We’re obviously very dedicated to the Christmas market. Last weekend saw my friend and I take a train to Birmingham to check out their Frankfurt Christmas Market. We arrived at about 1pm and left by a 7pm train (times are approximate!). It was quite easy to find – it’s all located at the centre of the city, just outside the Bullring. We encountered stall upon stall upon stall of German food, drink, and Christmas gifts and decorations.
The eating started as soon as we saw a stand selling freshly fried potato pancakes. We opted for a dollop of oniony sour cream on the side and munch away we did. I was surprised by the addition of some kind of grain to the potato base but it added a good crunch to the fried fritter.
As soon as the last bite went down, we queued for bratwursts – one white and one red, both to share. I love both – the milder white and the punchier smoked red.
Gluhwein for Roxanne and hot chocolate for me. And yes, we kept our mugs as souvenirs (you pay a deposit for it).
There was room for a shared pretzel…
…and two kinds of fried doughnuts too. The quarkbällchen was made with quark, the German fresh cheese, and a paper cone of schmalzkuchen was freshly fried and dusted with lots of powdered sugar.
They all went down much too easily.
Schokokuss (chocolate kisses) were purchased to take home. While everyone was queuing to buy packs of 10 or 12, I’m glad I showed restraint and only purchased a couple (they’re filled with marshmallow inside…soft, sticky, intensely sweet marshmallow).
It was with a little difficulty that we put down our final savoury bites for the day – they had to be frankfurters! That photo below shows mine – I swear there’s a frankfurter underneath all those pickles and crispy fried onions.
Overall, a most successful eating day!
Other edibles to look out for are the 1/2 metre long bratwursts, the cheese skewers that are battered and fried, hot chocolate spoons, roast pork shanks, huge roasting hams, cream cakes, and a huge variety of Haribo.
It’s a long journey on a slow train on a Sunday and is probably more manageable on a weekday or Saturday. If you’re utterly in love with Christmas markets, then it’s possibly worth the travel but otherwise I’d recommend visiting if you’re in the region!
All my photos from the day can be found in this Flickr photoset.
Sat, 15 Dec, 2012 at 12:53
That looks like really great fun. I am very fond of bratwursts. Have been to a German Christmas market in Bristol once but the Birmingham one looks bigger. Surely there should be one in London.
Sun, 16 Dec, 2012 at 00:07
There’s one along London’s South Bank, but frankly it’s a bit rubbish.
Fri, 21 Dec, 2012 at 11:10
I agree with Mr Noodles. The ones in London are quite overpriced. May have to stop by Winter Wonderland but I find it’s getting more commercial every year.
Sat, 15 Dec, 2012 at 16:18
Love the mugs; they let us keep them at Rostock, too.
Fri, 21 Dec, 2012 at 11:10
Yay! Well, we did pay for them with the deposit!
Sun, 16 Dec, 2012 at 07:51
mmm!
Fri, 21 Dec, 2012 at 11:19
Oh yes!
Sun, 16 Dec, 2012 at 16:29
Oh the Christmas market is pretty much the only thing I miss about Birmingham!
Fri, 21 Dec, 2012 at 11:29
It’s fantastic! Love it.
Mon, 17 Dec, 2012 at 04:54
Aw, I got a little thrill seeing this! I’m sitting here in New Orleans, where I live, but will be at that market this weekend, so it’s funny to come across it on your blog (which I read all the time.) My husband is originally from B’ham and still lives nearby (while we wait for his U.S. immigration paperwork to go through.) I’m flying over tomorrow for the holidays and we’ve already been plotting our gluhwein intake. =) I’ll definitely keep my mug this year! Last year they just looked like mugs from someone’s cupboard to me, so I didn’t even think of keeping it. Happy Holidays!
Fri, 21 Dec, 2012 at 11:47
Brilliant – you’re going to have such fun! Happy holidays to you too!
Tue, 18 Dec, 2012 at 07:44
We have the same market here in Leeds, and I must admit, I do look forward to having a wander round in the daytime when it;s a little quieter (ours is heaving on an evening) and stuffing myself with deep-fried goodies and pork. They do know how to do that stuff well!
Fri, 21 Dec, 2012 at 11:49
Oh, I need to get me to Leeds another year!
Sun, 23 Dec, 2012 at 16:38
Do! We have lots to see and do. Feel free to give me a shout if you need a guide. Email on the blog.