Tag Archives: Nagold

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Visiting the Naturparkmarkt in Nagold…

A couple of weeks ago, someone in the local Facebook group posted about the Naturparkmarkt, a market that has been going to different towns in the Black Forest region.  A couple of weeks ago, it was in a town about 20 kilometers from Jettingen.  I was tempted to go, but it was raining that day.  Then I noticed that on June 19th, the market would be coming to Nagold, a cute little town about four kilometers from Jettingen.  Bill and I made plans to go and just got home from the small but mighty market.  Despite some clouds, we spent some euros and brought home quite a haul of fresh food and cosmetics made from honey.

The lovely thing about Nagold on Sundays is that parking is free.

I love going to markets.  They’re always very festive and the food is so fresh and colorful.  Today’s market was pretty small and there weren’t very many people there, which kind of made it better.  Many of the vendors were allowing people to taste their products before purchasing.  Bill and I ended up with mustards, jams, bread, sausages, wine, strawberries, cherries, and cheeses.  Feast your eyes!

Our first stop was at a little stand where a dirndl clad lady was selling cheeses, sausages, and many interesting mustards.  We ended up buying five exotic flavored mustards featuring everything from dill to whiskey.  Here’s an obligatory shot of Bill helping himself.

It wasn’t very crowded…

Another stand featured some delicious jams, jellies, and marmalades.

A tour is going on at 3:00pm.

 

We ended up going to the river, where a band from a music school was playing.  It sounded like they were playing “Superstar” from Jesus Christ Superstar.  Just as we approached, they broke for lunch.  Too bad.

Nagold is such a cute town.  There are flowers everywhere, as well as many entertaining water fowl.

The band.

Cute little kiosks selling lunch.

 

After we strolled back across the bridge to the market, we stopped at a stand where a very friendly guy was selling products made from honey.  He didn’t realize we were English speakers and was rattling off all sorts of information about the lotions, salves, and creams he was selling.  When Bill explained that we only speak a little German, he called his wife over.  But then she and another guy at the next stand said we didn’t need translation!  They were really interested in knowing what we were doing in Nagold.   I still don’t speak a lot of German, but I am finding that I understand a lot more than I used to.  Bill is fairly conversant.

The honey guy.

I got a kick out of the Queen Elizabeth and Albert Einstein waving dolls.  They reminded of me of my Margaret Thatcher nutcracker.  😉

This stand selling sausages was extremely popular.  I didn’t have to pressure Bill too hard to pick up some deer and wild pork sausages.

 

One very kind lady was selling wines.  We stopped to talk to her and tried three of the several wines she offered.  She told us if we liked her wines, we could just send her an email and she’d bring us orders when she visits her mother in Nagold.  I love that about living here.  You can strike up a conversation with local farmers or vendors and they can hook you up with some great locally made products.

Just last week I got an email from a small vintner in France.  Last time we lived in Germany, we happened to purchase some wine from them at a market in Tuebingen.  We got on their mailing list and used to buy wine from them at the Ludwigsburg market.  For the next five years, while we were back in the States, I’d get emails from them telling us where they were selling their wines.  I’d sigh wistfully and miss being in Germany.  The emails eventually ceased until I got one out of the blue last week.  We’re picking up an order in Ludwigsburg during the first weekend in July.

It’s a pleasure to live near so many cute towns.  If you like farm fresh products, I recommend looking out for the Naturparkmarkt.  The one in Nagold ends at 5:00 today, but there will be other markets in towns around the Black Forest all summer.

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Sundays

A beautiful day for wandering and drinking beer!

The weather here in Jettingen is finally fine.  This morning, I decided I wanted to visit the Naturpark Schönbuch with Bill and the dogs.  I noticed the park last month, as we were on our way to Waldenbuch for dinner.  The drive to the park from our house is really pretty and I was hoping to get some good photos.  We set out at about 10:00am and enjoyed a lovely walk through a different forest than the one right behind our house.  Thankfully, I remembered to apply sunscreen and insect repellant.  Bill didn’t and I have a feeling he got some sun today.

I always get a little nervous when I take walks in the forests around here.  Although the paths are well marked and I have an excellent sense of direction, I’m always afraid I might get lost.  But there were a lot of folks enjoying the park today with their dogs, on their bikes, or jogging.  I suppose if we’d really gotten hopelessly lost, we could have just asked someone.

We check out the huge map.  When we lived here last time, we lived close to the southern end of this park, but we never visited.  I’m glad this time, we’re making a point of getting out and seeing local sights.  Parking at the nature park is free and plentiful.  

The first of many street signs.  This was near the cemetery, where many people were paying their respects to the dead.  We didn’t visit the graveyard because dogs aren’t allowed.

Teepees in the woods?  Who knows?

Fenced in deer.

