New publication: “I love quinces”

Captain’s dinner publishes recipes in the new cookbook! Quinces are a (almost) forgotten fruit. Hardly anyone knows or uses this fruit today. Markus Wittur is committed to the preservation of ancient varieties of quince. The Franconian “Quince Savior” has published a unique and very personal recipe collection on this golden yellow fruit with a special, so beguiling scent. I’m glad that my recipes and photos are represented in this book.

Winter? Savoy cabbage!

To me, cabbage rolls belong to winter time such as asparagus and strawberries to the month of June. Savoy is full of vitamin C, iron, magnesium and vitamin B6. So all what you need to get healthy through the dark season. Let’s enjoy the winter!

Hamburg Franzbrötchen

Hamburg without Franzbrötchen? Unthinkable! 1,000 secret recipes and each tastes a little different. But they all taste like Hamburg. Shore leave without Franzbrötchen is no shoreleave. For those who do not have Hamburg in their schedules, here you get the best Franzbrötchen recipe ever.

Dumplings like on the alp!

Not just because they are that delicious, no, also because they can be prepared with leftovers (you know: “too good for the bin” and all that.) We don’t throw away a single piece of stale bread. We cut it into small cubes, let it dry and use it to prepare dumplings. And who ever was hiking in the mountains knows how tasty dumplings are on a mountain lodge. Dumplings in broth or dumplings with bacon and cole slaw like on the mountain? Let’s go

Octopus Galician style

Pulpo á la Gallega or Pulpo á feira (carnival style) is the name of this artful, but simple dish that you can eat everywhere in the streets of Barcelona’s port area. A traditional dish, which uses dried Octopus on the big festivals. Anyhow, in the bars in the “Barrio Gótico” in Barcelona’s gothic quarter, cooked Octopus is used. Our favorite shore leave place in Barcelona is the tapas bar “Celta Pulpería“. Anyone who should believe the preparation of Pulpo á feira is difficult, definitely is wrong!

Shore Leave in Barcelona

I’m sometimes asked whether a captain has time for a shore leave now and then. Yes. He does. In consultation with his deputy, the staff captain, he sometimes can enjoy a short break. However, he never moves far from the ship. Safe is safe. But a lunch at a restaurant – preferably recommended by the local pilots – is a welcome interruption of board routine or a small tour through the respective port city. Barcelona in Spain is one of his absolute favorite cities. Here you can read the captain’s shore leave recommendation: “7 hours in Barcelona”

Kids love pancakes

I would say adults too! With this pancake lasagna you certainly can’t go wrong. A simple everyday dish that can be well prepared – or kept warm for long, depending on what your day may bring. The pancake tower even is suitable for a Sunday brunch buffet…

Mushroom risotto, simple, vegetarian, delicious

Looking for a special mushrooms variety of really high quality, you will find it on the most beautiful of all Hamburg weekly markets, the Isemarkt. At the booth of Tarik Baltaci, the selection is huge. Mushrooms with fine-sounding names and wonderful flavors are waiting for the buyer: rose and almond mushrooms, cauliflower mushrooms, autumn trumpets, Pom Pom Blanc. And Tarik’s friendly and expert advice are free there! Fancy a mushroom risotto?

Pasta a la Mamma

Home-made pasta, there is nothing better. Soft wheat semolina is the magic word. I was in a small shop for Italian food. At checkout the older grumbled something grouchy, (which must be resulting from living in Northern Germany…) owner: “Pasta? You don’t figure it out anyway.” On the question of whether he was this opinion because I’m not Italian, he replied unmoved: “My wife tried for 40 years, so you will not get out even there.” Allora! Per favore!