The other day, someone mentioned a
restaurant in Trechtingshausen that served ‘Wild’ (meat from wild animals –
deer, elk, rabbits, squirrel, etc.). I was told it was quite well-known and the
food was quite good – but it was only open 2 nights a week. I don’t eat ‘wild’. (In fact, I make detours
around the frozen meat department in the supermarkets here because they sell
frozen rabbit… which laid out in the plastic wrapping still looks like
rabbit!!) But, I thought it might be interesting to find the restaurant, check
out the menu, talk to the owner, etc.
Even in this tiny village, I had a hard time finding it, because I did
not have an address. (‘Oh, it’s directly on the main street.’) Turns out they
have closed completely – for quite some time now. I wonder why??
Anne, my hotelier, told me that the place
she now owns had been closed for three years before she bought it. The previous
owner’s wife had died and his son had no interest in the place, so since he did
not want to run it alone, the owner simply closed it. Anne says he is so happy
now. He visits frequently and acts like an ‘uncle’. He feels that his dream
will live on. But his story is so
typical. Mitttelstand (family–owned, small and mid-sized) companies are the
backbone of the economy, but they are having major succession problems.
Now back to the meat issue: ‘Wild’ is quite
popular here. People take hunting as well as animal and land conservation quite
seriously. I once knew a woman (an accountant) whose husband worked as a
marketing manager for a local wine cooperative, but who went hunting in the
early morning several times a week. He caught rabbits and other game (his wife
cleaned and dressed them) and sold them to local restaurants.
You can even get ‘wild’ in dog food. My dog
did not like it… a bit too gamey, I guess.
