14 Days of Weihnachtsmarkt: Day 12

|Schnitzel|

Aside from weekends, Wednesday is easily the most crowded day at the Weihnachtsmarkt. The people need a hump-day jump, a midweek jolt of jollies to help them survive until Friday. I don’t blame them. The German work life looks, to this untrained eye, crippling on a psychological level. One might say they are a culture obsessed; there are so many consultants here that I’ve often wondered who, in fact, they are consulting. The business culture has a seriousness to it that borders on the surreal. Wall Street without the drugs. And yet, after the clock strikes 17:00 uhr, these tired humans who’ve spent months, if not years, pretending to be ceaseless working robots in an effort to chase the German ideal of success so their peers and families will finally recognize them as having societal value, shuffle their way into the Weihnachtsmarkt just in time for me to accidentally bump into them, say “entschuldigung” in an accent they almost certainly hate, and order a classic Schnitzel as they walk hazily by.

I would equate Schnitzel at the Weihnachtsmarkt to pizza at a bar. There’s a specific place for what you’re getting, but getting it here instead has its own unique ups and downs. The schnitzel I ordered (classic pork, smashed thin and breaded) was deep fried instead of pan-fried, and served in a fresh roll for portability. I then took it upon myself to add a bit of mayo because I felt lost and didn’t know what else to do. The result was pretty damn satisfying. I walked through the brisk tundra that is central Mainz, taking bites as I neared the bus station, and enjoyed every minute of it. Anyone who takes pleasure in a crispy chicken sandwich from their favorite fast-food joint would enjoy this Schnitzel im Brötchen (in bread roll). It was crispy, juicy, hot and flavorful.

Schnitzel Scores

Taste  🎄🎄🎄

 Price  🎄🎄🎄

Fullness 🎄🎄🎄