East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country that existed from 1949 to 1990, when the eastern portion of Germany was part of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. Wine was produced in the former GDR almost exclusively in Saxony and in the Saale-Unstrut area (the only two of Germany’s 13 wine regions that were located in the former East Germany). The beginnings were particularly difficult, not helped by an outbreak of grape blight just before World War 1 which destroyed many vineyards. Outdated farming methods and the very low earning potential in the ..read more

A meatloaf smothered in brown sauce; Germany’s answer to the Hawaiian pizza; an oily schnitzel with noodles and tomato sauce. East German food wasn’t exactly gourmet, but that isn’t stopping customers from flocking to a restaurant in Berlin dedicated to recreating it. “We’re out of ketwurst,” says the waitress. It’s only noon and the restaurant in eastern Berlin is not exactly full. Is the old East German version of a hot dog really so popular? The patrons at the Volkskammer restaurant near the Ostbahnhof station don’t seem perturbed. Instead, they order another classic dish from the Ger ..read more