that you would know it here...unless, of course, you were looking at a calendar or reading this blog post. Unfortunately for those of us living in Central Florida, it feels nothing like the beginning of October or, more disturbingly, like the season of fall at all. It's still reaching 90 degrees each day, it's constantly humid and muggy (I feel like I've got a layer of sweat permeating the surface of my skin at all times...eww, I know), and it's been torrential downpouring daily for the last 11 days straight. I'm honestly not sure if I'm still in Florida or really displaced to the depths of the African Congo. Dramatic, probably...but coming from living in a European country with such mild weather, I'm basically distraught at the thought that fall, and the feelings typically associated with the month of October, are still far from reality for us here. If you understand any one thing about me it should be that October is my most favorite month of the year (hello, birthday month!!) and fall is my spirit season. Let me reiterate, DISTRAUGHT. No amounts of Starbucks caramel coloring laden PSL's can save me now.

So, what do you do when your favorite season is no where in sight? You sure as heck don't go buy all things pumpkin and try to will it to light. I made that mistake in the form of a soup that was too rich and too soon. One step outside to pull weeds and the heat turned my full soup belly into curdled death fire. Not cute. Instead, I'm trying my darnedest to embrace this new life amongst the blazing sun by keeping meals light, airy, and relatively healthy. Because lets face it...as soon as fall does start making a true appearance (I'm thinking December, maybe), I'll be busting out my mac and cheese sweatpants and chomping down hearty stews with the best of them. Until that sweet pumpkin spiced day comes...GUAC.



I've really got to thank my Aunt T for this recipe. Every time I make my way back to North Carolina in the summertime, she drives down the road from her house to my parents house (half mile at best) to wine drink & board game it up. Homemade guacamole is always a snack staple and we've perfected the right combination of lime and saltiness. I'm drooling just thinking about the batch resting in my fridge as we speak. Last night, D and I grilled up some chicken, toasted some ciabatta rolls, plopped down some jalapeno jack, and slathered a glob of this guac on top for open faced sammies. NOMS. If fall has alluded you as well...this guacamole is here to be your saving grace. We don't need no stinkin' fall. Avocado is the new gourd!

[Just kidding, fall. Come back. I need you.]



Homemade Guacamole

[Serves 4...or 1 if you're a guacaholic like me]

Ingredients:

2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and cut into chunks

1 small tomato, diced

1/4 cup red onion, diced

1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic (less if you aren't a garlic fan)

Juice from half a lime

1/2 tsp. sea salt

pinch of fresh cracked black pepper

pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (if desired)

Directions:

1| Peel, remove pit, and cut avocados into chunks and place into a medium-sized bowl. Squeeze the half lime all over the avocado chunks to keep them from turning brown.

2| Add in the diced onions, tomatoes, and garlic and mash together with the back of a fork. Allow for some chunks of avocado to remain if you like a chunkier guac.

3| Sprinkle in the sea salt, pepper, and red pepper (if desired for spice) and stir together. Enjoy with your favorite tortilla chips!

For more fun recipes, check out my CULINARY ADVENTURES page!

Creamy Enchiladas Verde

If you were to ask me on any given day what I'd like to eat for dinner, 9 times out of 10 I'd tell you Mexican food. Borderline obsessive, as D would say. Call me crazy, but any cuisine that has a large focus on cheese, meat, and spicy elements can't be that bad of a thing to be obsessed with. I make some sort of Mexican-inspired dish at least once a week...and it's usually on one of our cheat days. One can be obsessed with all things meat and cheese...but one could also grow a large rear end in the process, so balance is key. Another Mexican restaurant-inspired dish I became quite skilled at making while living in Germany? Creamy Enchiladas Verde. Meat, cheese, spice...ticks all my favorite boxes, and if my calculations via MyFitnessPal are correct, then it'll only cost you 558 calories for 2 yummy enchiladas. Add a half cup of fresh homemade guac and a few tortilla chips and you've got yourself a bonafied Mexican fiesta for under 750 calories. You'd be hard pressed to eat a meal at your local Mexican restaurant at those low numbers! Put a basket of those bottomless tortilla chips and salsa in front of me and BOOM, I'm SO done for the day. Sometimes cooking restaurant-style at home can prove to be convenient, cheap, AND better for your waistline. Maybe Germany did do me some favors by not having stellar Mexican food? I guess deprivation does have its silver linings.

