What's Missing In Germany?
I finally figured it out what they're missing here, and why I feel terrible -- weighted down, tired, just not myself: I haven't seen a green vegetable since I've been here! (And I got here Wednesday afternoon.) Upon realizing this, I was desperate to eat something green. And no, those Janitor-In-A-Drum-colored donuts don't count.
I went to the surly-market, sorry, the supermarket, next to the hotel. (Just reliving my experience with frau checkout-lady.) I thought I'd buy some nice, dark green watercress (plentiful in France) and some vinaigrette to put on it. I thought wrong.
They had about five selections of green things not pickled or mixed with mayonnaise (and I'm actually being very vegetable-inclusive here, considering that my count includes cucumbers and slightly greenish-in-hue iceberg lettuce). They also had mixed salad in packages, but it appeared to have been left over from The War, so I opted for two cans of peas instead. Like so:
Compare in coloration to last night's dinner on the boat. (The napkin does not count.)
Thanks to my boyfriend, who plays international Sally Struthers to my starving Ethiopian child...(okay, so I just never get around to getting to the grocery store)...there's a refrigerator full of food waiting for me back in Paris. I CANNOT WAIT TO GO HOME AND EAT IT!
That said, today, I interviewed Julian Paul Keenan, a fascinating cognitive neuroscientist, for this coming week's column -- so at least I got food for thought out of this Berlin thingie. Much, actually. Started writing up some bits of it, which I will post here soon.
That particular dietary omission extends to the German-settled portions of this country as well. I went to school in Pennsylvania Dutch country and their idea of a "green vegetable" was a lima bean.
The Proprietor at July 25, 2004 6:38 AM
Hello Amy,
I see that my little improvised tourist link didn't work for you. I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience. Obviously, you've been to the wrong places. (Yes, some of us do eat our veggies. I know I do...)
Have a nice stay in Paris anyhow! :-)
P.S.: Was this your first trip to Germany?
Rainer at July 25, 2004 11:24 AM
Dear Rainer,
Yes, it was my first time in Germany. I just went for the conference. While I did appreciate your link, there was a poster session 7-9pm on the last night, and I never even made it to that. I ate my greens and keeled over, then left the remaining can for Kaja Perina, of Psychology Today. I lived in a place I called "The Bunker With Germans And Dogs" when I first moved to LA (built by two guys who did interiors for Frank Gehry), so I know Germans who do eat greens. They were just, shall we say, not exactly everywhere.
I found myself coming home from Charles de Gaulle and fantasizing about a vegetable -- and I'm sorry to say this isn't a dirty story. It was a boiled beet in my refrigerator (well, my temporary refrig) back in Paris. I had it on dark green baby lettuce with a little vinaigrette for lunch. I am a new woman! Or the same old woman, but with a stomach that no longer appears to double for a bowling ball carrying case.
Amy Alkon at July 25, 2004 3:55 PM