Autumn at the Fasanerie in Wiesbaden
Autumn (aka Fall) is here (as the above children’s song title proclaims) and however you feel about temperatures dropping and the rain falling, it means we get to embrace the cosier and tastier sides of this beautifully colourful season.
In Germany, in-season vegetables are very much celebrated. And we are at the start of pumpkin (Kürbis) season. Not only does this get excited children counting down to Halloween, it means you’ll be able to enjoy pumpkin soup, pumpkin risotto, pasta with pumpkin, and anything else they can think to create with the orange gold! Feldsalat (Lamb’s lettuce) is another popular one at this time of year, and this salad is often served with bacon bits. Another culinary speciality at this time of year is the Federweißer low-alcohol young wine made from grape must, often enjoyed with a slice of Zwiebelkuchen (onion tart – a bit like a quiche) – well worth a try in my opinion!
If you see a cart by the side of the road piled high with pumpkins, it usually has an honesty box and you can take one and put the money in the box. Alternatively, you can go somewhere like www.blumen-und-kuerbisfelder.de in Liederbach and pick your own.
Pumpkins
In Germany, many people also like seasonal decorations in their homes. You will start to notice carved pumpkins, hessian kites, “decorative pumpkins” in various shapes and sizes etc. on front porches, and the shops will be full of hedgehogs, apples, mushrooms, squirrels and other “cute items” in autumnal colours. (Beware: the little weird-shaped Zierkürbisse (decorative pumpkins) are not for eating!)
This is also the time of year where there are lots of funfairs, like the big Dippemess in Frankfurt or the Taunus Kerb in Oberursel, and autumn markets.
So, put on your wellies & waterproofs (another thing that is sensibly embraced in Germany – proper outdoor clothing!) and go and enjoy the beautiful autumn colours, then buy a pumpkin and some autumn bits n bobs and have a cosy afternoon cooking some soup and making your home feel seasonal.
And why don’t you head down to the “Herbsttreiben” fest in Oberursel on 17/18 September or the Bauernmarkt (farmers’ market) at Hessenpark (large open-air local history museum) on 18 September, to the Apfelmarkt in Kronberg on 25 September, or to another local Erntedankfest (harvest festival), Kerb (local fair) or Markt (market). Look for “Veranstaltungen” (events) in your local area for details of what’s on.
Song link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGob6Duj8lI