What are some of your at home adaptations of your favorite restaurant dishes?
Share a link to your recipe in the comments section!

Creamy Enchiladas Verde

Serves 5

Ingredients for enchilada filling & topping:

• 10 flour tortillas (6" or 8" size)
• 3 cups shredded, cooked chicken (we love using shredded rotisserie chicken)
• 1 can of Rotel Original Tomatoes & Chiles (habanero, if you're brave!), drained
• 1/2 can of pinto beans or black beans, drained & rinsed
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (topping)
• 3/4 cup shredded Monterrey jack cheese (topping)
• 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp. ground cumin

Ingredients for verde sauce:

• 1-7oz. can of salsa verde
• 1/2 cup light sour cream
• 1/3 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup fat free heavy cream
• 2 Tbsp. light butter
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• pinch or two of salt

Directions:

1| Spray a rectangular 9"x13" baking dish with cooking spray (so the cheesy goodness won't stick) and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2| In a medium bowl, mix the drained can of Rotel with the shredded chicken and stir in minced garlic, ground cumin, and drained pinto or black beans. Once combined, put heaping spoonful (maybe 2 of them) onto each flour tortilla and roll up. Place rolled tortillas seam side down side by side into the prepared baking dish. 10 tortillas should fit snugly into a 9"x13" baking dish. Set dish aside to start working on the verde sauce.
3| In a small sauce pan over medium heat, saute red onion until translucent (about 3 minutes). To the onions, add the 2 Tbs. of butter and allow to melt. Then add the 2 Tbsp of flour to the mixture and stir until a roux forms (grainy, pasty mixture forms around the onions).
4| To the roux, slowly add in the chicken broth and whisk together. Bring the mixture to a simmer and constantly stir to keep the mixture smooth. Then add in the heavy cream, salsa verde, pepper, and salt and stir together. Heat the mixture for roughly 2 minutes, then stir in the sour cream. Turn off heat and pour sauce over the prepared enchiladas in the baking dish.
5| Cover the baking dish with foil and place the enchiladas in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle the cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheeses over the enchiladas and bake uncovered for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is slightly browned, melted, and bubbly. Garnish with chopped cilantro if you're feeling fancy!

For more yummy goodness, check out my Culinary Adventures page!

Homemade Queso Blanco

Ask and ye shall receive! I know, it's so mean to brag about how awesome I am at making cheese dip and then wait forever to share it. Crazy thing is, I had a super hard time finding the cheese I usually use to make this stuff! How in the world does the commissary in Wiesbaden, Germany have what I need and basically every grocery store in Central Florida didn't. Well, until I got smart, slapped on my sloppiest workout gear, and went to the one store I LOATHE going to...Walmart. Walmart may suck every other day of the week, but yesterday, it was my cheese saving grace. Now, before you read this recipe and say "EWWWW, NO FRIGGIN' WAY...she uses PROCESSED CHEESE to make this stuff?!?!" I should tell you that I've tried replicating Mexican restaurant-style queso blanco with dozens of different cheeses. Nothing gave me the good, melty consistency that queso blanco requires except for processed american white cheese (the Land O'Lakes kind, to be exact). Eating processed cheese once in a blue moon won't kill you. And if you frequent a Mexican restaurant and order this stuff, it's likely processed, too. So, just suck it up and enjoy the cheesy goodness, mmmkay? D got to taste-test this batch after I was done photographing it and subsequently mumbled quite a few wonderful things about my queso making skills in between mouthfuls of cheese. Would I steer you wrong? ;)

