Heilig-Geist-Spital, Nuremburg

I've been doing some Spring cleaning...late Spring cleaning.
I must tell you that cleaning is a slow process for me. It is slow because I always get distracted by the forgotten things I dig up. Instead of cleaning, I end up spending my day relishing in the memories that these lost-and-then-found treasures bring me.

My latest find was a pile of wonderful German restaurant menus I had taken home with me from my trip to Nuremburg. Yes, I always ask before taking.

Nuremburg may be a small city by North American standards, but it is Franconia's largest city. It is also a city with a lot of history, dating back to the middle ages. It was the location where the Nazi German leaders tribunals took place, and it was also home for Albreicht Dürer, famous German artist and theorist.

One of the places I visited was Heilig-Geist-Spital. Translated as 'old hospital', this restaurant was once a hospital in the Middle Ages. It is situated over the Pegnitz River, and it has become a restaurant where tourists flock to because of its history.

As you can guess, I had a true Bavarian meal full of meat, dumplings, and lard.

To start, I had 4 grilled sausages with horseradish (4 Nurnberger Rostbratwurstchen mit Sahnemeerrettich). I grew to love the Nurberger sausages. They are tiny, which means you can eat, I don't know...say eight of them without feeling too guilty. These suckers may be small, but they are packed with a lot of flavor.

Four Nurnberger Sausages with Horseradish

Next was the Franconian wedding soup (Frankische Hochzeitssuppe). This was a liver dumpling and a semolina dumpling immersed in beef broth. The soup was garnished with pancake pieces. Normally, liver dumplings are served separate from semolina dumplings. When you marry the two together, you get wedding soup.

Franconian Wedding Soup

My main was the roasted pork shoulder with potato dumpling and sauerkraut (Ofenfrisches Krustenschaufele mit rohem Klosz und Sauerkraut). The pork shoulder was super tender, and the gravy was very nice.

Roasted Pork Shoulder with Potato Dumpling and Sauerkraut

Most of my mates had the sliced veal knuckle with potato dumpling (Kalbshaxenfleisch mit rohem Klosz). This was also very good.

Sliced Veal Knuckle with Potato Dumpling

One thing I never really cared for were the potato dumplings. They were the size of a softball, and it was nothing but starch with bread crumbs in the middle. Here is what the inside of a dumpling looks like:

Inside of a Potato Dumpling

My friend K had the Käsespätzle. Spatzles are little dumpling noodles that are found in German, Austrian, and Swiss dishes. Kasespatzle, specifically, is noodles with cheese and fried onions.

Käsespätzle

For dessert, I had the home made apple strudel with ice cream and whipped cream (Hausgemachter Apfelstrudel mit Eis und Sahne). This was a little too starchy for me.

Apple Strudel

My mates all had the home made apple fritters with ice cream and whipped cream (Hausgemachter Apfelkuchle mit Eis und Sahne). I ended up eating this instead of my strudel.

Apple Fritters

Heilig-Geist-Spital
Spitalgasse 16
Nuremburg, Germany
Telephone: 0911 / 221761