The Germans are coming!

[PGH_RAM]

I need input from the hive mind, please.

I'm cooking dinner for some visiting German teenagers next week and the family that is hosting them (more teenagers). I'd like to make something uniquely American, so my first thought goes to BBQ and grilling. I can make an awesome pulled pork butt with coleslaw, mac and cheese, and baked beans. I can also grill some pretty damn good chicken wings (my garlic butter parmesan wings disappear when I make them). Then there are BBQ ribs. Or whole rotisserie chickens.

I keep going back to the wings idea. Wings are fun food for teenagers, right?

I guess my first question really is for those of you who have lived in or visited Germany recently: how common are chicken wings in Germany?

For everyone: Would I be better off sticking with a more traditional BBQ item like pulled pork or ribs if I'm going for authentic Americana?

Picture from my second favorite episode of "Fawlty Towers". IYKYK.

[RonB]

I think pulled pork would be a truly American meal. Since you should have the butt(s) resting for several hours, you could add wings as an appetizer.

The (s) was because you said teenagers and we all know how much they can eat...

[SheilaAnn]

+1

[acorgihouse]

I am not an expert on German teenagers, but my take.... Unlikely they know a lot about "uniquely American BBQ and grilling." Perhaps I'm old and outdated (in many ways), but when I was an American teen going to Germany, I knew sausage, sauerkraut and beer. I just wanted to have fun, some good food, and some good stories to take back home. I think wings would be great, there are so many variations, and although I have not been in Germany for some years, seems like a fun thing. MHO, and keep in mind I am absolutely not a German teen. So there's that.

[Michael_in_TX]

("Yes you did! You invaded Poland!")

[Michael_in_TX]

For the longest time I thought this was a Monty Python sketch. The other thing that is crazy is that there are only twelve episodes!

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

One of my favorite shows of ALL FREAKING TIME. I have them all - and all about memorized.

[Michael_in_TX]

One of the reasons I think people don't realize there are only 12 episodes that one cannot binge watch the show; you'll end up in the hospital from laughing so much. I personally think it showcases John Cleese' comedic genius better than Monty Python. The script, the inflection, the timing, it's all perfect.

[PGH_RAM]

This could be great or it could suck:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/fawlty-towers-reboot-release-date-cast-news-111103747.html

[Waster]

As a Brit, I heartily approve of this message

[Jfrosty27]

I visited Germany many times during my career and pork seemed to be served everywhere, all the time. They roast every cut of the pig over there. It’s delicious every time but maybe something other than pork would be interesting for them. Wings might be just the ticket. Good luck!

[HawkerXP]

+1

[captainlee]

I don't remember wings during my travels to Germany, it seemed like all the meals were heavy. Rotisserie chickens are big there. I would think pulled pork would be a fun thing to do with a variety of sides. If they were familiar with any of this your flavors would certainly be different.

[ecowper]

When I was stationed in Germany, I do not recall ever seeing American food other than fast food. That was in the 1980's and 90's. Jump forward to 2022, when I visited Bavaria and Austria on vacation, and there was some more American food available, including BBQ restaurants. But still not common. Yes, pork in Germany is very common, but not BBQ style. Pork roasts, pork schnitzel, sausages are all very common, of course. But ribs and pulled pork, not so much.

As someone else pointed out, rotisserie chicken is very common in Germany, so that won't be unique. Grilled fish is also quite common.

Personally, I think I'd do pulled pork since it is both very American BBQ AND feeds a lot of hungry young men :-)

[Donw]

+1

[ecowper]

Oh, and American style hamburgers are pretty common throughout Western Europe these days, not just Germany. So, that wouldn't be much of a unique food experience.

[captainlee]

Good thought on quantity of food. Grandson brought 11 of his high school friends here to headquarter and backpack a portion of the Colorado trail last summer. Luckily we prepared mass quantities of everything and they devoured it.

[Oak Smoke]

At first I thought chicken wings, those would be great. Then I remembered how much food my two sons could eat when they were teens. If they liked it they would eat all you made then start looking around at what’s in the fridge. I’d go with a pork butt or two. You have a better chance at filling them up that way.

[Donw]

I remember cooking up 5 gallons of gumbo once to stock the freezer. One of my sons brought over some of his fellow football players just as I finished. There wasn’t enough left for me to enjoy a bowl after they dug in.

[PGH_RAM]

Donw When I played high school football my folks had to retool the food budget. I could eat like a great white shark.

[Sweaty Paul]

I concur about pork butts, however, I'm thinking you throw some wings on top of it and well;...deliciousness.

Think ribs brilliant too. All very American.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

Dunno if it works on Germans, but Brits are perplexed by Biscuits and Gravy. I think it's more because in England a biscuit is a cookie. I was too young when I lived in Germany to really remember if there was anything we had that they enjoyed but thought was weird.

Spray cheese and Chikin n a Biskit crackers as an appetizer should throw 'em off too.

Barring that, I'd probably do beef brisket and wings

[Waster]

You're right, biscuits and gravy are just wrong. Mainly because biscuits should be eaten with tea and gravy is brown and served as an accompaniment to a roast dinner.

Now if you called it savoury (with a u!) scones with chicken soup poured on the top, then it still wouldn't get much traction, but at least Brits would know what it was!

Source = me - Brit by birth living it large in Eastern NC !

[mrteddyprincess]

Waster I teach in the USA with a colleague from Kenya. All the English she grew up speaking was British influenced. We had some pretty funny conversations explaining vocabulary to her last year when she was learning American English. Biscuits and gravy was one of those lessons.

[LA Pork Butt]

I think that smoked meats would not be common to Europe other than cold smoked salmon and maybe other fish. As I note posts from our European Pit friends they are trying to learn American low and slow, so that is what I would stick with. Since pork is a popular meat in Germany, why not introduce them to pulled pork and maybe ribs. Cabbage is popular in Germany so why not an American slaw. Marc and Cheese sounds good, too. All that would make it an easy feed for hungry teenagers.

[Mosca]

ecowper and they serve it warm!

[Oak Smoke]

+1 on potato salad! ecowper has this one absolutely right.

[ecowper]

Mosca I'm a huge fan of German potato salad with my schnitzel :-)

[yakima]

Easier to serve a young and hungry crowd with pork butts than wings. Someone has to take care and preserve the chef's energy. Consider some cheeses, dips, Mexican chips. Local fruit in season. Mosca mayhap can ship you cheese.

[ecowper]

I think Mosca can manage to ship everyone in the Pit some cheese

[ecowper]

PS Fawlty Towers for the win!

[Jim White]

I'm on the side of bulk meat being easier for you to serve a crowd and have time for interactions. How about both pulled pork and pulled beef? Pulled chuck roast is a bit less common and always seems to go over well. That also gives the option of eating on its own, in sliders or in big buns. Having several sauces can provide variety, too.

<Don't mention the war!!1!>

[MattTheGR8]

I'm no expert on Germany, but your proposed menu sounds like classic American fare to me. Plus, the pulled pork is a great way to feed a crowd.
You didn't mention brisket, but nothing is more American than a classic Texas brisket. Like the butts, it can be done ahead so you can entertain your guests while the meat is resting.