Bavarian Archives — Days of Jay

Bavarian Pork Schnitzel

27th September 202010th October 2020 Bavarian, main-event, Oktoberfest German

Maybe it is lucky that we aren’t having an Oktoberfest here in Munich this year as unlike our usual sunny, warm autumn, the weather has turned very wintery with squalls of rain and temperatures around 5°C. To be fair, cold weather never puts a damper on the celebrations, as people

Gingerbread Hearts ‘Lebkuchenherzen’

25th September 202026th September 2020 Bavarian, Oktoberfest, sweet-things Bavarian, Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest recipes continue today with a real symbol of folk festivals here in Germany: Gingerbread Hearts or Lebkuchenherzen. Anyone who has ever visited the Oktoberfest has seen the many stalls selling these sweet treats. Ranging in size from tiny to absolutely enormous, these brightly decorated hearts are meant to

Bavarian Potato Salad ‘Kartoffelsalat’

23rd September 202023rd September 2020 Bavarian, light-bites, Oktoberfest

We are bang in the middle of the Oktoberfest season, and while no Oktoberfest is being held in 2020, that doesn’t mean we can’t have our favourite Bavarian foods at home! If you’ve been following along you will have learnt how to cook the perfect Oktoberfest Roast Chicken, and today

Oktoberfest Roast Chicken

21st September 202022nd September 2020 Bavarian, main-event, Oktoberfest

It is that time of the year again! Unfortunately, this year the official Oktoberfest has been cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate at home. While the Oktoberfest is now famous across the world as being an excuse to drink vast quantities of beer,

Zwetschgendatschi – Bavarian Plum Tart

13th September 202016th September 2020 Bavarian, Oktoberfest, sweet-things autumn, Bavarian, German, pastry, plums, summer, sweet

I have had a bit of wanderlust recently, so you might have noticed that many of the recipes I’ve been sharing are from far-flung places as I travel in my imagination around the globe. I love the way the smell can taste of food can transport us directly into other

German Strawberry Cream Torte

26th February 202013th July 2020 sweet-things, baking, Bavarian, German baking, cakes, German, strawberry

The first strawberries have started appearing in the markets, juicy and glossy, fragrant with the promise of summer and sun. Of course, as soon as I see strawberries I get a craving for that most summery of recipes: an Erdbeer Sahnetorte - a German Strawberry Cream Torte. While it’s much

Krapfen – German Carnival Doughnuts

19th February 202016th September 2020 Austrian, baking, Bavarian, Oktoberfest, sweet-things

It’s that time of year again, when ‘Fasching’ or Carnival in Germany reaches a week-long peak of festivities, partying and general frivolity before the gloomier days of Lent begin on Ash Wednesday. The streets are littered with confetti and streamers and the Faschings-Narren (Carnival Jesters) pop up in the unlikeliest

Zimtsterne / Cinnamon Stars

14th December 201916th July 2020 baking, Bavarian, Christmas, sweet-things

Christmas baking in Germany is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I grew up in the land of Christmas puddings and pavlova, quite frankly, store bought more often than not, delicious, but nothing on the level of care and dedication Germans put into their utterly delightful Christmas biscuits or Plätzchen -

Homemade Soft Pretzels – the best Bavarian recipe!

3rd October 20199th October 2020 baking, Bavarian, light-bites, Oktoberfest

At the centre of any good Bavarian table, you will find a basket of that most beloved of baked goods, Homemade Soft Pretzels. Known locally as Brezn, this is comfort food of the highest order for all Bavarians and an indelible part of the local culture. This simple bread has

Obazda – Bavarian Cheese Spread

22nd August 201916th September 2020 Bavarian, light-bites, Oktoberfest, summer

It’s that time of year again, Munich is buzzing, the tourists are flooding into town, the Wiesn is covered in beer tents and roller coasters, that must mean that the mother of all celebrations, Oktoberfest is nearly upon us. Love it or hate it, the Oktoberfest is an absolute phenomenon.