Around Düsseldorf & Cologne: The “Bergische Kaffeetafel” as a culinary highlight for foodie travellers.

The so-called “Bergische Kaffeetafel” in the German city of Mettmann is featured in a single entry on Wikipedia. Researching about our trip to Mettmann, I also read astounding words such as “Muckefuck” or “Dröppelminna”, words that even make a native German speaker like me look up in wonder. How to explain this to my English-speaking friends ..?!

“Just take a seat & relax“, local lady Yasmin tells us laughing, warmly welcoming us to the museum of local history in the small town of Mettmann. Yasmin is visibly pleased by the arrival of so many interested guests following the motto #nl4blogger, promoting the German “Neanderland” for visitors. “Our afternoon tea and coffee time, you must know, is really being celebrated. The coffee dispenser you can see here is called Dröppelminna, welcoming you to enjoy the coffee ‘drop by drop’ as in the old days”, Yasmin explains. The history of this local ceremony, known as the “Bergische Kaffeetafel“, spans many centuries and does not lack a good deal of foodlover delights either. Served on precious porcelain plates, we are spoiled to a kind of sweet bread with raisins, instructed to top it with rice pudding (!), cinnamon as well as several types of jams. Cream cheese and rye bread provide a more savoury alternative too, apples and maple leafs underline the festive autumn season here in Mettmann.

“Our so-called Bergische Kaffeetafel is like a fourth meal during the day, celebrated around the famous ‘afternoon tea time'”, Yasmin continues to explain. “Here at the Alte Bürgermeisterei of the city of Mettmann, we have made it our responsibility to proudly showcase our living traditions and encourage visitors to explore everything the surrounding Neanderland has to offer.”

Die Bergische Kaffeetafel ...

The “Bergische Kaffeetafel” in the city of Mettmann near Cologne and Düsseldorf …

 

… ist ein herzhaftes, kulinarisches Erlebnis.

… is really worth the culinary journey, for both the sweet & savoury tooth alike.

 

Hier genießen die "Blogger des Neanderland" unter dem Hashtag #nl4blogger ...

Enjoying the “Bergische Kaffeetafel” foodlover coffee table #nl4blogger in Mettmann …

 

… und lernen auf heitere Art und Weise, was beispielsweise eine "Dröppelminna" (Kaffeekanne) wie hier auf dem Bilde ist ...

… and learning how to use a “Dröppelminna” (local coffee pot).

 

Having just arrived from my book launch event in London, I seize the opportunity of handing my friend Janett a brand-new copy of "The Creative Traveler's Handbook" ...

Having just arrived from my book launch event in London, I seize the opportunity to hand my friend Janett a brand-new copy of “The Creative Traveler’s Handbook” here in Mettmann …

 

… und mich von der Atmosphäre hier in Mettmann sowie dem Stadtgeschichtemuseum verzaubern zu lassen.

… and let myself become enchanted by the beautiful atmosphere of the local history museum.

 

Check out even more pictures explaining what a “Bergische Kaffeetafel” as well as the so-called Neanderland around the cities of Cologne & Düsseldorf is. Dig in & enjoy your meal!

 

Apart from visiting Mettmann, we enjoy the time with our friends sharing some of their personal Cologne & Düsseldorf highlights with us. Or did you know that Düsseldorf, for instance …

… boasts an incredibly creative variety of local street art graffiti? The Ackerstraße and Kiefernstraße especially are full of them, with the Kiefern street featuring tremendous paintings over the walls of every single house. What is more, we actually get to meet an Irish squatter from the 80s, now calling Düsseldorf and Kiefernstraße home, relating all of this and the area’s history to us in fluent German. Not even Janett, my friend and local street art graffiti guide, could have imagined such a happy chance meeting … Check this out.

Düsseldorf MAL anders ...

The city of Düsseldorf from another kind of perspective …

 

… mit lokalen Schönheiten in Hauseingängen ...

… featuring local beauties near town flats …

 

… und der Frage: Wer raubt in Zeiten wie diesen wen aus?

… and the critical question in society these days: Who is robbing who?

 

Darauf erst mal ein Bier - Düsseldorfer Alt-Bier muss es sein ...

To that, we toast with a beer – typical ALT-BIER from Düsseldorf it is …

 

… bevor die amüsante Erkundung der deutschen Metropole ...

… before the interesting discovery of the German metropolis …

 

… Kraft ihrer unglaublichen Ausdrucksfreiheit in der modernen Hausfassadengestaltung weitergeht: In diesem Kinderclub wäre ich auch gerne gegangen!

… continues with views like these: I would have loved to join a kids’ club like this when I was young!

 

;)

😉 “Damn sexy Flingern”, the part of Düsseldorf city we are in.

 

Zu guter Letzt darf eine Fahrt mit dem Riesenrad von Düsseldorf ...

Last but not least, check out this ferris wheel of Düsseldorf …

 

… sowie der ersten Glühweinrunde am Rhein natürlich nicht fehlen.!

… where we had to come down and celebrate with a first cup of Glühwein in hand.! Cheers to Düsseldorf for welcoming us in this way!

 

Cologne offered us some more lovely weekend travel tips, especially now during the time of the “Indian summer” …

“Such a beauty”, I find myself taking picture after picture of the colour display in the local forests. It does remind me of the magic we found at the foothills of the Pyrenees, only two weeks ago, hiking in northeastern Catalonia.

Then again, as a kind of juxtaposition, we look up in awe at the mighty Dome of Cologne, as well as the thousands of love locks at the Hohenzollern bridge. “How much may they weigh by now?”, we muse, happily enjoying the quiet autumn strolls and downtime together …

Vom Land rund um Köln ...

From the countryside around the city of Cologne …

 

… bis zum Zauber der Großstadt Köln zur Herbstzeit ...

… to the magic of the city during the autumn period …

 

… ist es nur ein kurzer Weg ...

… it certainly is, an easy guarantee…

 

… über die berühmte Hohenzollernbrücke voller Liebesschlösser.

… to fall in love with what both city & countryside have to offer.

 

Wir genießen die Wanderungen und Zeit mit Freunden ...

We enjoy our time hiking, chatting with friends …

 

… sowie den prächtigen Sonnenuntergang bei überraschend milden Temperaturen. Herz, was willst Du mehr?

… and watching one of the prettiest sunsets of recent times: Just lovely, is all I can say.

 

Disclaimer: We have been invited to join the “Bergische Kaffeetafel” as part of our local exploration of the German Neanderland. All opinions are my own.

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