Curry in a Hurry: German Street Food in NYC

German Street Food: Potato Pancakes and Curry Wurst

My parents were both born in Germany, so I think that’s why my taste buds love almost every German food. Last time I was in Germany, an impatient shopper actually rammed me with a cart because I was blocking the aisle at the supermarket. I barely noticed. I was standing there in awe of all of the tasty foods surrounding me. It was wunderbar!

While I was there I also enjoyed the different varieties of street food for sale. My mom had warned me about the delicious potato pancakes available from concession stands in Germany, so when I spotted a trailer at a Flea Market selling them, I had to try them. They lived up to their reputation, of course.

My friend also brought me to a Schnellimbiss (translates to ‘quick snack bar’) stand for Curry Wurst. I had never heard of this type of German street food (I think my mom’s emigration may have preceded it’s spread to Dusseldorf). I watched transfixed as the curry wurst was prepared for me. First the grilled weiner was sliced up, very quickly. Then a sauce was poured over. Finally, some sort of powder was shaken out in generous amounts over top. We stood there in the November cold and enjoyed our hot curry wurst. It was the perfect fare for a chilly day of wandering. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back.

History

According to Wikipedia, the first curry wurst was created in postwar Berlin when a local cooked up a meal with ketchup, worcestershire sauce, and curry powder given to her by British soldiers.

Curry in the Big Apple

If you are lucky enough to be near New York City, you can try curry wurst for yourself. There are several places that serve curry wurst – but the most authentic is the Hallo Berlin German Food Stand located at 54th Street and 5th Avenue. According to the website, there are also Hallo Berlin restaurants in other parts of the city, as well as one in Conklin, NY.

Deutches DIY

No stand nearby? You can make your own potato pancakes and curry wurst at home. My mom used to make potato pancakes from scratch and it’s pretty easy. However, making them from a box is even easier! This is my favorite brand – check your local deli or order them online from germandeli.com.

Make your own curry wurst, following this recipe from Recipezaar.com. I made some for a friend’s Oktoberfest party and handed the sliced weiners around with curry wurst sauce for dip as an appetizer. Very tasty.