How did this drool-worthy recipe come to be? You guys have heard me lament about how Germany had the worst Mexican food in the history of ever. Being a total Mexican food fiend stuck in a country lacking such goodness, I was in a panic whenever a chimichanga craving hit. So, I started concocting my own versions of my favorite Mexican restaurant dishes. Queso blanco is something we ALWAYS order (nothing like a side of cheese with a meal of fried meat and cheese, the American dream!), so experimenting with my own version was totally necessary. Now this dip has become what D requests on our cheat days, Sunday afternoon football parties, his birthday, and Thanksgiving, even. I've never indulged him in a Thanksgiving queso blanco request yet, but I'm sure one day he'll wear me down. Cheese is good any time of year, am I right? Overflowing queso blanco cornucopias, coming to a Thanksgiving table near you this fall. 

Homemade Queso Blanco

Serves 8 (or something like that)

Ingredients

• 3/4 lb. to 1 lb. (roughly 4 cups) Land O'Lakes White American Cheese, shredded or cubed
• 1 cup of fat free heavy cream, divided
• 1 medium jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 3 Tbsp. flour
• 3 Tbsp. butter, divided
• 1 tsp. salt
• pinch of pepper to taste
• pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (if you want more heat)

Directions

1| In medium-sized sauce pot, melt 1 Tbsp. of butter over medium-low heat. Drop in chopped onions and jalapenos and saute for 2 minutes.

2| Add the remaining 2 Tbsp. of butter and allow to melt. Then add in flour and whisk together for 1 to 2 minutes until a roux is formed (grainy, pasty mixture forms around the jalapeno and onion bits).

3| Pour in 1/4 cup of the heavy cream and whisk together until roux is incorporated into the cream.

4| Add in a handful of cheese and whisk until melted. Continue alternating 1/4 cup of heavy cream and handful of cheese until all cheese is used. Continuously stir to keep the cream/cheese mixture from burning on the bottom of the pot. You may need to turn down the heat if you notice any burning.

5| Add in salt and pinch of pepper and stir together. If you can handle more heat, add in a pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes.

6| Serve warm with your favorite tortilla chips (might I suggest Tostitos Blue Corn or Cantina chips??) and ENJOY!

For more delicious recipes, visit my Culinary Adventures page!

So, You're Moving to Wiesbaden? | WHERE TO EAT: Part 2

Cafe/Light Lunch/Coffee Date

La Maison du Pain | Marktstraße 2, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 16661310

Ahhh, cafe lattes the size of your head. No, really. I miss this place so! Great for a relaxing Sunday brunch or a sweet treat and cup of joe, La Maison du Pain always left me full and feeling refreshed. My Maison favorites? The St. Tropez tartine, Croque Monsieur, and their yogurt parfait with honey & fruit. And bonus! They have English menus! Don't forget to take home one of their unbelievable pain au chocolat (chocolate croissants) or raspberry macarons. You can thank me later. :)

Cafe Maldaner | Marktstraße 34, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 305214

Don't let the creepy old mannequins out front scare you from eating here. What their window decor lacks in sanity, they totally make up for with their delicious desserts! Cafe Maldaner keeps old-time coffee house tradition alive and well in downtown Wiesbaden. Antique furniture & decadent pastries make this a sweet place to stop in for a light nosh, and their Sunday champagne brunch is not to be missed! Located just off the Marktplatz.

Domane Mechtildshausen | Mechtildshausen, 65205 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 73740

Located on a sustainable farm near the Clay Kaserne Army Airfield, Cafe Bohne at the Domane is the perfect spot for a light lunch and cup of tea. Not only can you enjoy fresh fare from the farm, but you can shop at their on-site baker, butcher, bio market, and cheese shop as well as stop to pet the animals! This place is a total dream in the springtime (flowers everywhere!), but could get busy and sometimes the service is slow (it is a farm, after all). Make sure to try their delicious soups and baked brie. A true hidden gem in Wiesbaden!

