Baltic States - We Get Close with Authentic German Food

We started our morning with a Radon Mitigation System installation. Two men installed the system in our basement utility room and up into the garage and then into the garage attic and to the outdoors. The lead person then went over instructions for us to complete over the next several days. On Tuesday morning we have small testing kits that we open in three different areas of the house. The tests measure the radon level for four days. After four days we mail the kits into a lab which sends the results to the mitigation company and to us.

Joe and I unpacked boxes until Megan and Caleb came over around 12:15. Megan, Caleb and I went up to The Hog and The Hen for brunch. Another great meal! It was Megan and Caleb’s first visit to the restaurant. We came back to the house after lunch and Caleb and Joe played a little pool while Megan helped me select artwork to hang in the living room. Joe had unpacked the art this past week – the pieces are strewn about the family room propped against various walls until we decide on a home for each piece.

This evening, we went out for our monthly international meal. This month the YUM box snacks were from the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). We could not find restaurants in the region that were specifically Baltic and went with traditional Easter European food. Germany seemed a good bet as the foods are remarkably similar and Germany is on the Baltic Sea. We dined at The Black Forest Inn in Minneapolis.

On the drive to the restaurant we did our monthly Trivia Facts that come in the YUM booklet each month. Joe won while Caleb and Charlotte tied for second place.

Our appetizers were German Potato Salad, pretzel with mustard and cheese sauce, potato pancake, and sauteed mushrooms. No photos of those! See Megan and Jeremy's photos below for entrees and descriptions.

Front of the restaurant (photo by Megan).

Duetschburger Casserole - Jeremy's choice was made with ground beef, onions, and mushroom

sauce served over spatzel with mozzarela cheese.

Joe opted for 1/2 order of Hungarian Goulash

I chose Veal Jager Schnitzel which is a lightly floured and sauteed with mushrooms and a creamy brown gravy. Spatezel and red cabbage are also served with it.

Megan ordered KOnigsberger Klops which is a spiced meatball (about the size of a tennis ball) in white caper sauce. It also came with spatzel and red cabbage.

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Charlotte opted for the Spatzel and cheese casserole (they say it has 3 cheeses but the cheese types are not shown on the menu).

Caleb had a hamburger and french fries.

And of course there was dessert to share!

Apple Strudel with Whipped Cream

Black Forest Torte

After dinner we did our monthly taste testing of the YUM Box Snacks. Surprisingly the one snack that got all smiley faces was the mushroom chip.

I am having an early bedtime. Last night I was in bed by 8:00pm and asleep by 8:05pm. I suspect I will fall asleep just as easily tonight.