You
are excused if you get confused these days. Is it a Krapfen? Is it a
Pfannkuchen? Is it a Berliner? All three are wrong and all three are right,
depending on where you are in Germany … or in the world (wait, we will get to
that point later). We are talking about jam doughnuts here.
How to buy a Berliner in Berlin
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| Berliner, Krapfen, Pfannkuchen? It is a jam doughnut |
How to buy a Berliner in Berlin
Ever
tried to order a Berliner in Berlin? This is obviously not a smart thing to do.
If you are after a Berliner, try to be a bit more subtle, and start with
flirting, it might turn out to be the love of your life. In Berlin, you have to
order a Pfannkuchen (pancake), when you would like to have a Berliner (made
from yeast dough). Who knows why they call a Berliner a pancake? A pancake as
most people know it is called egg cake in this part of Germany.
How to buy a Berliner in Cologne
Visit Cologne in North Rhine Westphalia and order a Pfannkuchen, because you are well prepared, you know that is what they call these thingies in the capital city of the country. I really feel for you, because you'll get a totally different dish, you'll get a pancake made from flour and eggs (Pfannkuchen). Not fair I know, please order a Berliner and you'll get a Berliner made from yeast dough (a Pfannkuchen in Berlin).
If
you think this is sorted, think again, the best is yet to come ...
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| Looking closer. It is still a jam doughnut |
How to buy a Berliner in Munich
Ever tried to get a Berliner in Munich? This is not going to happen. I am not saying there aren't any Prussians living in the capital of Bavaria. If you would like to eat a Berliner or a Pfannkuchen (are you still with me?) please order a Krapfen. I am not making this up, but this is what they call them in the southern part of Germany. But, and now please listen carefully, if later on, you would like to eat the exact same jam doughnut in North-Rhine Westphalia, please don’t forget it is called Berliner. If you order a Krapfen in North Rhine Westphalia, you will get a totally different type of pastry, one made from choux pastry dough. I am telling you, craving a jam doughnut made from yeast dough, isn't for the faint-hearted, you are entering a foodie-maze.
How to buy a Berliner in Melbourne
In
Melbourne I went to a "French" bakery where they sell beignets made
from yeast dough (Berliner, Krapfen, Pfannkuchen). I ordered: "I would
like to have two beignets please." The lady behind the counter looked at
me: "Sorry, can you say that again please." And so I said it again
"I would like to have two beignets please." She smiled shyly and said:
Sorry, but I didn't get that one." I said it again: "I would like to
have two beignets please." She looked at me and replied helplessly: "I
am so sorry, we don't sell these." I pointed at them and said:
"Sorry, you do, here they are, right in front of you, labelled as beignets.” She
looked at me now obviously relieved: “I see. You would like to have two jam
doughnuts.” Big smiles on both sides: “Yes please, thank you very much”. In France
beignets are made from choux pastry, hence the bakery in Melbourne should have
offered them to their customers as jam doughnuts and not as beignets, but I don’t want to be the smart-ass immigrant. I take my jam doughnuts and leave the bakery,
they are delicious.
Wherever
you eat these things, enjoy. What are yeast pastry jam doughnuts called in
your part of the world? Can’t wait to hear from you?
From
Berlin with love