Land Rheinland-Pfalz Local Custom Tips by tessy

Keschde

Stop, you will not find that word in a dictionary. People in the country usually speak a dialect. Keschde means chestnuts, which can be eaten. In fall people in the Pfalz like to eat chestnusts, which they find in the forest when hiking there. Lots of restaurants offer chestnuts as local specialities.

Neuer Wein and Zwiebelkuchen

In the german wine regions like the Pfalz, you get in autumn Neuer wine and Zwiebelkuchen in the restaurant. Neuer Wein can be taste like a juice of grapes, it can taste like wine. Sometimes it is called Bizzler, Federweisser, Roter Rauscher (when it is red). Zwiebelkuchen is a tarte with onions and ham. It tastes fantastic with "Neuer Wein". But be sure not to take too much of all .........

BTW: This Zwiebelkuchen you see on the pic was a rather bad one. I was hard, not fresh. They offered a new one, but we didn't want any more.

Beer

With that bread with handkees, you share a "Stein" with your friends. A Stein is a liter of local beer! And it is rather cheap - only 4 Euro! This year (2006), sun was shining, but it was rather cold. So I had to drink a lot of beer to feel warm, hahahahaha

Handkeesfeschd

Well, you have to understand the locals to understand that word. Sorry, I can't tranlsate it into english. Just have a look on the pic.

Each village and the club's of the village celebrate lots of festivals. One of these local festivals, where you meet nearly no tourists from abroad, is the handkeesfeschd in Lustadt. One of my friends was born there and he spends the festival weekend there and invites all his friends. It is always a lot of fun to be there and to talk to the ones who are there....

Everyone eats "Handkees with Radieschen" or other specialties from the region.

Saeubrennerkirmes Wittlich

The local festival of Wittlich is called "Saeubrennerkirmes". It takes place the 3rd weekend in august. If you're interested in more informations, have a look at my Wittlich page please!