Places I have lived:

German Chancellor Portrait

Pictures of the Week: An employee of the Castle Neuhardenberg museum holds a portrait of German Chancellor Angela Merkel painted by artist, Ommo Wille. The painting is part of a larger exhibit entitled, DUCKOMENTA. Read more: http://www.time.com/time/picturesoftheweek/0,29409,
1971566_2086896,00.html#ixzz0iv31DhCY

Chai Tea

It’s my new obsession: Chai Tea/ Chai Tea Lattes

A sweet, spicy and milky warm drink…

In its most basic form, chai is black tea that is brewed strong with a combination of spices (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, pepper and ginger) and is diluted with milk and sugar.

Here is a simple recipe to make chai tea at home. This is what you will need:

1 1/2 cups of water

1 1/2 inch stick of cinnamon

8 cardamom pods

8 whole cloves

1/4 inch fresh ginger root (sliced thin)

2/3 cup of milk

6 teaspoons sugar

3 teaspoons of Darjeeling Tea leaves

Place water, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger in a pot and bring to a boil.

Cover and lower heat to low setting and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add milk and sugar and again bring to simmer.

Next, add the tea leaves, remove from heat and cover.

Let steep for 3 minutes and strain.

* For a real chai tea latte however, make the tea and then add the milk from a coffee machine milk steamer, for a frothy texture.

* Usually served hot but can also be served over ice

German Restaurants Around Town

 Beer Gardens are on the rise! We are just waiting for the right weather...

NY Magazine tells us about some German Hotspots:

Hallo Berlin

626 Tenth Ave., near 45th St.
212-977-1944

This branch of New York’s self-proclaimed “wurst restaurant” celebrates summer by unfurling the beer-company umbrellas in the backyard, where locals wash down wienerwurst, knockwurst, and other unseasonably hearty but tasty German fare with a respectable selection of German brews.

Loreley

7 Rivington St., between Bowery and Christie St.
212-253-7077

Michael Momm (a.k.a. D.J. Foosh) was born in New York but grew up in Cologne, and he’s modeled his biergarten after that city’s brewpubs. A dozen German beers are on tap, and the kitchen turns out a menu built by Momm’s own mom, who aims to reveal German food’s little-known lighter side—liverwurst on organic seven-grain with sprouts and even a Loreley Mixed Salad.

Zum Schneider

107 Ave. C, at 7th St.
212-598-1098

Indoors and out, with fake tree branches hugging the ceiling and umbrella’d sidewalk tables, this lively Alphabet City saloon captures the biergarten spirit with blonde-fraulein waitresses, hard and soft pretzels, and thirst-quenching hefeweizen on tap.

Guastavino’s
409 East 59th Street
(212-980-2455)

If you spy a lederhosen-clad accordionist loitering at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge some Wednesday evening, he’s not a lost tourist—he’s the entertainment at Guastavino’s new biergarten. Nostalgic for his college days, or in pursuit of customers who are, chef Daniel Orr has installed a keg on the manicured terrace, where he’s also serving a wiener schnitzel sandwich with German potato salad.

and the newest one.....

The Standard Beer Garden

848 Washington St
(between Little W 12th St & 13th St)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 645-4646

The German Fräuleins

(Spring 2009)

The new New York City- based fashion line The German Fräuleins creates Lieblingsstücke, personal favorites, for modern and sophisticated women.

The two founders and designers Alexa and Angelika turned their professional experience and visions into their own clothing line in 2008. The duo said they were happy about being able to build their own collection, where all their ideas could be put into effect, with two core elements in mind: flattering designs and uncompromising quality. The designer duo thinks of their collection as a luxurious ensemble, from evening chic to luxurious loungewear. (Image: www.thegermanfraeuleins.com)