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Six favorite ethnic restaurants near Stuttgart…

I know many people follow my travel blog because I write a lot of restaurant reviews.  Bill and I really like trying new places and I enjoy writing about them, if only to stay out of trouble and keep busy.  However, if I’m honest, sometimes the food in and around Stuttgart can seem a little… canned.  I don’t mean that the food is literally canned.  I mean sometimes it seems like there are only a few kinds of restaurants and they all serve the same things.  A person can enjoy only so many schnitzels before it’s just not fun anymore.

Let’s be real.  If you want German, Italian, or Greek food, you will have no problem finding it.  You will also not have a problem getting your hands on doner kebab, pizza, burgers (of middling quality) or Chinese food, although the Chinese food here may not be like what you’re used to in the States.

What if you want something different?

Stuttgart and its environs actually do have a pretty good range of ethnic cuisine.  It’s just that it seems like finding those different cuisines can seem challenging.  Today’s post is yet another one of my ever popular aggregate write ups based on prior experiences.  It’s not intended to be a list of all of the great ethnic restaurants in the area.  Here are just a few to whet your appetite… and I’ll save the rest for the next time I’m inspired and/or bored.

As usual, these are not ranked in any particular order.  Search the blog if you want to read more or see pictures.  The first link in each description leads to the official Facebook page or Web site for each establishment.

Patrick’s Stop Jamaican Imbiss & Take Away–  Jamaican food

Spicy Jamaican Jerk chicken served with rice and peas, fried plantains, and kraut.  This is a treat if you’re a fan of zing in your food.  Patrick’s has daily specials that change… everything from curried goat to ox tail!  They also have a vegetarian selection.

Special thanks to my soon to be departing friend, Rick, who encouraged me to try Patrick’s Stop a couple of years ago.  At that time, Patrick’s Stop was located in Böblingen.  Patrick’s Stop has since moved to Hechinger Strasse 14 in Stuttgart.  I have not been by since the move, but I did visit twice before the restaurant left Böblingen.  I was left with a great impression of the food, which is not like anything else I’ve had in these parts.  The owner is from Jamaica, so the food is very authentic.  I particularly loved their version of fried chicken, while Bill liked their Jamaican Jerk chicken.  Although the fried chicken is offered daily, other specialties aren’t.  You should consult their Facebook page to see what’s being offered as well as when they will be open.  I believe they’re on vacation right now until April 9th.

Grüner Baum– French food

Charcuterie appetizer.  

 

We live just a few miles from Tailfingen, which is a little hamlet south of Herrenberg.  There isn’t much to Tailfingen, except a really cool French inspired restaurant called Grüner Baum.  I don’t think I have ever seen this place not busy.  It’s a very popular restaurant, for good reason.  The food is fresh, delicious, and delightfully different.  They have crepes made with both sweet and savory fillings, as well as killer chocolate mousse.  There’s also a nice outdoor area for when the weather is good which also has a sandbox for kids to play in.  We’re long overdue for another visit to this restaurant, but because it can get crowded and parking can be scarce, it’s a good idea to call ahead first.

El Mero Mexicano– Mexican food

Above is the delicious Pozole Rojo, served with a tortilla chip and fresh guacamole.  Below are the spicy enchiladas with green sauce!  This was a hit with Bill, who considers himself a Texan.  He had a big smile on his face after this meal.

I’ve heard it said that there is no decent Mexican food in Stuttgart.  I will agree that it can be very difficult to satisfy your cravings for Tex Mex food in particular.  However, if you’re willing to drive to Fellbach (or are lucky enough to live near there), you can get a pretty good Mexican fix at El Mero Mexicano.  The owners of this restaurant are actually from Mexico, so they know what they’re doing. You won’t find any weird German style Mexican flavors here.  Nope… they serve guacamole that doesn’t look like green slime and tastes of fresh avocados, lime juice, and garlic.  I am not an expert on Mexican food, but this is the best I’ve had in these parts.  I just wish we lived closer so we can enjoy it more often.

Tshito-Gwrito– Georgian food

Shashlik– basically marinated, grilled pork and vegetables.  This was delicious!

Khachapouri– pastry filled with mild cheese, hot from the oven.  Next to it is a spinach dip made with walnuts and pomegranates.

