I am all for embracing the traditions and celebrations of our host countries (as you have probably noticed by now!), but it’s also important to remember our own traditions, especially for the sake of self-identity for our two small global citizens, who may not actually remember that many real English Christmases after all! Christmas is quite important to us as a family, and whilst we are not religious, we look forward to it and relish the few days when we can relax together after another hectic year. And of course the traditional English Christmas dinner is compulsory, with ALL of the trimmings… This is something we always try and achieve each year, no matter how hard it is to source those all important ingredients, and whilst most families up and down the UK will be having exactly the same as us on Christmas day, I like to think we enjoy it that little bit more, especially if we have been successful in finding everything to make it as authentic as possible!
In the weeks before we left Copenhagen, one of the places I probably frequented the most was the brand spanking new Torvehallerne, a beautiful compact Fresh Food market smack bang in the heart of the city. It was such a novelty to find so many amazing fresh products that had previously been as rare as hen’s teeth. And so in search of the all important components of our Christmas Meal, the Fresh Food market here in Munich, the Viktualientmarkt was my first port of call. It’s slightly older than Torvehallerne though, as it’s been here since the early 1800’s.
The first challenge was to find the all important Truthahn (Turkey) amongst all the the Ente (duck) or Ganse (geese) that are the more traditional birds of choice for Christmas dinner in these parts. The general consensus of opinion from a lot of shops and stallholders was that we should have perhaps thought about it earlier, as ordering deadlines had been and gone, but what with the move and a very hectic few weeks, we are slightly more disorganised than usual (to put it mildly!)… Thankfully luck was on our side this time, and we have a “stunned” truthahn waiting for its big day in the fridge.
You can’t have a turkey without all the trimmings of course, so the next careful negotiation was for vegetables. There’s plenty to choose from when it comes to fruit and veg at the Viktualienmarkt, and nearly all of the stalls are beautifully presented (which I suppose should have been a sign!). At our stall of choice, I made a last minute decision to add a butternut squash to our haul, and plucked one from a nearby table to present to the stallholder who was busy totting up. Suddenly, out of nowhere a woman sprung up from behind the gourds shouting “nicht berühren, nicht berühren” which basically means “don’t touch, don’t touch” (like it needed translating!), so I hastily put it down again. Speaking to customers in a certain tone never goes down well in my book (especially for such a minor crime, I hadn’t literally upset the apple cart), so I took my time deliberating over each and every single squash that she then held up for my inspection, and took great pleasure in cheerfully dismissing each one. I then felt it prudent to go to the stall directly opposite (where the Butternut Banshee watched me glowering) and where I selected what (quite typically) looked like the only squash available. The very fact that it actually weighs almost as much as the truthahn itself (seriously), and is also quite possibly the most expensive singular vegetable we have ever bought, was well worth it (even if after we have managed to consume it we can never look at one again!).
Anyway, we now successfully have the bird, the potatoes, the brussels sprouts, the parsnips, the squash(!), and the chipolatas, to be wrapped in what looks like acceptable bacon. The only thing missing is the Christmas pudding, and I think I have run out of time to make that, unless anyone can recommend a super-quick recipe?? If not, we are having trifle! I wonder how many other expats have suddenly developed baking skills they never knew they had out of pure necessity… it’s not through aspiring to be the next Nigella believe me!
Ah, we could have saved you a bit of Truthahn Angst. Most supermarkets will have a frozen turkey in their deep freeze next to the duck and goose. But they label it as a turkey hen, or Pute. A tasteless word if you speak French or Italian, but inoffensive in German, thankfully. And a lot cheaper than the fancily labelled Truthahn.
Now you tell me ;) Thank you very much for that, I shall make a note for next year! Love the name though, I remember it well from the hilarity of rude words discovered on a French Exchange at the age of 13! Emma :)
Well done mate but you have reminded me I have forgotten the sausages lol! Enjoy your Bavarian Christmas and hope you have snow, to make it complete. Love the Petersens of Copenhagen x
Quick quick… do you still have time? Or is that it now? You never know, you might find a polser stall still open somewhere in the morning! Snow melted yesterday, but hopefully it will come back soon! Nothing will beat the snow we had last year in CPH though! Have a lovely lovely Christmas! Love Emma xxx
I just came over from Trish’s blog and can’t think why I haven’t been here before! I can’t think of anywhere more wonderful to be at this time of the year than Munich, and really envy you – stunned Truthahn and oversized squash notwithstanding. Here in Seoul I’m learning that you do not touch *anything* at the markets unless you plan to buy it, lest you incur the wrath of the vendor!
Enjoyed your blog and will be back!
Thanks so much! Popping over to say hello to you now! :) Emma
“Stunned” ?! Seriously! I would rather hope it was dead, guttted and plucked before getting anywhere near me! I hope it doesn’t come around cold and knock on the fridge door from the inside: still you could offer it the oven to warm itself up a little!
Isn’t that banshee yell the standard way? We were yelled at dreadfully in Basel.
It’s the first time I have experienced it here to be honest, but it did make me laugh! I was kind of hoping the turkey would be stunned as in Dead Parrot kind of stunned :)
Merry Christmas!
Thank you Lijn! A very Merry Christmas to you too! Emma :)
Hah, Butternut Banshee. Am experiencing a sudden and extreme craving for butternut squash soup now…
For pudding, I suggest Bailoni liquer, hic.
I can courier you some. Honestly, it would make around 20 gallons of soup! Have just googled Bailoni… Yum, that sounds delicious! Will pop one in the basket at the supermarket and use it as an alternative to Kir! :)
Your mum’s comments make me smile and bring a tear to my eye too. (Hi Grace!) Glad to see you’ve got your Crimbo feast sorted and who knows maybe next year you will make your own! Happy Christmas xx
Aww thanks Mari… a very Happy Christmas to you all as well! An exciting year for you ahead! xx
How I laughed at your story! Next year my darling you will have a christmas Pudding even if I bring it over for you mid summer.
It sounds as though it will be a delicious meal and you can always freeze gallons of butternuts squash soup for all your visitors next year!!
Thanks Mum :) xxx