Doner Kebaps

Cardak Pizza & Doner (Mainz-Kastel) | Boelcke Strasse 55, 55252 Mainz-Kastel, Germany
After trying a handful of doner shops, this is the only one D and I really ever ate at in the Wiesbaden area. My theory, if it ain't broke...don't fix it! We LOVE Cardak! Great doners, excellent crispy french fries (D dreams about them still!), and quick, friendly service. D was a big fan of the doner duram (doner wrap) and I was a creature of habit and always ordered the traditional doner kebap sandwich. We've heard awesome things about their doner pizza, too. Doner meat on a pizza? Sign me up! Oh, and don't forget the garlic sauce!

Asian

Okini | Taunusstraße 22, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 23835808

All you can eat sushi and Asian delights...enough said! If great sushi, marinated steak tips (YUM!), sauteed mushrooms, and potstickers aren't enough to peak your interest...how about ordering your entire meal on an iPad? Neat, right?! Okini is just an all-around fun dining experience. It is a bit on the pricey side, though. Their all-you-can-eat dinner will cost you 25 euros per person. For a better bargain, go for lunch at 15 euro instead. :)

Aroma Noodle Bar | Mauritiusstraße 1, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 2408951
I loved this place for a quick bite to eat when I was out shopping downtown with the girls (located just off the main pedestrian zone at Mauritiusplatz). Aroma Noodle Bar has exactly what the name says, NOODLES! But also much, much more. They've got lots of great salads, rice dishes, and desserts, but their claim to fame are their tasty Italian and Asian pasta dishes. My typical order would either be their pesto pasta, Napoli pasta, or their chicken, veggies, & noodles with sweet and sour sauce. 

Thai Express | Langgasse 36, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49  611 5058508

I never actually got to eat here, but D did often on guys night out (yep, he totally goes on those!). He used to rave about all their spicy chicken & noodle dishes, but somehow forgot to ever take me down there to try it. Mean, right?! ;) He loved Thai Express because their meals were cheap, service quick (so they could get to the bars faster), and the food was always hearty & delicious.

Mayflower Chinese Restaurant (Mainz-Kastel) | Uthmannstraße 8, 55246 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 6134 258928
Mayflower was one of those places D and I went to when we wanted really tasty Chinese food. We had a hard time finding great General Tso's around Germany, but Mayflower had it! They've also got great sesame chicken, generous combination plates, ginormous spring rolls, and perfectly cooked sticky rice. Every patron is greeted with a small glass of plum wine, so you know I was sold! 

A Little Bit of Everything

Urban Kitchen | Bahnhofsplatz 1, 65189 Wiesbaden | +49 611 71694600

We loved having get-togethers with our friends at Urban Kitchen. Not only is it central to Wiesbaden (located inside the train station), its menu has a little something for everyone. Pizzas, pastas, burgers, Asian dishes, gyros, soups, salads...the list goes on and on! I've tried quite a few different types of cuisines there and they've all been winners. Great cocktail selection, too!

Scotch 'N Soda | Goldgasse 9, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 1714424

Talk about a fun place to dine! Scotch 'N Soda was among one of the first restaurants we ever experienced in Wiesbaden. Burgers, steaks, stews, and a plethora of schnitzels, this Scottish pub-style eatery offers enough meat & pints to keep everyone happy. After dinner hours, the restaurant turns into a bustling pub with a good selection of drinks for all. Don't forget to ask the owner how the dollar bills get up on the ceiling...maybe he'll give you a show! 

