Tag Archives: The Mad Scientist

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German style Mexican food, hen parties, and peeing at the Mad Scientist’s place…

This afternoon, I was in a foul mood.  My car needs repairs.  My tooth needs repairs.  My iPhone won’t back up, so I can’t unlock it and change out the SIM card.  All of these events pissed me off.  Bill suggested a trip to Tübingen might provide a much needed attitude adjustment.  So off we went in Bill’s vehicle, which was once my vehicle.  It doesn’t have a clutch, so we didn’t have to worry about being stranded as we would in my Mini (which I strongly suspect needs a new clutch).

We parked in the usual garage and Bill asked what I wanted for lunch.  I said I wanted to try some German style Mexican food.  I promise this is not something I ask for regularly.  I’m no Mexican food aficionado, but most of the German style Mexican food I’ve had has been lacking.  I did remember El Chico, though, a restaurant in Tübingen Bill and I tried last time we lived here.  It’s right above the Neckarmuller, which is one of our favorite biergartens.

On the way to El Chico, I noticed that Tübingen has a Dunkin’ Donuts.  I was sad to see it housed in a very old building.  On the other hand, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to get donuts for Sunday morning.  I resisted the urge.  The last thing I need are “fat pills”.

 

When we got to El Chico, I noticed that it looked like the place had been renovated since our last visit in 2008.  It looked like a mass of funds had gussied up the restaurant quite a bit.  But I will admit the last time we ate there, we were a bit toasted on tequila and I seem to remember someone (not me) singing there.  Memories aside from that are pretty fuzzy.

Bill waits for a beer… I just noticed the plumber crack on the guy on the left…  Oops.

El Chico is very American influenced.  Check out the American styled breakfast menu.

I like how “free refilled coffee” is in English.

I actually wanted a margarita, but we weren’t there during “happy hour” and apparently margaritas weren’t available, so I had to settle for a really boring German beer.

I entertained myself with the leaflet on the table…

 

I decided on chicken fajitas.  Bill had beef burritos.  It looked like burritos were a hot seller at El Chico.  I also noticed one guy getting a guacamole burger.  That thing was pretty damn big.

My fajitas.  Four tortillas.  Weird rice and very bland “Mexican sauce” that tasted like tomato paste.  Aside from that, the fajitas weren’t too bad, other than me looking like a freak eating them with my hands instead of a knife and fork like proper folks eat.  The guacamole was surprisingly good.  

As you can see, Bill is very excited by his burritos.  I didn’t taste them, but he said they were alright for German Mexican food.

One parting shot as we departed…  El Chico has taquerias in Stuttgart, Kaiserslautern, and Tübingen.  The restaurant in Tübingen is the only full scale location, from what I could discern.

Couldn’t resist taking this shot…

Or this one…  There are still some things I miss about San Antonio.

Next, we went to the biergarten at Neckarmuller and spent some time watching punters and canoers while we drank beer.  We were joined by a quartet of bike riding Germans who wanted to sit near the river.  I mostly enjoyed the view, which included several hen parties and plenty of aggressive water fowl…

Can’t resist the swans.

Right after I took this photo, I almost got creamed Fabio style by a pigeon that came out of nowhere.  I had to duck and the Germans sitting with us laughed and said, “Very dangerous.”  Indeed!

Hen party in progress…

She was really putting on a show…

I want those shorts.

These two boats had a collision…  One boat was trying to avoid hitting the swan and hit another boat instead.

Sadly… a couple of the young ladies in one of those boats later blatantly littered in the river.  

Bill’s disapproval was obvious.

Muscles on display.

Swans being fed by a family with a friendly lab.

After we left the Neckamuller (and a grateful German couple claimed our table), we took a walk through a park on the Neckar River.

I have a shot just like this from 2007 or 2008…  Nothing has changed much.

Bill watches people on the river.

Somehow I missed this handy tunnel last time we lived here… it spares one a very long and arduous climb back into the city.

The other side…

Edward Snowden on a sign…

Such a pretty city…

Ducks fighting the current…

Naturally, I needed a rest stop before we went back to Jettingen.  So we stopped in to see the Mad Scientist for a small dinner.  He and his wife were happy to see us.

Bill enjoys a gyros teller (with pita).

I went with the platter…  tomatoes were replaced with beans…

No, he’s neither sleeping nor praying.