They were not bothered by us at all.

 

The boys were mostly oblivious at first.

As we walked further down the road, I could tell Zane was getting thirsty.  A stream ran to our right and he kept acting like he wanted to go to it.  There was no handy spot for him to reach it, though…

And then we happened upon this…  It’s probably not for drinking, but Zane was able to enjoy a few sips.

Around this point, I was getting nervous.  I just let my instincts do the navigating…

We walked up a long hill that about kicked my ass…

Passed what looked like a lumber yard… and I started to hear cars in the distance.

I was very relieved to see this.  This is the sign for the parking lot where our car was.  Right across the street is a gasthaus.  It wasn’t quite ready for business when we finished our walk at about 11:00am.

We went a short way down another trail heading toward Herrenberg.  I wanted to try to get a photo of the view overlooking the valley.

This was about the best I could do…  I bet it would be a lot better in the winter, though the colors aren’t as pretty then.

After our walk, we took the dogs home.  I changed shirts and shoes and we went to Nagold for lunch.  It was packed there today because there was a garden festival going on.  We finally found parking over near the pool area.

I can’t resist water fowl…

There were lots of people in Nagold… including a fire eater.

And if you wanted to, you could have escargot for lunch.  It actually smelled really good, but snails are not my thing.

A pretty shot of the church in Nagold.  Love this town.  It’s super cute and very close to where we live.

 

I was starting to get discouraged as we searched for a place to eat lunch.  Nagold was brimming with crowds.  But then we spotted an empty table at the Alte Post.  We sat down and enjoyed a much deserved beer.

This was so refreshing after our long walk…

Alte Post has an asparagus menu right now, but I decided to have salmon with mashed potatoes, chives, and beurre blanc sauce.  This was absolutely delicious and easy to finish!

Bill went vegetarian and had herbed noodles with a salad and a little sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

The salad was loaded with peppers.

 

We could have spent all afternoon in Nagold, but we needed to get to the Real to exchange a rack of beer and pick up some water and wine.  Also, we have dinner reservations for tonight.

Besides, Nagold was packed…

More water fowl…

I had to take a picture of some tulips growing in our garden.  One of them is half red and half yellow. I hadn’t noticed until Bill pointed it out.

 

I’m so happy the weather has finally warmed up and the sun is shining.  I am definitely ready to put the top down on my Mini and hang out at some biergartens.  We’ve decided that this year, maybe we’ll even see if we can bring our dogs with us.  After an hour of walking, they may be tired enough not to raise hell.  We will have to go back to Naturpark Schönbuch sometime soon.  There are miles of trails to be explored there.

I will have a new restaurant review up today or tomorrow.  Tonight, we venture to Holzgerlingen for the first time.

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Tapas in Nagold!

For months, I’ve been curious about a certain Spanish restaurant in Nagold.  I noticed that Tapinos, a tapas place, got lots of good reviews.  However, they are only open in the evenings and not on Sundays or Mondays.  I’d think of Tapinos on a Sunday, realizing that they are closed then.  I’d vow to make a reservation for a night when they are open.  Then I’d forget to make one and end up doing something different.

Well, this morning, I was reminded of Tapinos and I told Bill he should give them a call and see if we could get a table for tonight.  Bill was worried that no one would be there, since they don’t open until 6:00.  I told him that just because a restaurant isn’t open for customers, that doesn’t mean no one is there.  So he called, used his elementary German, and got us a table for seven o’clock this evening.  We arrived a few minutes early.  The guy Bill talked to was waiting for us.  There were three other guys there, finishing up their drinks.  They left before we ordered, so we had the small place to ourselves for awhile.

The outside.  Sorry, it was dark outside.  It’s located next to the river in Nagold and there’s a lot of free parking nearby.  

The front door.  Inside, it’s very cozy, quaint, and romantic.

 

Bill spoke German to the waiter, who I also think was doing the kitchen work.  At first, I didn’t think he spoke English, but while Bill was in the bathroom, he asked me in English if we wanted water.  I said we did.

Bill ordered a lovely bottle of Spanish wine, which went well with the guitar music.

A few shots of the interior.

Loved their wine display.

Small dining room, but very charming.

 

We checked out the a la carte items on the menu, but the waiter explained that he could offer us a tapas menu for 22 euros per person.  Basically, it was five different tapas– typical Spanish fare.  I was a little worried because I’m not as adventurous as Bill is when it comes to some things.  But it turned out my worry was unjustified.  We had a delightful tapas meal and nothing was overly offensive to either of us.  Next time we visit– and there will be a next time– we will have to order from the menu.

We started with olives, olive oil soaked bread, and a nice spread…

Then we progressed to Spanish style tortillas…  remember Spain’s tortillas are not like Mexico’s tortillas…

Basically potatoes, eggs, vegetables, and a very pungent cheese that was almost beyond my limits.  I was proud of myself for enjoying this. 