Heiliggeist (Mainz) | Mailandsgasse 11, 55116 Mainz, Germany | +49 6131 225757
This place is too cool for words. Heiliggeist translated means "Holy Spirit," which is appropriate because this restaurant is housed inside a former church. Talk about some insanely stunning ambiance! The fare is a little bit all over the place with dishes ranging from club sandwiches and Ahi tuna to penne with orange butter and veal saltimbocca. Even though their menu changes seasonally and varies widely, every dish I've tried has been beyond delicious. You literally can't go wrong.

Citrus (Mainz) | Rheinstr. 2, 55116 Mainz, Germany | +49 6131 216715

Need a great spot for a leisurly lunch date? Citrus is one of my favorites for those! Located along the Rhein River in Mainz, Citrus prides itself on using fresh ingredients to make creative dishes. I love their chicken skewer salad as well as their curry soup. The ambiance is ultra trendy, but the restaurant's building has quite a rich history. You'll just have to go there to learn more!

Ice Cream

Eis Cafe Rialto | Rathausstraße 82, 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 694399

Any time we went downtown for dinner, we ended up at Eis Cafe Rialto for dessert. It's in the perfect location for grabbing a quick scoop and enjoying the views of the Marktplatz. Might I suggest trying their Nutella eis paired with a scoop of Kokonuss (Coconut) eis?  Heaven on a cone! Their spaghetti eis is also pretty rad...a must-try for anyone visiting Germany!

Bar/Pubs

Le Petit Belge (Belgian Beer) Wilhelmstrasse 36, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 1667720
Hands down our favorite (and most frequented) bar in Wiesbaden. It's no surprise that D and I love Belgian beer, so Le Petit Belge was our go-to bar when that hankering for a Trappist beer came around. It's a small place that can often get crowded, but the owner, Helmut, is super friendly and quite accommodating. They also serve fresh made Belgian waffles, frites, and chocolates! Our one-stop shop for a night of decadence. :) They also do beer tastings and serve Saturday brunch, so join their Facebook page to keep in the loop. If you give Belge a try, tell Helmut hello for us! 

Murphy's Pub | Goldgasse 18, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 17278155
Located down "Italian Alley," Murphy's Pub is exactly what you think it is...an Irish pub! It's a fun place to grab a pint after dinner downtown or watch a game with all the locals. Lots of great drink specials, so grab your friends and make a night of it...but be aware, smoking allowed!

Ordering In

Lieferheld App & Website
This is an app (or website you can visit if you don't have a smart phone) that holds menus for local delivery restaurants in your area. You can order and pay for your food right there in the app (credit card or PayPal) and it'll be delivered straight to your door! You can also pay cash to the delivery guy, if you wish. We loved this app and used it whenever we didn't feel like cooking or going out. You will have to translate the menus, though. Great practice if you're learning German!

Lieferservice.de App & Website 
Same kind of service as above, just different company. We used both because different restaurants were listed in each. Very user friendly!

My Top Recommendations for delivery:

Domino's Pizza (better than the American version--less greasy!)
Jit's Thai Kitchen

Pfeffermühle

Pizza Boy

More tips for Wiesbaden to come!!!

So, You're Moving To Wiesbaden? | WHERE TO EAT

Some of the top questions I receive in my inbox each week are about Wiesbaden, our former host city in Germany. Many people are planning their moves abroad, some have already began to call Wiesbaden home…but what they all have in common is their need to know the best places to eat, shop, see, and experience the wonders of their new home city. Over the last 3 years, I grew to love every square inch of Wiesbaden and feel very fortunate to have been able to live in such a beautiful part of Germany. Having lived so close to downtown (a mere 5-minute walk), D and I became quite familiar with the city center and all the wonderful shops and restaurants it had to offer. A sweet reader (and fairly new face to Wiesbaden-Hi Chrisy!) sent me an email asking if I'd start a series about Wiesbaden and share my top picks for dining, shopping, and attractions in the area. I'm not sure why I hadn't thought to do it before…but better late than never, right?! Here is just part 1 of my top picks for places you should be eating at in Wiesbaden and the surrounding area...ENJOY!