The drive on B28 is so pretty.  This used to be our neighborhood when we lived here last time.  I miss it.

I still have big plans to visit Cocina Mexicana in Vaihingen because I think that is an experience a person like me needs to have at least once.  The Mexican food at El Chico in Tübingen wasn’t bad, especially for German Mexican food.  It didn’t make me forget about Texan Mexican food, which I know is still not as good as real Mexican food.  But as I am a confirmed Gringo, I can’t say it sucked too much.  I just wish they would have given me tequila.

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Someday, we WILL visit a new restaurant…

The other day, I was on the Internet looking for a new place to try.  I found a French restaurant in Tübingen that looks promising and is in a part of the city with which we are unfamiliar.  I gave serious thought to reserving a table there last night.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been feeling my best this week thanks to a wicked case of PMS.  So we did go out last night, but opted to visit The Mad Scientist instead of the French place.  We went there because we knew what the food would be like.  We knew there would be plenty of free parking.  We knew it would not be any problem getting a table, nor would we feel underdressed if we didn’t dress up.  And we knew our old friend would take good care of us.

I had gyros.  Bill had souvlaki

Afterwards, we had Greek coffee and a shot of ouzo…

I spent most of yesterday baking a Blackout Cake, most of which my husband will take to work with him this week because there’s no way we’ll be able to eat the whole thing.  I was in the mood to bake because of Aunt Flow… and I apologize if you’re male and don’t know about periods or cravings, but that’s honestly what prompted me to undertake this project.  This cake also happens to be one of my husband’s favorites.  It was one of the tools I used to lure him to the altar.

Blackout Cake… it’s the perfect antidote to “PMS Blues”.

For some reason, this particular cake stays moist forever.  Seriously, they usually stay good for weeks.  But I don’t want this sitting around the house, especially when I have an even bigger passion for beer.  My ass gets enough presents as it is.

Anyway, if you’re interested in the recipe, here it is…  I have added my own notes based on years of experience making this cake.

Blackout Cake
Prep: 30 minutes Cook: 35-40 minutes Serves: 12 to 16

1 1/2 sticks softened butter
3 C sugar
3 eggs
2 t vanilla extract (or powder, which is what I use.  I have also been known to use flavorings.  Yesterday, I used a little rum and kirschwasser in addition to the vanilla.)
4 (1 oz.) squares of unsweetened chocolate, melted
3 C flour
3 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
3/4 C buttermilk (note- In the past, I have also used Saco buttermilk powder mixed with water– also works very well)
1 1/3 C boiling water
3/4 to 1 C diced roasted almonds (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (180 degrees Celsius). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.

2. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well-blended. Add melted chocolate and beat 1 to 2 minutes.

3. Mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to chocolate mixture in two additions, alternately with buttermilk. Beat until well-blended. With mixer on low speed, add boiling water and beat until smooth (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

4. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans 10 to 15 minutes, then unmold onto racks and let cool completely.

5. Cover a cake layer with a little more than one third of Chocolate Ganache. Set second layer on top. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining ganache. Press almonds into sides of cake. Refrigerate cake 3 to 4 hours, or until ganache is firm.

Chocolate Ganache
Prep: 5 minutes Cook: 3 minutes Chill 1 to 1 1/2 hours

Makes enough to fill and frost a 2 layer 9 inch cake.
18 oz. semisweet chocolate chips or 3 C semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped  (12 ounces chocolate chips also works fine.)1 1/2C heavy cream (half and half works just as well– fewer calories, too)2 T butter, cut up1t vanilla extract (I’ve been known to use other flavorings, too– raspberry, coffee, or orange liqueurs work well)1. In a 2 qt. glass measure, combine chocolate chips and cream. Heat in a microwave oven on high for three minutes, or until melted or smooth when stirred. Stir in butter and vanilla.2. Cover and refrigerate (or put in freezer for 30 minutes) 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until ganache holds its shape or is thick enough to spread on cake.I got this recipe from 365 Great Chocolate Desserts (1991) by Natalie Haughton.

We will probably have lunch somewhere today.  Since today is Sunday, it’s probably going to be at The Auld Rogue… or maybe not.  We are in need of a change of scenery, even though next weekend we’ll be in Hamburg.  Stay tuned.

