|Currywurst|
This is it. The drunk staple, the 3am indulgence made all around Germany. The go-to junk food: Currywurst. The simple dish of fried sausage topped with curry ketchup and a sprinkling of curry powder has satisfied millions since its inception in Berlin in 1949. I knew that the dish was popular, but I was unaware just how ubiquitous it had become. There is quite literally not a soul in Germany who has not had Currywurst at least once. I imagine it’s similar to the peanut butter and jelly sandwich in America, an item almost no German has ever had. So, on the 14th of December, my mournful last night in the weihnachtsmarkt until Christmas itself, I tried Mr. Popular.
I stood in the center of the Weihnachtsmarkt at the main train station, one of the many small markets scattered throughout the city, and took my first bites. My initial reaction? This bad boy is sweet. I found myself really wishing for more curry and less sugar, but I could easily see why this was the cheap on-tho-go choice for so many Germans. It’s filling, savory, and cheap. The sausages were cooked to perfection and the seasoning was great. I could see myself craving it in the future, but it’s just that: something you crave after a long while, only to be okay with not having it again once you indulge. But we’ll see if I have the same tone when I’m drunk this weekend.
The Weihnachtsmarkt, like any great tradition, holds tremendous power under the weight of its transience. It is because it is so short-lived, that it is so sought-after. Next year, I hope to make a full go of it, to try something new every single day these magical christmas-scapes are open. 14 days was not nearly enough to satisfy my desire to 100% the market like an RPG game from 2010, but I hope it was enough to hold me over until next year. Probably not, though.
Currywurst Scores
Taste 🎄🎄
Price 🎄🎄🎄
Fullness 🎄🎄🎄
Nick Denardi 