What Germany is talking about

Ah, Germany – the land of poets, thinkers and hearty meat-based cuisine. If one particular cliché is to be believed, Germans are crazy about anything that can be roasted or fried or have plenty of sauce poured over it. Schnitzel, bratwurst and knuckle of pork - these are firm fixtures on menus from the North Sea to the Alps. 

But hang on. Is that really true? Of course, lots of people do enjoy a good schnitzel, yet a not insignificant eight percent of Germans eat a vegetarian diet, while two percent are vegan. Admittedly, that still leaves a whopping 90 percent.... However, 41 percent of those describe themselves as flexitarians - they consciously enjoy meat from time to time but often opt for non-meat alternatives. One might say that the German palate is becoming increasingly flexible.

Flexibility in turbulent times – that’s the focus of our new “Schnitzel & small talk” column. We will be taking a tongue-in-cheek look at what is changing these days in Germany and what people are talking about just now: cultural trends, digital phenomena and social curiosities. It’s by no means just about food (though that’s always a good topic of conversation). Our column is for anyone who likes to join the conversation, roll their eyes or raise their eyebrows. 

Be it a question of soy schnitzel versus roast pork, TikTok hypes or DIY hacks: “Schnitzel & small talk” is the perfect springboard for anyone keen to impress others with their insights into German daily life when next chatting about Germany.