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A crappy day in Germany…

I have had one hell of a crappy day.  What really sucks about my crappy day is that I was looking forward to the weekend, hoping to have some fun.  My husband, Bill, has been gone to Chad all week and I’ve been by myself, hanging out in our rented home with my two sweet but occasionally irritating hounds.  I really need to get a life and make some friends.

Last week, I was sick with a cold and I’ve been dealing with what I think is a very weird gum abscess.  It doesn’t hurt, but it’s worrisome and annoying and has caused a little swelling and bleeding.  I need to have it looked at, but we don’t have dental insurance yet… it doesn’t kick in until January 1.  Add in the fact that I am very neurotic when it comes to my teeth.  I have two baby teeth that may be about to give up the ghost.  I expected them to– they are 42 years old and have served me pretty well.  They seem to be rooted well, too.  But the idea of possibly needing an extraction or two and the expense, trauma, and pain associated with that does nothing for my mood.  And once those teeth come out, it’s time for implants.  What fun.

I got a visit from Aunt Flow a couple of days ago, which is always fun.  It’s even more fun when your plumbing is on the fritz.  This morning, I went downstairs to do my laundry and there was a bunch of standing grey water in my new washing machine.  I immediately assumed something was wrong with the machine.  My husband bailed the water out, then went to take a shower.  While he was showering, the drum in the washing machine filled with more water.  That tells me there’s a blockage of some sort in the house.

So we called the landlords and they came over to help us.  There’s water all over the floor.  My dogs are going crazy.  I’m feeling neurotic about my teeth and I’m on the rag.  We finally got the washing machine going to the point at which we got the laundry done, but it wasn’t without a big mess and inconvenience.  The homeowners will call a plumber on Monday because there’s a leak in the pipe and the drain probably needs snaking.

I’m still feeling very cranky and grouchy…  the mail carrier comes by.  She looks a lot like my mom.  She has a package for me, a star I bought for our big Christmas tree because the one I have on it is a 110 lighted one from Target.  I’ve been waiting awhile for this thing to arrive.  It didn’t cost much.  Looking at the address on the envelope, I see why it’s taken so long to get to me.  The star came all the way from Hong Kong.

I open the package and this is what I see…

This thing is even more disappointing in person than it is in the photo.

 

It’s made of cheap plastic and there’s no way to stick it on the tree.  It’s sloppily and incompletely covered with glitter.  And it’s just a sucky product.

 

I showed it to Bill and he said, “It’s like the equivalent of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree.”  He asked me if I wanted to put it on our other tree (we have two because the first time we were in Germany, I forgot to pack our tree and got another one that is small).

I said “No, we can just put it somewhere and make fun of it.”  That comment made him laugh.

So, in review, I’ve got residual snot from a cold to get rid of.  I’m on the rag.  The plumbing is messed up.  The washing machine may also be messed up, though we did at least get the thing going enough so we have some clean underwear.  I have dental problems and no insurance until January 1… and I’m not in enough discomfort to go to the dentist and pay entirely out of pocket.  At the very least, I suspect I need some antibiotics and knowing that, I keep checking my teeth and gums for signs that I need to get to a doctor urgently.  That has made the side of my face sore because I have to contort my lips in order to see and I’ve done it enough times to cause muscle fatigue.  I wanted to have some fun this weekend, but it looks like that’s not in the cards.  I can’t take a shower because of the plumbing.  And I’ve been listening to my dogs bark all day.

Stuff is just piling up.  I know these are minor first world problems, but they are still very irritating and have spoiled my mood.

Last night, we visited The Mad Scientist for dinner and ran up a respectable bill.  I had my usual stuff for dinner, but finished up with my very first taste of Metaxa, which is a Greek brandy.  It sort of tasted like brandy mixed with sherry.  It tasted good and no doubt made our Mad Scientist friend happy that I ordered it.

Metaxa in the glass…

Metaxa in the colorful bottle…

 

I need to have some fun soon.  At least I’m not in any pain, though.  On a positive note, Bill did bring home some macaroons from Paris.

These are yummy!

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Another trip to Agais to see "The Mad Scientist"…

Last night, Bill asked me what I wanted for dinner.  I said I wanted to “go see The Mad Scientist”, which is code for “I want to go out for Greek food at Agais in Entringen”.  When we lived in Germany last time, we used to dine at this restaurant all the time.  Now that we’re here again, we can come back.  It’s not as close as it used to be, but it’s close enough.  Entringen is on B28, on the way to Tuebingen.

