How Cheese Is Made in Europe | DW Food

Feb 17, 2024 | How about Dutch Gouda, French Camembert or Italian Parmesan? Or perhaps you're more partial to cheddar from the UK or feta from Greece? European cheese is popular all over the world. Nowhere is as much cheese produced as in Europe: more than 10 million tons in 2023. And nowhere is as much cheese eaten as in Europe: statistically speaking, every European consumes more than 20 kilograms of cheese every year (based on the 27 EU member states in 2022). European cheeses are as varied and diverse as the continent itself! Find out here how some classic European cheese are made.

What Makes a Real French Croissant? | DW Food

Jan 27, 2024 | Croissants are a staple in French pastry. A fresh coffee and a croissant create the perfect breakfast combination. So, how are perfect French croissants made? How did they become so popular in France, and how were they invented in the first place? Legend has it that the croissant wasn't even invented in France. To answer these questions, we went to Paris, France, and visited a classic boulangerie – a French bakery – to find out.

5 European Sweet Treats You Should Give a Try | DW Food

Jan 13, 2024 | Whether for dessert, as a snack in between, or for getting together over coffee and cake - sweets have a firm place in most culinary culture. As they do in Europe. We picked 5 classic and popular sweet treats from France, Belgium, Austria, Italy and Germany to show you what makes them special and how they are prepared.

Saltimbocca alla Romana: How to Make Rome’s Most Popular Main Dish

Oct 28, 2023 | Saltimbocca alla Romana is so good, that it literally “jumps into your mouth” - that’s what it means in Italian. The veal cutlet with prosciutto and sage is one of Rome’s most popular main dishes and an absolute classic in Italy’s capital.

This traditional Roman dish is a true culinary gem, known for its elegant simplicity and bold flavors. In this video, we dive into the history and origins of Saltimbocca alla Romana, uncovering the ingredients and techniques that make it a favorite in Italian households.

How Authentic Ragù alla Bolognese Is Made in Italy

Nov 11, 2023 | Italy is famous for various pasta dishes and one of the most popular is: Ragù alla Bolognese. This meaty tomato sauce is known far beyond Italy's borders and is an absolute classic of Italian cuisine. But how is it prepared correctly? Why is the original recipe kept in the Bologna Chamber of Commerce? And why shouldn't you use spaghetti for this dish - as many people do? Let's find out!

How Authentic Irish Stew Is Made | DW Food

Sep 9, 2023 | Irish stew is Ireland's hearty national dish and a symbol of Irish comfort food, cherished for its simplicity and wholesome flavors. In this video, we'll show you how this slow-cooked dish is made, how to choose the right ingredients and which kind of meat you should use. Dave Power, head Chef at The Boxty House, will show you his tricks.

Jamón Ibérico - How the Most Expensive Ham in the World Is Made | Food Secrets | DW Food

Jan 9, 2021 | Did you know that a single leg of ham can cost up to $13,000? That’s the world record for the highest price ever paid for one Jamón Ibérico. Iberian ham is one of the most expensive meats in the world. On average, one ham of the highest quality costs around $500,00. It takes three to 14 years for the ham to mature perfectly. But the taste is worth the effort put into it: It’s said that one leg alone of the Spanish delicacy has seven different flavors.

Köttbullar: How to Make Real Swedish Meatballs

Aug 26, 2023 | IKEA may have made them famous all over the world, but köttbullar existed before the furniture store was founded. Swedish meatballs are usually served with a special sauce, mashed potatoes, cucumber salad and lingonberries. We travelled to Gothenburg to learn more about the recipe of Sweden's national dish. But do they really come from Sweden? Let's find out.

DW Food: White Asparagus Recipe from Germany | German Food Made Easy | DW Food

May 6, 2020 | People in Germany love asparagus, especially white asparagus! This vegetarian asparagus recipe is the classic way in which Germans prepare their asparagus, or “Spargel” as they call it – without meat though. As white asparagus is not as easy to source as its green relative, DW Food reporter Max Merrill also explains how to make a delicious salad with green asparagus, rocket and strawberries. Here’s the recipe.

How This French Company Takes Butter to Another Level

May 20, 2023 | Butter is a fairly simple product. All you need is good milk, some time and a couple of steps to turn the milk into butter. But how can you make it even better? This is where French company “Le Beurre Bordier” comes into play. Using a special technique, they make a special type of butter which is sought after by gourmets around the world. Here’s how they do it.

Traditional French Ratatouille? Do It Yourself! with This Easy-to-follow Recipe | A Typical Dish

Feb 25, 2023 #ratatouille #howtocook #frenchcuisine Ratatouille is made only from vegetables and is said to have been served for the first time in the 18th century, in Nice, Southern France. We travelled to Provence to meet Viktorija Todorovska. She works at cooking school Les Petits Farcis and shows you how to prepare traditional ratatouille.

CREDITS:
Report: Gönna Ketels
Camera: Robert Richter
Edit: Josi Funck

How France's Most Famous Cheese Is Made | Food Secrets

May 22, 2021 | Camembert, the famous white mold cheese is only a real Camembert if it was produced in Normandy, Northern France. There’s even a village called Camembert in the region – and it’s said that the cheese finds its origins nearby. During the French Revolution in 1791, farmer Marie Harel is said to have hidden a priest on her farm. In return, he revealed the secrets of cheese-making to her. That’s just the legend, though – here comes the true secret of French Camembert!