Next came a platter of sausages, ham, cheeses, and in the center of the platter, red tuna on a baguette. The waiter explained in German that this is very typical Spanish food.  He even showed us the parts of the pig the meat came from.  He was careful to tell us that they were free range pigs.  The Iberian ham was especially good.  Bill loved the cheese– one was a sharp goat cheese and the other was a milder sheep cheese.  I skipped it.

The wine tonight.  It was lovely.

Slices of eggplant with sheep cheese melted on top.  I am not a big cheese fan.  Bill loved it, though, and remarked how the eggplant had a sweetness that counteracted the cheese’s sharpness.

 

I think we’d lost count of the tapas at that point and figured we were finished.  We weren’t, though.  After a short intermission, more food came out.  We were also joined by two more couples who came in for dinner.

Fried potatoes and housemade sausage with a very interesting sauce that tasted of herbs, mustard, and vinegar.  This was very satisfying, but we were getting close to being full…

And finally, calamari served on a bed of zucchini.  Bill doesn’t usually like calamari, but he enjoyed this.

 

The guy who took care of us was very friendly and spoke fine English, though he mostly spoke German as he brought us our food.  In a way, it was kind of refreshing.  I was excited because I understood a lot of what he was saying.  A couple of times, I even understood more than Bill did.  I also noticed a sign on the wall advertising tequila.  Tequila isn’t all that Spanish, but it does happen to be my favorite liquor.  We didn’t have any tonight, though.

Bill was really getting into the meal and he said more than once that he’d like to visit Spain again.  Funny, but two years ago, we were in Portugal and Spain on a “hop”.  We lived in Texas and had no idea a return to Germany was on the horizon.  We had so much fun in Spain and Portugal, not knowing if we’d ever have the chance to visit again.  Now that we’re back in Europe, I think we’ll plan another trip!  Our host said he had been in Rota recently and we told him about our trip out of there two years ago.

Bill got a kick out of the sign reminding guys to sit when they pee.  If I know Bill, he obliged.

We finished up with a digestive.  The guy who took care of us said we could have either a dry or sweet one.  We chose dry, so he brought out what was basically Spanish grappa.

 

The total bill came to 74 euros before tip, but we got a lot for our money.  Our host seemed delighted that we stopped in and was happy when I said we’d be back.  His focus seems to be on natural foods, though I think I heard a microwave beeping in the back.

Anyway, we had a very nice time there and it was a real treat to have something other than German, Italian, or Greek food.  I would recommend Tapinos. Want to make a reservation?  Call 01631600229.  They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 6:00pm.

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Dining with new friends at Osteria da Gino’s in Nagold