As for “The Mad Scientist”, that’s not really his name or anything.  That’s just a nickname Bill and I gave him.

 

We started with our usual Nemea.  I love this wine.  It’s very full and dry and has the essence of ripe cherries.

I usually have the gyros, but last night I decided to have grilled salmon.  Agais has it farm raised salmon or organic.  I had the organic, which was garnished with t’zaziki and vegetables.  Bill had souvlaki.  Both dishes came with salad and bread, which was warm from the oven.

The salmon was delicious!  I was glad I ordered it, even though the gyros are also a hit.  It was a bit pricier than my usual, but a nice change of pace.

 

We don’t usually have dessert, but I didn’t want to go home.  So I had a tartufo and Bill had baklava.  I don’t usually like baklava that much, but I liked the baklava at Agais last night.  It was light and not too sticky or sweet.

I washed down my tartufo with retsina… and a little ouzo.  No wonder my head is swimming this morning.

It was really nice to see the couple that run Agais again.  There was one other family eating there with us.  We’d seen them before.  The owner said they had been coming to his restaurant for years.  I liked that he and his wife sat down and talked with them for awhile.  You don’t see that so often in American restaurants.  The Mad Scientist’s wife asked if we brought our dogs to live with us in Germany.  I was impressed that she remembered!  We did bring dogs, though not the ones we had with us last time we lived here.

The Mad Scientist said that in the five years we were out of Germany, he had more Americans visiting his restaurant, but lately things have been slowing down a bit.  I’m just glad we got to come back again and will keep coming back as long as we’re around and the restaurant is running.

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Dinner at Agais in Entringen, Germany…

When Bill and I lived in Germany last time, we were living in a little town south of Stuttgart called Pfäffingen, which is close to both Herrenberg and Tübingen.  To go north from where we lived, we had to drive through a town called Entringen, which had B28, the highway between Herrenberg and Tübingen running right through it.

Bill and I really enjoyed Pfäffingen and the whole Ammerbuch kreis and we were kind of hoping to move back down there with this tour.  As it turned out, we moved to Jettingen, which is not too far at all from our old stomping grounds, though it is– just barely– in the Böblingen kreis.

Last night, Bill asked me what I wanted to do for dinner.  We are still waiting for our furniture, so we have to eat standing up.  We have very limited refrigeration space and few cooking utensils.  And I have been cooped up in our new house in the country all week and was ready to have a little fun.  I said, “Why don’t we go visit the Mad Scientist?”

Naturally, that’s not the actual name of the restaurant I was wanting to patronize.  The Mad Scientist is just a nick name we used to call the proprietor of Agais, a Greek restaurant in Entringen where we used to eat quite frequently.  We call him that because he has wild, curly hair and a personality to match.

Prior to last night, it had been about five years since our last visit and we were itching to go back and see if our favorite Greek place was still operational.  Moreover, it’s just plain beautiful near Entringen, which, as it turns out, is only a short drive from where we live now.

Bill was agreeable, so we changed clothes and hung around the house for a few minutes until our dogs quit protesting our absence (they get a little upset when we leave them).  To be honest, I was a little worried Agais might have closed, but it was lit up brightly last night and when we entered the place, it was just as we remembered it.

The Mad Scientist was there, looking a little grayer and moving slightly slower.  He offered us a table, then did a double take.  He said, “I remember you!  You are back in Germany?”

Bill explained that he retired from the Army and now works for the Army as a civilian contractor.  Our host was delighted.  I’m sure he enjoyed having us as customers because we used to be pretty regular patrons.  I was glad to see his restaurant was doing a brisk business with several tables occupied.  The man’s son, who was a gangly teen the last time we saw him, is now a poised, friendly young man who was helping serve everyone and obviously knows the business.

Bill and I enjoy a glass of Nemea, a dry Greek wine, before dinner.  I noticed the proprietor’s wife, who is the cook, in the back.  She gave us a big smile and looked like she hadn’t aged at all in the past five years.

I had my old favorite, the gyros platter, with potatoes, tzatziki, and a small salad.  Bill had souvlaki.  Afterwards, we enjoyed ouzo and eucalyptus bon bons.  Sometimes he also serves pistachio nuts, though he didn’t last night.  The bill came to just under 50 euros.

The outside of Agais.