This next entry is admittedly of a place I’ve just recently experienced for the first time.  Bill and I went to Tshito-Gwrito last weekend on a tip that was shared in the Stuttgart food and wine lovers Facebook group.  I used to live in the Republic of Armenia, which is just south of the Republic of Georgia, so the food served at this charming eatery was familiar to me.  Let me just say, it was such a treat to enjoy something so different last weekend.  The food at Tshito-Gwrito is very fresh, beautifully presented, and tastes amazing.  We didn’t have a single thing we didn’t love.  Best of all, it was not like any other meal we’ve had in Stuttgart.  If you love wine, I especially encourage you to visit.  Georgian wine is fantastic, but it’s not always easy to find around these parts.  You can try a glass or a bottle at Tshito-Gwrito.  This restaurant is located in downtown Stuttgart, but isn’t too convenient to public transportation.

Samowar– Russian

This beautiful shrimp salad was being offered as a special on the day we visited.  Bill went with a more traditionally Russian choice of stuffed peppers.

We found Samowar last summer, again on a tip from Stuttgart food and wine lovers.  This little Russian gem is located in Weil der Stadt and serves up delicious Russian treats.  They have Russian beers, Georgian wine, Armenian brandy, and very cute Russian decor.  I was so impressed by the love and care that went into everything that came out of the kitchen.  Once again… we’re due for another visit.

Afrika Bar und Restaurant– Ethiopian

Doro Wat– basically chicken stew.  This was served with injeera bread, which is kind of a soft, moist, sour bread used for picking up and eating East African food.  Bill enjoyed ostrich when we visited, which he declared excellent.  Afterwards, we had Ethiopian coffee.

 

On the outskirts of Tübingen, there’s an excellent Ethiopian restaurant called Afrika Bar, which offers authentic food.  The Stuttgart area actually does boast a few good African restaurants.  We also like Jambo in Ludwigsburg, but it’s a little bit easier for us to get to Afrika Bar in Tübingen because it’s closer to us.  Also, when we visited Afrika Bar, we noticed that everything on the menu was available, which isn’t always the case at Jambo.  If you are a coffee drinker and have time, I highly recommend trying the Ethiopian style coffee.  It’s a real treat on many levels!

Alright then… this list of six should be a good start for newcomers to the Stuttgart area.  I will probably be writing a sequel, since I’ve already found a couple of other places I’m ready to try.  Someday, I will make it to an Indian restaurant in these parts, just so I can branch out a bit.  I’ve also recently discovered another Russian restaurant I want to try, plus there are a few places that could have made this list and were left off because of space considerations.  In any case, I hope this post is helpful for anyone who’s a little sick of the usual spread.  You may have to travel a bit to get to these places, but I can speak from personal experience that none on this list have ever disappointed us so far.

Happy eating!

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Wonderful Georgian food at Tshito-Gwrito in Stuttgart!

Today’s post is brought to you courtesy of Stacy, a member of Stuttgart food and wine lovers, a Facebook group for English speakers in the Stuttgart area.  A few days ago, Stacy posted about Tshito-Gwrito, a Georgian restaurant she and her husband discovered.  She remembered that I posted about how much I love Georgian wines and wondered if I’d tried this restaurant.  I must confess that prior to her post, I had no idea the place existed.  However, it took very little convincing before I was ready to drive the hour to the city to try it.  Earlier today, their official Web site was working, but right now, it appears to be down.  You can also check out their Facebook page.

I was excited to try Tshito-Gwrito, mainly because I used to live in the Republic of Armenia, which is the country south of Georgia.  Both Armenia and Georgia are Christian countries that were once part of the former Soviet Union.  Wine was pretty much born in Georgia and Armenia, although during the Soviet era, Georgia focused on winemaking while Armenia focused on producing exquisite brandy.  When I looked at the restaurant’s menu, I saw a few selections I remembered from my time in Armenia.  Their cuisines are somewhat similar.  I already knew about Georgia’s wonderful wines, which I have talked up a lot in Stuttgart food and wine lovers.  I had a feeling the food would be a most welcome change of pace.

From our home, Tshito-Gwrito is about an hour away by car.  It was a bit of a pain to navigate Stuttgart traffic and then find a place to park.  However, I am happy to report that the effort was well worth it.  We had a wonderful time at Tshito-Gwrito and we will definitely make an effort to go back.  I saw a few things on the menu I still want to try.

A couple of shots of the outside.  In warmer months, they have a Biergarten.

 

On weekends, Tshito-Gwrito opens at 3:00pm and stays open until midnight.  The restaurant is closed on Mondays.  Tuesday through Friday, Tshito-Gwrito opens at 5:00pm and closes at midnight; they will be open tomorrow for Easter.  Our waitress, a lovely lady who eventually confessed to us that she’s half German, half Irish, said that tomorrow they will have Georgians and Armenians having their Easter meal there.  I suspect there will be a lot of happy drunk people there giving super long toasts.  Drinking and toasting are two other things the Georgians and Armenians have in common.  I wouldn’t be surprised if there was also music and dancing.