Italian

Ristorante Comeback | Goldgasse 13, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 373802 

This was the very first restaurant D and I ever ate at in Wiesbaden...and like the name says, we always "comeback!" It's located in a charming alley downtown (appropriately dubbed "Italian Alley" by the Americans in town) and serves some of the most delicious fresh pasta dishes I've ever tasted. Their spaghetti Aglio e Olio is better than what I tried in Italy (seriously!) and the servers are all super friendly! A must-eat in Wiesbaden, for sure.

Vapiano |  Wilhelmstrasse 52, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 1608773

Want fast food Italian without it tasting like fast food Italian? Vapiano is the restaurant for you! The concept is unique--grab a card, visit a food station (pizza, pasta, salad, etc.), choose how you like it, and your meal is made fresh to order while you wait and watch! Might I recommend their Caesar salad, bolognese, and carbonara salmone? Wash it down with a glass of Hugo and you've got a winning (quick!) dinner combo.

Aurum | Goldgasse 16, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 3600877
Also located down "Italian Alley," Aurum is one of our fall/winter time favorites...mostly because of their AMAZING parmesan soup. It's to die for! Other favorites--margarita pizza, baked gnocchi, and the involtini mediterranean. Dine al fresco for the best ambiance!

Mexican/Spanish

Viva Los Tioz Tapas Bar | Goldgasse 10, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 700 0567 8469

I can't even count how many times D and I ate here with friends over our 3 year tour in Wiesbaden. It's beyond delicious and such a fun dining experience! Located adjacent to "Italian Alley" in a small square, Viva Los Tios is perfect for a tapas-lovers night out. Best tapas on the menu? The chorizo, bacon wrapped dates, garlic dip (with bread), gambas de ajillo (shrimp in garlic), and patatas con alioli (potatos with garlic sauce). Basically anything with garlic will do. And if you're into exotic cocktails, try the caipirinha!

Enchilada | Schützenhofstraße 3, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 45048350
 Germany isn't known for having stellar Mexican food, but if you're jonesing for a good margarita and burrito, Enchilada will fit the bill. Located in Wiesbaden's downtown pedestrian zone (Kirchgasse), Enchilada is easy to reach, has great happy hour drink specials, and has plenty of room for parties or a fun night out with friends.

Mexico Lindo (Mainz) | Adolf-Kolping-Straße 17, 55116 Mainz, Germany | +49 6131 228060
Another great option for Tex-Mex food, except this restaurant is located in Mainz, just a hop, skip, and jump from the Wiesbaden area. Mexico Lindo has excellent steak fajitas--best in town, I think! Owner is originally from Texas, so he knows a thing or two about spice and bold flavors. The taco salad and quesadilla are excellent choices as well!

German

Webers Wikinger | Grabenstraße 14, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 307622

Hands down the best German/Viking food in all of Wiesbaden! We LOVE Webers...love it. Best dishes--the turkey escalope with fried potatoes and either the garlic or mushroom cream sauce, the bacon wrapped pork medallions, or the salmon fillet. If I were you, I'd eat the turkey escalope every single time...it wasn't my last meal in Germany for no reason! Reservations recommended.

Paulaner | Wilhelmstraße 58, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 1667101
If you're hungry for traditional Bavarian cuisine, Paulaner won't disappoint. Aside from their famous beer, you can also find great schnitzles, yummy seasonal menus, and sausage platters typical of Bavarian cooking traditions. Their kasespatzel was my favorite in town! Located downtown right on Wilhelmstrasse.

Der Andechser Ratskeller| Schloßplatz 6, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 300023 

Located under the Ratskeller in downtown Wiesbaden (just beside the beautiful Marktkirche), Der Andechers is most well-known for its monastery-brewed beer, but also serves a wide variety of traditional German dishes from rump roasts to afpelstrudel. I find the best part about the restaurant is the fun stube (beer/wine cellar) atmosphere.