We wanted to have a really great meal this weekend.  Since the weather was nasty and the Schoenbuch Tunnel was closed, we decided to stay close and not try to use 81.  Osteria da Gino is in Nagold, which is about five kilometers from our little town.  Since our first time in March of this year, it’s become one of our favorite restaurants in the area.  We were long overdue for a visit, since our last one was in July while my mom was visiting.
Bill sent an email on Friday requesting a reservation on Friday or Saturday night.  Friday night was totally booked, so we were set for last night at 7:00.  I was really looking forward to it.  Then yesterday morning, I got a message on Facebook from my new friend Sarah, who asked if I could remind her of the name of “that awesome Italian place I wrote about.”  I told her about Gino’s place and that if she went last night, she’d see us there… and probably even at the same table!  Sure enough, that’s what happened!
It was great to see Gino, who was in the front part of his restaurant/store when we arrived.  We were immediately and enthusiastically greeted.  In fact, he even gave me a big hug and asked us in German why it had been so long since our last visit.  He asked about my mom, too.  Given that she was here over four months ago, I thought that was very impressive!  He led us to his tiny dining room, the few tables of which were almost all decorated with “reserviert” signs.
Sarah and her husband, Mike, were already seated and working on their first courses.  Although this was our first meeting in person, I had exchanged Facebook messages with Sarah a few times.  Mike and Sarah live in Sulz am Neckar, which is not that far from Nagold.  Gino could tell we were going to be fast friends, so he invited us to sit at their table.  As much fun as it is to dine with Gino as a couple, it’s even more fun when you’re with friends and can share the unique experience as well as the fantastic flavors!
I have mentioned before that Gino doesn’t really offer menus to his guests.  He also speaks very little English.  Although I don’t speak much German or Italian, I have always managed to communicate with Gino, who by now knows full well about my hatred of mushrooms.  With a bottle of San Pellegrino and a couple of glasses of red wine on the table, we were ready to have dinner.
We started with the usual orange, salami, and fennel salad.  This time, it came with a little cheese.   It tasted like Parmesan, but I’m not absolutely sure that’s what it was.  There was also a fresh breadstick.
Next came a trio of antipasti.  Pictured above is vitello tonnato and topped with capers.  Although I was a little leery at first, I have to admit that this was absolutely delicious.  It was one of my favorite of the dishes offered last night.
The usual medley of grilled vegetables included peppers, zucchini, and eggplant…
And everybody loved the Burrata, which was a sinfully smooth creamy cheese that reminded me a bit of mozzarella, only it was smoother, milder, and much creamier.  I don’t usually go for cheeses, but I have to admit I really enjoyed the Burrata with its garnish of sweet tomatoes and basil.  Wikipedia tells us that this cheese is made with cow’s milk mozzarella and cream… the word Burrata means butter in Italian.  
The pasta course for us consisted of spaghetti with crushed tomatoes, fish, shrimp, and mussels…  Sarah and Mike had what looked like homemade stuffed shells with cheese.  Sarah said there was a spice that tasted a little like nutmeg.  I’m pretty sure I had the same pasta course they had on our first visit.  I enjoyed watching her facial expressions as she tasted it!  Likewise, Bill and I enjoyed our pasta course, though maybe it was a little bigger than we needed.  I didn’t eat much of the actual pasta because I knew the main course was coming!  But I eagerly tucked in to the fruits of the sea, which were expertly prepared and delicious. 
Bill had osso bucco (veal) for his main dish.  So did Sarah.  Once again, I watched their facial expressions and they could only be described as orgasmic.  I like the taste of veal, but seldom eat it.  I did try a little of Bill’s dish, though, and could see why it was such a hit.  The meat was like butter and could have been cut with a spoon…  It was served with spinach and potatoes.
Mike and I both went for the fish option.  Stacked on a bed of spinach and potatoes was what I think may have been John Dory filet and a large grilled shrimp.  It, too, was a winning dish!
Sarah and Mike were too full for dessert.  Bill and I decided to go all the way and this was what the chef brought us…  a medley of panna cotta with currant sauce, a sliver of coffee flavored ice cream, a small piece of cake, and what tasted like a tiramisu inspired sweet.  We also had a round of espresso.
By the time we were finished eating, it was about 9:30.  The dining room had filled up.  One table included English speakers who sounded like they may have been Europeans speaking a common language.  They were having a fabulous time, too!  And Gino and his staff were joining in the merriment.
Sarah and Mike spent 119 euros on their dinner, while ours was 160 euros (we had dessert and the pasta with fish and shrimp).  On the way out, Gino’s wife and the chef invited us to enjoy some grappa and Gino’s wife asked me about my mom!  She does speak a little English, as does the chef, who was wearing a shirt that read “Make food, not war.”
On the way home, Bill and I were talking about how amazing our night was, not just because of the food and Gino’s warm hospitality, but because we left his place having made two new friends.  It goes without saying that I highly recommend Osteria da Gino in Nagold.  Just make sure you make reservations, can spend a few hours, and aren’t looking for pizza.  Also, go with an open mind and a willingness to try something new and exciting!  As we found out last night, it’s also a great place for friends.  Sarah and Mike were raving about the experience as we said goodnight!
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Dinner at Hotel Adler in Nagold…

Although the terrorist events in Paris that happened last night kind of put a damper on our spirits today, Bill and I decided we wanted to go out to dinner.  Originally, we hoped to try a nice restaurant in Wildberg that gets great reviews and has a Michelin Star.  But they were fully booked tonight.  So then we went to Nagold and tried to walk in to Il Due, an Italian place we keep meaning to try.  But they, too, were entirely booked.  So we went to Hotel Adler, where we had dined once at lunchtime back in July.

I was eager to try Hotel Adler again, because they offer good German/Swabish food and they have a really lovely dining room.  Since it’s November, we knew it wouldn’t be hot and nasty in their restaurant like it was when we were there in July.  Of course, the intense July heat wasn’t their fault, but I’d be lying if I said I fully enjoyed our first experience there.  I have memories of sweating a lot.

They also looked pretty full tonight, but we were in luck because they had a two top table available for us.  It was in their breakfast area.  I noticed that aside from the full main dining room, the breakfast area also had a bunch of tables with reserved signs on them.

I catch Bill smiling after a kind waitress lit our candle.  This was right before a whole bunch of people showed up for dinner.  There was only one other party in the dining room when I took this picture.  Minutes later, the place filled up.

 

Since I had fish the last time we visited, I decided to try the Hotel Adler’s Argentinian rumpsteak.  Bill had a wild game plate.  I think he said it was venison he was enjoying, but he didn’t seem entirely sure. We also ordered wine and water, as usual.  Tonight’s wine was a nice Bordeaux that went well with our meat dishes.

