Spaetzle, part one

I spent most of January 2020 in Europe, and during that time I attended two NaMoPaiMo prepping parties: one in the Netherlands and the other in Germany.

photo by Helena Ruppert

The German party was held at the Himmelmann family home in Gauangelloch near Leimen.

We gathered together in a second story room...

that overlooked the horse pasture.

The party began with introductions and an exchange of gifts.

photo by Kim Brandner

I gave out medallions, t-shirts and Mini Whinnies.

What I got was so much more.

photo by Helena Ruppert

The biggest item was a Dotty resin, sculpted by Ilona Himmelmann. I was thrilled.

photo by Kim Brandner

Once that was done, we got to work.

And while we worked, we talked.

photo by Kim Brandner

Eventually the topic turned to food.

I was asked which German foods I'd tried, and I had to admit that other than a gas station schnitzel and German Mexican food - which is really, really, really not like American Mexican food - I hadn't eaten anything I couldn't have bought in the United States.

I'm sure you can imagine how that was received. Immediately, I had a whole list of foods that I absolutely, positively had to try before I went home, and number one on everyone's list was spaetzle.

We talked about spaetzle for a very long time, and by the end of the party, two things were abundantly clear: First, I needed to go to a proper German restaurant and try some spaetzle.

Second, my new little Dotty pony had named herself.

To be continued.