Why German Beer Is So Special | Food Secrets

Oct 30, 2021 | Germany’s beer is famous all around the world. There are between 6000 and 8000 different varieties of German beer, yet they’re all made from the same four ingredients – water, malt, hops, and yeast.

That’s no coincidence, it’s the law! The Reinheitsgebot – Germany’s beer purity regulations – came into effect in 1516 in Bavaria. The southern-German state is home to around half of all the country’s breweries. Of those, around half again are located in Franconia.

The Germans sure love their beer – it’s likely the most popular beverage in the land. The average German drinks some 100 liters of it every year. Intake definitely increases when the Oktoberfest – Germany’s largest festival – is held in Munich. Only two nations drink more beer than Germany; Austria and Czechia.

German master brewer Isabella Mereien, hops farmer Theresa Eisenrieder, and beer sommelier Markus Raupach explain how German beer is made, and how it became such a big deal here.

Report: Ruben Kalus
Camera: Marco Borowski/Rossi Kreuger
Edit: Frederik Willmann
Supervising editor: Elke Schwabor: Elke Schwab

What Makes Real Champagne So Expensive | Food Secrets | DW Food

Dec 11, 2021 | Vintage Champagne or Cuveé, Brut, Semi-Sec, Sec, Grand Cru or Premier Cru, Blanc de blancs, Blanc de Noir, Rosé. All of the above made Marlene Dietrich feel like every day was a Sunday. Napoleon saw it both as a victory treat and a well needed consolation prize after a defeat.

Champagne is the epitome of France's bubbly pleasure. France without champagne would be like Paris without the Eiffel Tower. Worldwide, the upscale liquid is synonymous with luxury and festivity.

The small region of Champagne is the only place in the world that can legally produce Champagne wine. Laurence Ployez, winemaker, and cellar master, tells us the secrets of Champagne: how the special flavors characteristic for this golden liquid are extracted out of the grapes and what is important in the production process. The historian of champagne Patrick Demouy reveals how the champagne was invented. And how to best enjoy the excellent taste experience with its numerous flavors explains the chef Stéphane Rossillon.

Report: Regina Niedenzu
Camera: Dirk Rensmann
Editing: Dirk Rensmann

How to Make Authentic Fried Mussels | Moules frites

Apr 15, 2023 | Moules frites are quite a simple dish - but they make Belgian hearts beat faster. Along with waffles, chocolates, and beer, this dish is the embodiment of Belgian cuisine. We'll show you the basic recipe and most important steps, how fries are prepared in Belgium, and how to check the quality of fresh mussels. Bon appetit !

CREDITS:
Report: Rosie Birchard Camera: Adriaan De Loore
Edit: Adriaan De Loore
Supervising editor: Ruben Kalus

A Guide to Spain's Famous Snack Culture

Apr 8, 2023 | Spain without tapas? Simply inconceivable! These little appetizers are found in seemingly endless varieties across Spain. But what do you need to know about Spanish tapas? Let’s find out.

CREDITS:
Report: Diana Piñeros Camera: Jochen Bartelt
Edit: Nora Rehn

How a French Brewery Creates One of the Best Beers In the World

Dec 17, 2022 | Which countries are known for their beers? Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic - and France? Yes, the French created some international award-winning beers in recent years. We show you how the Cap d'Ona brewery from the south of France created the world's best dark beer in 2022.

Hungarian Goulash Is Trickier Than You'd Ever Imagine

Dec 3, 2022 | Hungairans are proud of their delicious goulash. But many people have a completely wrong idea about the traditional dish. And besides that it is REALLY tricky to master it. Meet some experte in all things goulash and you will learn how to make the perfect one.

Traditional Zurich Ragout – One Of Switzerland’s Most Well-known Dishes

Zürcher Geschnetzeltes [Hochdeutsch] / Züri-Gschnätzlets [ Schweizerdeutsch / Schwyzertüütsch]
Oct 29, 2022 | Zürcher Geschnetzeltes is the classic king of Zurich cuisine, though it's a dish with a relatively short history. It was only in a 1947 Swiss cookbook that the terms 'Zürich' and 'Geschnetzeltes' (or 'sliced') paired up for the first time – at the time without the mushrooms that are these days a must. These days, the dish can be found on the menu of almost every home-style Swiss restaurant. [And many fine-dining restaurants, too.]

Zürcher Geschnetzeltes is typically made with veal fillet, mushrooms, butter, shallots, white wine, bouillon, cream, sauce stock, and a little cognac. Veal kidneys are an optional addition. The meat is seared briefly, and then kept warm while a sauce is prepared from the other ingredients, which is finally puréed. This is then poured over the meat, and the whole dish is then typically served with rösti – [Swiss] potato pancakes.

Report: Jens von Larcher
Camera: Dirk Frenkel
Edit: Eva Luenig


For those that are interested in language, the name of this dish comes from the verb ,schnetzeln’, which means to cut into fine strips. (Fleisch in dünne Streifen schneiden.)

The past participle of the verb ‚schnetzeln‘ is ,geschnetzelt’. Hence the name of the dish Zürich Geschnetzeltes. – Mark

Traditional Spanish Tortilla - The Dish Every Spanish Child Grows up with | DW Food

Aug 13, 2022 In Spain, they're eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner - the Spanish Tortilla. Children and grown-ups alike love them. And they are on every menu. Close to 35,000 tons of ready-made tortillas are eaten every year. In Barcelona, we visited a traditional Truiteria - which is Catalan for Tortilleria - to find out the secrets behind this dish.

Credits:

Report: Regina Niedenzu
Camera & Edit: Dirk Rensmann