Bill started with a salad.  My dish did not come with a salad, but that was okay… I’m not that into salads, anyway.

Bill’s wild game.  He said this was a bit dry, though it came with a gravy that seemed to help.  There was also a dish of cranberry sauce that I think was supposed to go with my steak, but he used it on his meat, too.  

 

And, of course he had spatzle, too…

 

I really enjoyed this steak.  I ordered it medium, but it was really more medium rare.  It came with a side of house made croquettes… basically, deep fried mashed potatoes.  Yum! I liked the gravy that came with the meat; it complimented it well.  Also, I noticed this steak was good quality and didn’t have the weird aftertaste I notice sometimes with German beef.  Seeing as though this was supposed  to be Argentinian, I kind of expected that it wouldn’t taste German.

 

The wait staff were all pretty women dressed in dirndls.  They were very professional, even when one of them dropped a plate that made a big crash.  No one was stressed or rushed, though service was probably slower than what many Americans might expect.  I have come to appreciate the way dining is in Europe, though.  I didn’t mind waiting and digesting while chatting with Bill.

We were tempted by dessert.  Bill had vanilla ice cream with hot raspberry sauce.

I had chocolate mousse… white chocolate and milk, with a scoop of ice cream and a cookie.

 

Our check came to 78 euros.  I thought it was worth the cost.  I like Hotel Adler, especially when the weather is cooler.  It’s a nice place to have a traditional meal.  Their main dining room is classy, with its traditional wood paneling.  Since our 13th wedding anniversary is Monday, we will probably try to go to a special restaurant.  I am not sure where that will be yet…

This cake is an example of why Bill and I have been married so happily for so long…  He went to the Real today and they had Black Forest cake.  They almost never do.  He knows I like it, so he bought a couple of pieces.  This was also really nice.  Not too sweet or heavy and a lovely surprise…  I probably shouldn’t have had dessert at Hotel Adler since I ate this earlier today.  But, what the hell…  

 

On a personal note, it does my heart good to see so many good restaurants in Nagold… and see them full of people enjoying their evening instead of being cowed by terrorism.  I’m going to make a point of continuing to go out and enjoying myself… and living my life as well as I can.  I hope others will, too.

 

 
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All Saints Day Sunday at Alte Post in Nagold…

Last year, All Saints Day fell on a Saturday.  This year, it was on a Sunday.  I think that made a difference in our expectations of having stuff to do.  As it was, I stayed in my nightgown for most of the day and did laundry.  Bill did schoolwork and walked the dogs, running into the local horse folks.   The dogs, of course, freaked out.  I bet none of the local horsey people would believe me if I told them that I spent most of my childhood in a barn and used to compete in horse shows.  But it’s been years…  I’m sure I could ride if I wanted to, but I would pay for it.  So would the horse, for that matter.

We did decide to go out to dinner, though, and tonight we chose to dine at a restaurant in Nagold that has been piquing our interest for awhile now.  The Alte Post Hotel is a centerpiece of Nagold.  It’s situated right on the main square and is a sight to behold.   We live a mere five kilometers or so from Nagold, though you’d never know it from the way the landscape so dramatically changes.  Jettingen goes from open fields and flat horizons to deep valleys and hills in Nagold.  It’s hard to believe they are so close together.  Since we live so close, there’s no need to try the hotel… however, the restaurant is a different matter altogether.

There is a much fancier sign closer to the entrance, but since it was dark outside, I photographed the one that was lit…

We were welcomed into the intimate dining area to the left of the entrance.  It wasn’t until we were leaving that I noticed there’s a smaller and more intimate dining area to the right, too.  It was no matter to us, though, since there was only one other couple there when we arrived.  We sat at a table in the corner of the dining room…

Since we both wanted fish, Bill chose a nice local white wine for us… made right here in the Stuttgart area.  We also had our usual water with gas.

 

I entertained myself by speaking very rudimentary German to our excellent waitress.  There were actually two of them helping us.  One spoke excellent English.  The other, I’m not sure, since we managed to converse in German.  All these evenings out in nice restaurants have helped me with my language skills somewhat.

I don’t always have a starter, but I was intrigued by the spinach soup, which was served with strips of house prepared salmon.  Bill had a salad.

As we waited for our first courses, group of three came in with two dogs, one tiny chihuahua and a much larger hound who looked kind of like a cross between a lab and a viszla. I was amazed by how cute they were and how well they behaved.  The larger dog curled up on a blanket and went to sleep while her owners enjoyed dinner.  Wish mine were that well behaved.

Bill’s salad was supposed to be small, but was somewhat substantial.  It was very colorful and had a nice, tangy vinaigrette.  He liked it, but had to stop before getting too full.  The bread was very fresh and delicious.