We didn’t get much of a chance to talk to the Mad Scientist last night because he was pretty busy with his tables.  But when we got up to leave, he said he was glad we were there and he hoped we’d be back as he’d been wondering how we were doing.  I told him we would come back to see him again soon.  He advised us that he now only does lunch on Sunday, though he’s open for dinner from 5:30pm.  There’s plenty of parking near his place, which also has a garden area for those who like to eat al fresco.

Though the food is good, it’s not so much the food that I like best about Agais; it’s the company.  The Mad Scientist is a very charming guy who, if he knows you, will go out of his way to show you a good time.  Last time we were in Germany, we brought several of our houseguests to his restaurant and they always left it impressed and entertained.

Anyway, it’s good to know he’s still in business and still remembers us, even after five years.  While we no longer live two kilometers from his restaurant, we are close enough to visit often and we very likely will.

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And a follow up…

More on the Mad Scientist!

A lesson in communication

May 1, 2009

The Bottom Line Sometimes it doesn’t take language fluency to catch the drift of a conversation.

A couple of weeks ago, my husband Bill and I visited Agais, our favorite Greek restaurant, for a bite to eat. Bill was fresh from a business trip to Latvia and it was cold and rainy outside. Neither of us felt like cooking and knew the proprietor of the restaurant, a man I affectionately refer to as “The Mad Scientist”, would welcome our business.

When we arrived at Agais, we found that our favorite booth was occupied. Luckily, the folks who had been sitting there were paying their bill and about to leave. While they were gathering their things, Bill and I took a seat at the next table. There was a large, noisy party of six Germans, three men and three ladies, seated at a table that was perpendicular to it.

The Mad Scientist was very happy to see us and quickly cleared the booth for us. He brought out our usual glasses of red wine, perfect for such a chilly, wet evening. While we looked at the menu, I noticed that the large party had gotten louder. Aside from Bill and me, this party was the only other one in the restaurant. And they certainly behaved as if they were the only ones in the room. One man, sitting at the end of the table, seemed to be holding court. I don’t speak German, but I heard him loudly mention the word “Schweiz” several times in a mocking tone accompanied by gestures. I got the feeling he was making fun of the Swiss and not in a good natured way.

Bill and I chatted quietly over gyros and red wine while the folks at the other table kept sneaking glances at us. The ladies’ laughter had grown ever more shrill as they continued to drink wine and chatter. I noticed that The Mad Scientist was playing different music, as well– not his usual Greek party music, but some kind of live recording. I liked the change, but noticed the large party loudly protested when The Mad Scientist made a move to switch it.

As I watched and listened to the group, I got the feeling that they were trying very hard to look like they were having a good time. They ordered more drinks and dessert, laughed boisterously and spoke in tones that suggested they were having the time of their lives. And yet, underneath their conspicuous show of merriment there seemed to be a subtle veneer of hostility, especially from the guy who had been making fun of the Swiss. He got up to smoke a cigarette and I noticed that the tension in the room had lessened a bit. Still, it seemed like there was an undercurrent of rudeness that was hard to ignore, not just toward us, but among the group members.

Finally, the group paid their bill and got up to leave. When they were gone, The Mad Scientist came out of his kitchen chuckling. He looked at me and Bill and asked, “Do you understand German?”

Bill speaks a little German, but sadly I don’t.

“Do you know why those people are here in Entringen?” he asked us.

We said we didn’t.

He was still chuckling as he said, “Those people are here for marriage counseling. They’re taking a class here as a last resort effort to save their marriages.” The proprietor, who recently starting renting out an apartment above his restaurant, indicated that one of the couples was staying there and the group had been eating in his restaurant regularly. I certainly didn’t know that the little town of Entringen had a marriage counselor that would merit a retreat.

Suddenly, I started to understand why the room seemed so tense. I said, “That guy at the end of the table… he seemed to be making jokes at everyone else’s expense.” I didn’t add that I had a feeling he’d been making fun of me and Bill, too.

And The Mad Scientist laughed and said, “Oh yeah! He’s the worst off of all of them.”

Then he smiled and said, “You know, I can tell that you and Bill don’t have those problems.” He gave Bill a fond look and said, “He has a big heart! I can tell that you two love each other.”

I heartily agreed with that, of course. Besides love for each other, we also have mutual respect. From what I could observe, even with my limited German skills, mutual respect was something that was lacking in the group who shared the atmosphere at Agais with us that night. Nevertheless, it was one of the more interesting experiences we’ve had since we moved to Germany!

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