A shot of the interior.  The dining room we were in was rather small, though they appeared to have another room to the left as we walked in.   We took a seat in a corner.  We had plenty of room, since we arrived at just after 3:00pm.  Two other parties were there with us.

Bill checks out the menu.

Our waitress spoke perfect English.  She seemed slightly relieved when I told her I used to live in Armenia and, therefore, knew about food from the region.  I’m not sure if they’ve had issues with people who don’t get the concept of food from the Caucasus region.  Personally, I thought today’s food was outstanding… in fact, I don’t remember enjoying anything as much when I actually lived in the region.  But then, that was was also the mid 1990s, which definitely wasn’t the best time to be in that area.  Things have improved dramatically over the past 20 years or so.

We ordered a bottle of Mukuzani, which is a spicy, dry, red wine made from Saperavi grapes in Mukuzani, Kakheti.  Mukuzani is aged in oak casks for at least three years longer than similar wines, which gives it a different flavor profile.  This wine was delicious, especially after it had some time to open.  The restaurant also offers Georgian wines by the glass and a range of beers and other beverages.  They have “cha cha” too, which is basically Georgia’s version of grappa.  I steer clear of it because it’s very strong stuff… reminds me of jet fuel.

 

The waitress explained that the restaurant prefers to serve the meals family style, which is also how it’s often done in the Caucasus.  That worked fine for Bill and me, since we like to try different things.  I hesitated when she recommended the Khachapuri, which is flat bread baked with cheese and other fillings.  I remembered the super strong cheese it was served with in Armenia.  The waitress set my mind at ease when she said the cheese they used was mozzarella mixed with a Georgian cheese.  I resolved to try it, reasoning that Bill loves strong cheese and would finish it if I didn’t like it.  We also ordered the spinach, which was basically like a spread made with walnuts, spinach, onions, pomegranate seeds, and Georgian spices.

Oh my word… I am SO glad we had the Khachapuri.  It was delicious.  It came out hot from the oven, with mild cheese that was not at all offensive to my sensitive palate.  And that spinach was also amazing.  Bill said my eyes lit up as I tasted it.

When you look at the menu at Tshito-Gwrito, in the back, you will notice a separate section called Vorbestellung.  Basically, those are dishes you can order ahead of time.  Today, they had several dishes from that part of the menu available.  One of the dishes they had was Ostri, pictured below.

Basically, the Ostri was like a tomato based beef stew.  The beef reminded me of very tender pot roast cut into chunks and mixed with the mildly spiced tomato ragu.  It was served with slices of bread that could be used to sop up the stew.  They also had a chicken stew.

And we also had Shashlik– marinated pork grilled on a spit and served with onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and fried potatoes.  The shashlik came with a cold tomato sauce on the side.

 

When I lived in Armenia, one of my favorite treats was xhorovatz (Armenian barbecue).  It was basically meat on a stick cooked over a fire and served with vegetables and lavash.  Shashlik was a lot like xhorovatz, minus the lavash.  It was delicious!  I will admit that getting through the last course was a challenge.  I was getting full!

We took some time to finish our wine and water after we finished the shashlik, listening to the pop music and chatting with the friendly waitress, who confessed that the Georgians who own the restaurant are wonderful people.  I am not surprised.  That part of the world is renowned for its hospitality.  I am hoping we can plan a trip to Georgia and Armenia before we have to leave Europe.  I am dying to show Bill my old stomping grounds, meet up with people I know over there, and enjoy the amazing food and wine.

We finished up by splitting a Napoleon, which is basically a very light, crispy pastry filled with custard and covered with powdered sugar.  We also had espresso, which came with a little glass of sparkling water.  Napoleons are widely found in the Caucasus region and in Russia and France.

 

When we were finally finished after almost three hours, we owed about 81 euros.  This was a wonderful meal and worth every Euro cent.  We definitely plan to go back sometime, even though getting there isn’t that easy.  The food is outstanding and the service was charming and friendly.  Honestly, in a place where there are so many Greek, German, and Italian restaurants, it’s such a nice change of pace to have a meal in a place that serves something different.  We didn’t have a single item today that we didn’t really enjoy.

If you’re in the mood for something different, I would highly recommend making the trip to Tshito-Gwrito.  Many thanks, once again, to Stacy in the food and wine group!  One of the reasons I started that group was so that we might all make new culinary discoveries!  Today’s restaurant definitely counts as one of those!  And now I can steer people to Russian food AND Georgian food in the Stuttgart area.

I think this is my new WTF look. 
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