My spinach soup.  This was very delicately flavored… spinach with some cream and salmon strips that didn’t taste like they were smoked.  I enjoyed the soup, though I think I might have liked some salt with it.  There was neither salt nor pepper on the table.  Perhaps it’s just as well.  Salt would have covered up the subtle nuances of this soup’s flavors.

 

Since we had a big meat day yesterday, Bill and I each had fish for dinner.  He had the lachsforelle and I had a zander filet.  We had the same sides, too, rosemary potatoes and spinach.   We each had a choice of two sides and happened to pick the same ones.  The potatoes were hearty, flavorful, and delightful and they were not overpowered by the rosemary.  The spinach was perfectly done; not mushy or overcooked.   I think if I had known yesterday that we’d be eating at Alte Post, I might have picked something other than spinach!

My zander filet is in the foreground.  It was very satisfying with its firm white flesh.  I tried Bill’s lachsforelle and it was also nice, though I preferred the zander.  By this point, a couple was seated next to us and I noticed them noticing me taking a photo.  That’s why I only took one photo.  They seemed to think we were kooky Americans.

 

I also accidentally poured fizzy water into my wine glass just as Bill was about to recharge our glasses.  The waitress seemed to take slight mock offense as she shooed him good naturedly back to his seat.  I am happy to report that service is very professional at Alte Post.  They take it seriously, even if they are getting slightly weeded by a large influx of people.  A bunch of ladies showed up and the had obviously made reservations, since there was a big table made up for them, complete with three glasses per place setting.  The restaurant had been almost empty when we arrived and by the time we were finishing dinner, was full.

Though I was well satisfied after the main course, we decided to have dessert.  Alte Post’s restaurant has a number of enticing choices.  They have creme brulee, strawberries with cream, and several house made ice creams.

I went with the Schwarzwalder… This was vanilla ice cream with cherry sauce, cherries, and a sprinkling of chocolate powder.  A little more chocolate would have made me happy, though this was a really nice ending.  It wasn’t too big, either.

 

Bill’s dessert was basically vanilla ice cream covered with a shot of hot espresso.  It was fantastic.

We noticed the people sitting around us enjoying what looked like fabulous steaks with frites.  Again… the prices out here in the country are less than what we’d pay in Stuttgart, yet the food and service is just as good and, in many cases, even superior.  Tonight’s bill came to 106 euros, which is significantly less than what we spent at [M]eatery yesterday.  The service was also more personal and, I think, even more professional.  We didn’t notice our server taking a break at the bar, for instance.

Anyway, if you’ve been reading this blog, you already know I’m a fan of Nagold’s adorable charm.  On Sundays and holidays, you can park for free.  And for us, it’s less than a ten minute drive.  Yes, we’ll go back to Stuttgart for dinner, but with the choices we have in Nagold and even Tuebingen, it’s hard to imagine why…

Of course I recommend Alte Post.  It’s a great place for a date night.  And for those who have kids, I believe I spotted a kinder menu.

For more on the Alte Post, check out this article…  it’s in German, but there’s always Google Chrome for translations.

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Pasta at Provinciale in Nagold…

I think this will be the last of my restaurant reviews this weekend.  Bill has homework to do and I’m ready to hang out in my nightie on this cloudy Sunday.  We did decide to go to Nagold for lunch today because a fellow Stuttgart Friend 2.0er recommended Provinciale, which is right on the main square.  She said they had wonderful veggie pizza.  I believe her, because the restaurant smelled wonderful.  I decided on pasta, though.  So did Bill.

Looking on Trip Advisor, I see that Provinciale gets surprisingly low marks.  However, when we got there at about 1:00pm, they were doing a brisk business and it looked like everyone was pretty happy.  Indeed, I thought the waitress who helped us was super friendly and nice, the wine we drank was generously poured, the San Pellegrino was cold and fizzy, and the food was fine.  What more could we ask for?

Bill smiles for the camera.  He’s very patient with my constant photographs.  If he were doing that to me, I might have to get snotty.

Anyway, though I was thinking about pizza, I am actually not the biggest fan of the pizza one finds in Germany.  I prefer big American ones that are shared.  I know that’s lame.  I can’t help it.  When I was a kid, I wouldn’t even eat pizza.  It took a long time before I realized how good it can be.  Bill likes pizza more than I do and was thinking about getting some, but I talked him into getting lasagne.  I wanted to see if it had mushrooms in it.  I settled on farafalle with salmon and spinach.  We listened to Kiss and talked about David Hasselhoff, Clownvis the King of Clowns, and Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne as we waited for the food.

My bowtie pasta with spinach and salmon was served with a mild cream sauce.  It was very good and not too much food.  What I liked best about this dish was that the salmon tasted fresh, as if it was recently cooked and slivered off for my pasta dish.  The spinach was good too.  Fresh and bright green, it was flavorful and not too mushy.

