Germans in San Antonio (New Braunfels, Kirby: living, moving to, rating)

[royal744]

German food can be very good. There's not a terrific number of ingredients in German food that sets it apart from Dutch or Flemish food, however, which is equally good tasting. We just happen to have a lot of German folks in this part of Texas. One has to wonder why German cuisine never caught on like Tex-Mex cuisine in this area - maybe the ingredients cost too much? People expect to pay more for French cuisine, but not for German cuisine which is seen as not being very exotic.

[majormadmax]

My theory is that the largest influx of Germans to Texas came during the 1800s, and despite being the third largest ethnic group in the state (exceeded only by persons claiming English-Irish and Hispanic descent), the lack of a constant stream of immigrants caused those here to "adapt" to Texas culture. As such, the cuisine has "evolved" into it's current "Tex-Germ" state the same way that Mexican food has become "Tex-Mex," more of a blend of foods from the two cultures. That's not a bad thing, just different from the original. The local restaurants try their best to replicate true German dishes, but the ingredients are just not there so they improvise with what's available.

Cheers! M2

[mfarrowm2717]

My wife is German and our in-laws are walking distance from our house.
She grew up in Giessan or Wisebaden.....check spelling......she speak fluent German....we are military brats

[majormadmax]

If you mean the place just outside Frankfurt (where I was born), it's Wiesbaden. There used to be a big USAF base there where the U-2s flew out of. Gießen is a bit further to the north...

[royal744]

One German import that has been enshrined in Tex-Mex culture is the polka which is now a part of local Hispanic music; one wonders if beer made the same transition, and the accordion?

[1751texan]

Originally Posted by Sabine66

Hi everyone,
I moved here about 2 years ago and still didn't meet Germans here...where are they????? Hope somebody sees that and writes back it would be nice to have every once in a while somebody to talk to in German and it would be good for my kids too they are almost 4 and 2 so hopefully I am lucky


Gruesse Sabine

You can check into the San Antonio Beethoven Society...

Beethoven Maennerchor, Inc.


another SouthTexas group is Herman and Sons lodge.


And a short drive east on HWY 90 E, are the communities of Zuehl, St Hedwig and New Berlin.

[1751texan]

Originally Posted by royal744

German food can be very good. There's not a terrific number of ingredients in German food that sets it apart from Dutch or Flemish food, however, which is equally good tasting. We just happen to have a lot of German folks in this part of Texas. One has to wonder why German cuisine never caught on like Tex-Mex cuisine in this area - maybe the ingredients cost too much? People expect to pay more for French cuisine, but not for German cuisine which is seen as not being very exotic.

German Style potato salad, Pork n Suarkraut, and Chicken and Dumpins... have been part of my families tradition for years, I was a teenager until I found out it wasnt TexMex food.

[1751texan]

Originally Posted by royal744

One German import that has been enshrined in Tex-Mex culture is the polka which is now a part of local Hispanic music; one wonders if beer made the same transition, and the accordion?

Mexican beers are brought to you by German brewmasters that located to Mexico.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:_vhpOy6rSwXzbM:http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m212/heavyliquid/P1010045-2.jpg (broken link)

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by 1751texan

Mexican beers are brought to you by German brewmasters that located to Mexico.

Lots of German influence throughout Latin America.

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by royal744

German food can be very good. There's not a terrific number of ingredients in German food that sets it apart from Dutch or Flemish food, however, which is equally good tasting. We just happen to have a lot of German folks in this part of Texas. One has to wonder why German cuisine never caught on like Tex-Mex cuisine in this area - maybe the ingredients cost too much? People expect to pay more for French cuisine, but not for German cuisine which is seen as not being very exotic.

That's a good point.