Christkindlmarkt: an opportunity beckons!

With the imminent (re-)opening of Christkindlmarkt, I thought perhaps we might try to organize an impromptu chowvent there soon. (Presuming, of course, that it is possible for impromptu meetings to be organized in advance.) My thought is this: there just ain't enough time between the opening and closing of this culinary Brigadoon to visit it as often as it might deserve. Since I pass it on the way home every day and hear the various stands calling my name, siren-like, I thought if I suggested an impromptu meeting, I might be "forced" to visit more often (a consumption is devoutly to be wished). So: is anyone interested in getting together, impromptu-like, any day next week around, say, 4 pm?

What time does it close? I could get there more like 4:30.

Open till 8 pm every night. There's actually a somewhat helpful website including a map and listing of all the vendors here. Click on the "Vendors/Products" link in the left margin.

Gypsy Boy wrote:So: is anyone interested in getting together, impromptu-like, any day next week around, say, 4 pm?

I would probably have to swoop in late, but I'd be happy to meet up with folks. I have not given the mkt its due in years past.

Berichte über den Markt aus den letzten zwei Jahren sind hier:

Christkindlmarktimbißbude
Das heißt: Beim frischen Wetter al fresco fressen
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=17102#17102

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I was hoping that the new density of the market would be a benefit (the expanse of Block 37 is of course closed for construction, finally). Unfortunately, things look bleak. No flame tarts, no giant kettles guy (him with the massive copper pots of goulash), and no kilometerwursts. Instead, the food booths are mostly doubles or triples of the same two or three vendors. Oh, they now have a booth selling pizza topping-stuffed pretzels that one can buy frozen at the grocery store. I had a forgettable sausage on a dry Gonnella bun for 6 bucks. Not cool. I'm hoping to hear about better things. But for now, I've taken one for the team.

That's depressing. The Plauen/Schwarzwald/whatever stands are certainly enjoyable but they have a little air of done-this-a-trillion-times stadium-foodservice about them. What made the market interesting in the last two years (especially 2004) was that they were interspersed with some little guys cooking up somewhat more unexpected things. It sure sounds like the city has sort of scared off the smaller food vendors.

Mike G wrote:That's depressing. The Plauen/Schwarzwald/whatever stands are certainly enjoyable but they have a little air of done-this-a-trillion-times stadium-foodservice about them. What made the market interesting in the last two years (especially 2004) was that they were interspersed with some little guys cooking up somewhat more unexpected things. It sure sounds like the city has sort of scared off the smaller food vendors.

Doubly depressing since this is the second year in a row that the culinary selection has been reduced. Last year there was no Alsatian tarte flambee.

If the trend continutes, I expect that by 2009 there will be one giant booth serving pre-cooked Johnsonville Brats.

JeffB wrote:I was hoping that the new density of the market would be a benefit (the expanse of Block 37 is of course closed for construction, finally). Unfortunately, things look bleak. No flame tarts, no giant kettles guy (him with the massive copper pots of goulash), and no kilometerwursts. Instead, the food booths are mostly doubles or triples of the same two or three vendors. Oh, they now have a booth selling pizza topping-stuffed pretzels that one can buy frozen at the grocery store. I had a forgettable sausage on a dry Gonnella bun for 6 bucks. Not cool. I'm hoping to hear about better things. But for now, I've taken one for the team.

Jeff,

I went yesterday and had a fine lunch, which I've written up for the old thread. You're right that some of the good and interesting things that were present two (and three) years ago, when the market was much larger, are gone but I had the impression that things this year are pretty much as they were last year.

Of course, prices have gone up yet again (increment of $.50 on the sausage side of things)... Good thing the dollar is so strong these days... ( )

I wonder if the lousy sausage you had had just been sitting out on the grill too long and had thus lost its character... I hope (and expect) the explanation is of that general sort and not something more troubling... Anyway, my illustrated write-up from yesterday's visit is here:
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=102300#102300

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