Bill also enjoyed his lasagne.  I’m proud to report that it had no mushrooms in it, though it did have peas and a boiled egg.  

Our bill came to 27,90, which I thought was a fair price.  I would definitely eat at Provinciale again.  I especially appreciated the friendly service, even if people on Trip Advisor panned it.  I also want to mention that this is also a kid friendly restaurant.  I saw many young folks enjoying lunch today.

Special thanks to Sarah from Wildberg for the recommendation!

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Baden-Württemberg

Food extravaganza in Nagold!

As I woke up this morning, I said to Bill, “You know, I think we should go to the market in Nagold this morning.”

“Do you think they’re still going now?” he asked.

“Yeah.  Why not?”  I responded.

Bill was game, so we went this morning and were rewarded with a large haul of delicious fresh food. Have a look!

The tower at 9:00am…

We were immediately attracted to the first fruit and vegetable stand we encountered.  Bill got us some strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.  He didn’t see the blackberries until he’d already paid.  Bill loves blackberries.  I could take ’em or leave ’em.

Pretty flowers.  I amused myself by watching the fountain.  For once, no kids were playing in it.

Plums!  I love how beautiful everything looks.

Bill checks out the beans.  I think he got some of those, along with peppers.

I had to ask what the green stuff is.  I think it’s a mix of broccoli and cauliflower.

Who could resist?  Not us.

Another shot of the fountain.

We tore ourselves away from the fruits and vegetables and made our way down the street.  I couldn’t help but notice the heavenly scent of salami.  A very well stocked metzgerei was doing a brisk business nearby.  Bill and I determined we needed to pick up some wurst, but only after we checked out the rest of the market.  
I spotted a stand where a young man was selling deer salami and sausages.  Bill loves venison products.  I don’t like deer meat, but I like to encourage Bill to treat himself.  I think the young guy was getting a kick out of us, especially when I said “You know you want to.” to Bill.  The same guy was also apparently a beekeeper, so we bought some honey as well.  The French honey we bought last year is almost done.

Next stop was the fish market… we picked up a couple of whole trouts and a salmon filet.

Bill went to town at a cheese stand, even as a rather impatient older lady kept pushing in front of him.    The lady doing the selling was laughing as Bill shuffled awkwardly to the left and ordered more cheese.  Wish we’d picked up some butter, too, not that I need to be eating it.

Pretty flowers.

We made our way back to the metzgerei with the heavenly cold cuts.  Bill bought a nice selection of three sliced meats.  Lunch should be good today.

Good stuff!

We finished with a stop at the bakery, where we got some brotchen and a few Berliners– German jelly doughnuts!  Yum!

My first Berliner.  Believe it or not, I never had one here in Germany before this morning.  I usually talk myself out of them.  It was worth the wait!

God, I love living in Germany.  We need to hit the market more often.

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A visit to Taverne Mykonos in Nagold…

Bill and I had been wanting to try Taverne Mykonos in Nagold for a long time, but never managed to get there until last night.  The weather was perfect and, as usual, I was game for Greek food.  Taverne Mykonos is very close to another of our favorite Nagold haunts, Osteria da Gino.  The weather was so nice I was almost tempted to just go have dinner with Gino last night.  But I pride myself on trying new places, so we stuck with the plan and had yet more Greek food.

The outside of the restaurant is nice…  

The inside is even nicer.  Bill looks at the menu.

 

When we arrived at about 6:30, Taverne Mykonos was hopping.  The biergarten appeared to be pretty full and so was the main dining room, which is where we were seated.  Service was a bit slow, likely due to the large influx of people, some of whom had to wait at the door or get takeout.

I decided on dorade, so Bill ordered me a glass of white Athos.  It was fine, though nothing really eye opening.  He had the red version of Athos to go with the lamb filet he ordered.  He had wanted lamb skewers, but they apparently were out of something.

I snapped this shot as they opened the blinds.  The sun wasn’t quite down, so I was temporarily blinded by the light.

Salads took awhile to get to us.  We each had a different kind.

Mine was lettuce, kraut, corn, carrots, cucumbers, a slice of tomato, and some kind of green garnish that had no distinctive flavor.  The creamy dressing was nice.  It reminded me a little of ranch dressing.

Bill’s salad was a little more Greek, with cubes of very red, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, a sweet pepper, an olive, and feta cheese.

 

Our main dishes also took awhile to reach us, but they turned out to be well worth the wait.  I generally expect dorade to take awhile, anyway.

This dorade was served with a fish sauce and lots of oven baked potatoes.  It was very nicely done and completely cooked, which is more than I can say about the last dorade I had in a restaurant.

But Bill’s lamb was absolutely amazing.  I don’t even usually like lamb, but I would happily eat this dish.  The filets were extremely tender and not gamey at all.  The beans were lightly seasoned with herbs.  The t’zatziki was also good, made with plenty of lemon juice.