Brahaus Castle (Mainz-Kastel)| Otto-Suhr-Ring 27, 55252 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 6134 24999

I've eaten at the Brauhaus Castle at least 3 dozen times. It's where I bring all our visitors for authentic German meals, it's where half of our squadron going away parties were held (large outdoor biergarten), and it's where D and I would go on date night every so often. Great schnitzles and spundekas, EXCELLENT salads (Rustica salad is my fave!), kitschy German ambiance, and wonderful beer brewed in-house. They also have tasty specials during spargle (white asparagus) and pumpkin seasons! Did I mention they have English menus and speak English? What's not to love about this place?!

French

Kafer's | Kurhausplatz 1, 65189 Wiesbaden, Germany | +49 611 536200
If you're looking for a fancy French bistro-inspired night out, Kafer's, inside of the beautiful Wiesbaden Kurhaus, is the date night of your dreams. The restaurant itself is a piece of art--high ceilings, chandeliers, gilded mirrors--rich architecture around every turn. The food is quite the gastronomic adventure--lobster, lamb shanks, octopus salad--delights for all types of palates. While there is a small cover charge to eat there (roughly 3 euros per person), the food and atmosphere is worth experiencing at least once. Kafer's also serves a lovely Sunday brunch. Reservations recommended!

So many places to eat, so little time!
More suggestions to come in my next installment...so, stay tuned!

A Meal in Marrakech

After a long, but fascinating drive from Casablanca, we arrived in Marrakech just in time for lunch. Instead of diving right into sight-seeing, our tour guide led our cruise group to a restaurant within the Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage center and famed historic district of Marrakech. Upon arriving to the restaurant, we knew we were in for a treat. Situated just a few steps from Jemaa el Fna square, from the outside, this restaurant looked rough...but as soon as we walked through the threshold, the colorful zellige tile work, Berber carpets, and smell of tajine delights excited our senses. 

After our arrival was announced by the drums and singing of an Atlas Berber group, we were sat at large, round tables surrounded by pillows covered in lush fabrics. While the name of the restaurant absolutely excapes me, the atmosphere was perfectly Moroccan. The tables were already set, mounds of fresh bread and bottles of Moroccan wine ready for the sipping. Just as soon as we started passing the wine around the table, a man dressed in a traditional kaftan came and allowed us to wash our hands in a Moroccan hand-washing basin. This was a tradition I wasn't expecting, but so loved participating in! Shortly after, our waiter scurried over with a family-style plate of seasoned vegetables and typical Moroccan salads. Like clockwork, once the vegetable plate was cleaned, an overflowing platter of couscous and squash was rushed to our dining space. D and I were like ravenous animals…the wine, the veggies, and the couscous were deliciously filling…and we hadn't even gotten to the meat course yet! 

As the Atlas Berber group continued to play, a Moroccan belly dancer popped out from behind one of the arches and danced her way around the restaurant, stopping only to shake her hips in front of the most blushing bachelors. The whole room was alive with music and clapping, laughing and clanging of glasses…everyone enjoying their lunch with a show. While the belly dancer worked the room, a tagine filled with chicken marinated in olives, onions, and herbed oil was placed in front of us. I'm not usually a fan of chicken on the bone, but the meat was so juicy and flavorful, I hardly noticed the bone! It was hands down the best part of our meal. Our last course was a bowl full of freshly-picked mandarines, perfectly sweet and a wonderful end to our traditional Moroccan meal.

While this restaurant was obviously geared to attract the tourists (you could purchase photos of yourself with the belly dancers and of your hand washing experience), we still enjoyed every darn second of our lunch there. We felt like we got a good taste the local cuisine and a fun peek into some of the traditions that go along with dining the Moroccan way. With our bellies and cameras full, we made our way out to the streets of Marrakech to start exploring. Stay tuned for more from Morocco!