It took awhile longer for our plates to be cleared and the check to be brought.  The hardworking staff at Taverne Mykonos was working hard last night.  But we parted with a 45 euro bill and a couple of house shots of ouzo.  After we ate, we went over to Gino’s and picked up a bottle of primitivo to enjoy at home.  The weather was perfect.  I almost felt like strolling by the river, but Bill wanted to get home.

All in all, we enjoyed our first meal at Taverne Mykonos.  I suspect we’ll be back, though I still think I like Taverne beim Griechen’s version of Greek food the best, at least in our area.

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Sundays

Yet another wonderful Sunday in Nagold… and another uphill hike!

Because the weather was just so perfect today and I was feeling especially energetic, Bill and I decided to make up for all the lazing around and drinking we did yesterday.  We went to Nagold for lunch, then decided to hike up to Hohennagold Castle, a 12th century ruined castle on a high hill.  Remember, I am in my 40s and not as fit as I could be.  I also hiked up to Wurmlinger Chapel this morning and that, in and of itself, was a workout.  I don’t know what got into me, but dammit, I did it.  And now I’m sure I will sleep well tonight.  Of course, I saw plenty of older and even elderly Germans trekking up the hill.  If I keep up with days like today, maybe I’ll lose my beer gut.

We started with a stop at Longwy, which is a bar and restaurant next to the Nagold River.  We have eaten there before and I was hoping to try a new place today.  We ended up going there because I wanted shade.  It turned out to be a good choice because it’s a lot of fun to sit there and people watch… and dog and duck watch.

We started with Hochdorfer Krystalweizens…

 

Then we did some carb loading.  I had a flammkuchen.  I had ordered a Greek one, but they brought out bacon and onion.  I had already eaten a piece when the correct one showed up.  Tut mir lied!  I liked my dish.  It wasn’t too heavy.  Bill had penne pasta with spicy tomato sauce.  And it really was very spicy.  Being from Texas, he likes spicy food but even he was saying this was pretty hot stuff.  

Watching people boating… it’s a little more laid back in Nagold than it is in Tuebingen.

I had to get a shot of this… an adorable border collie was taking a swim.  I was jealous, even though the water in the river is a little scummy.  We saw a dead fish floating by, too.

 

After lunch, I suggested that we attempt to visit the castle ruins.  Bill was a little skeptical, given our walk this morning.  But he was game to try.

Going up…

 

One of many long, steep switchbacks up the hill…  At least it was shaded.

Be a friend to nature…

 

These little stations were very handy places to stop for a rest… and I did need to stop a few times.  I appreciated the educational nature of these activities.  There’s no reason why one can’t learn while taking a breather.

 

A shot of the gate.  We were  actually stopped there for a few minutes because I wanted a clear shot of it.  Several people were stopped there because a mouse was lying near the gate in its death throes.  Several kids were wanting to play with it while the adults were trying to figure out what to do.  Finally, a man got a tissue from his wife and picked the poor mouse up.  He moved it to a place where it could die in peace.

The views were positively majestic.

This was open from 2 until 5.  Climb to the top and have a look at all of Nagold and its surroundings.

As I climbed up, I was reminded of a scene in the film In Bruges, where the protagonist runs into several fat Americans who were about to try to climb a tower.  Having just been up the tower himself, the man knew it was a tight squeeze.  He tried to warn the Yanks, but they took him for being rude.  I made it up just fine, but it is a bit of a narrow stairway.

 
See?

Yes, that is a biergarten below.  Leave it to Germans to reward a steep climb with beer!  Or coffee and cake, if you prefer… There are also restrooms up there.

Fireplace.

Looks like lovelocks are starting to make an appearance here.

There’s no cost to visit Hohennagold, unless you plan on enjoying a snack.  We were sure glad for a beer break.  They were served to us in ice cold frosted mugs.  I have not seen those outside of South Carolina.  I must say, it was very refreshing!  I liked that the coffee and cake were served on real dishes and not paper plates or styrofoam mugs.  Classy and environmentally friendly, too!

Needless to say, I highly recommend Hohennagold.  And when you’re finished with the hike, you can stop by the freibad for a swim or check out the super cool playground that even had sprinklers for the kids!  I was impressed to see adults playing, too.  I just love that about Germany.  People play outside here.

On the way out of town, we passed one of the fountains in front of a busy restaurant.  I saw the cutest little toddler boy in a diaper.  He flashed me a grin and when I smiled back and said hello, his face lit up into a full blown smile.  Made me feel really good to see that!  I’m so glad we went to Nagold today.  We had a wonderful time.  And I’m so glad we live just minutes away from Nagold so I can hang out there whenever I want to!

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