Linda Tripp opens authentic German market in Middleburg

Zwire ^ | 12/22/05

[areafiftyone]

12/20/2005

	The bratwurst served at Weihnachts Markt is authentic German sausage.

Weihnachts Markt is a traditional German Christmas market plunked down along the Middleburg's main drag.

Middleburg resident Linda Tripp (yes, of Clinton scandal fame) and her husband, German architect Dieter Rausch, are serving up bratwurst and other German delights to hungry, if not curious, passersby.

Weihnachts Markt

Where: In the garden of The Noble House, 101 W. Washington St., Middleburg

When: Daily, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., through December, except Christmas Day.

Offerings: Bratwurst, 'weisswurst,' stollen, hot apple cider, nuts and various German confections

Contact: (540) 687-3665 or http://www.christmassleigh.com



Bratwurst for the holidays

Longtime sweethearts Tripp and Rausch were married last year. They split their time between Middleburg and Germany, where they also have a home.

The couple opened their "magical" little house of treats three years ago. They took last holiday season off, much to the chagrin of many loyal patrons, and reopened for a second season this year.

Weihnachts, which means "Christmas" in German, is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day during December except Christmas Day. It closes for the season after New Year's Day.

"People love it," Tripp said, peeking out from under a wide-brimmed hat. "They come from far and wide."

She added that customers have traveled all the way from New York for a taste of their authentic German bratwurst, which comes directly from a German butcher.

True German bratwurst is much longer and skinnier than what people are used to here in the United States. The sausage hangs off both ends of the bun and it's never topped off with sauteed onions and peppers -- that's an American tradition.

Lederhosen-wearing Rausch, who moved here from Frankfurt, Germany four years ago, smothers his bratwurst in yellow mustard from a large ceramic canister.

Germans dip the bun in mustard and eat it on the side instead of as a sandwich, Tripp said.

She gobbles down "weisswurst," a white sausage typical of Munich that's boiled, not grilled.

Besides sausage, Weihnachts offers hot mulled apple cider; stollen (a rich bread-like cake sometimes containing dried citrus peel, dried fruit, nuts and spices); toasted and chocolate-covered almonds; bottled water, sodas and a variety of other German confections.

Rausch designed and built the tiny, red-and-green market house that's decked out for the season in festive greenery, lights and ornaments. A black, red and yellow German flag hangs outside on the gate.

Look for Weihnachts Markt on the grassy patch in front of The Noble House (101 W. Washington Street), just beyond the intersection of Washington and Madison streets heading west.

It's kitty-cornered from Tripp and Rausch's year-round Christmas store, The Christmas Sleigh.

In the future, Tripp said she hopes to operate several more miniature holiday houses around town, and perhaps in Leesburg. Her hope is to bring German holiday traditions home to the United States.

E-mail the reporter: bbo

[areafiftyone]

DRAT THIS POST IS MAKING ME HUNGRY!

[exile]

"I'll know they're really authentic if the fries come only with either mayonnaise or curry-ketchup. Anyway, I'm hungry now."

Yeah fries with mayo rock. I don't know why it hasn't taken off here. They look at me like I'm a mental patient when I ask for mayo packets at McDonalds.

[jjmcgo]

Monica Lewinsky, Linda Tripp and probably several others are alive today because Tripp had the wisdom to tape Lewinsky's confessions.
Tripp was the last person to see Vince Foster alive.
I never saw anyone so unfairly trashed by the media, but they had to do all they could for their boy Bill.
What they did to Linda Tripp was disgusting.

[Dante3]

I wonder if they have the real black pumpernickle. I once got and it tasted great but have never been able to find it again.

[peyton randolph]

"She gobbles down 'weisswurst,' a white sausage..."

Wonder if Monica taught her that trick. ;-)

[bmwcyle]

I'll stop by her place tomorrow.

[RexBeach]

Oops. The Commonwealth of Virginia. Middleburg, geographically, is quite beautiful. It's out in the so-called "hunt country". It's only about 60 miles or so from DC.

[dmz]

We used to have a fine one in Baltimore, Haussner's, but it closed a few years back.

I will have to say, though, that on the haute cuisine scale, German food might be a few rungs down from the top of the ladder.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

How about Pom Frites.....Germany has the best french fries in the world...now I am hungry

[bmwcyle]

ping

[reagan_fanatic]

I was born in Wisconsin, so I'm used to the American version - thick and squatty, served on an over sized roll after being simmered with beer & onions and grilled on low heat.

I'm drooling so badly my keyboard is soaked. Oh, how I miss Summertime and a nice, juicy rack of beer brats on the outdoor grill!

[kkalman]

For the best wurst in the Dallas (TX) area, go to Kuby's
Sausage House at 6601 Snider Plaza in Dallas. Deli loaded
with German goodies and sweets.

[ElkGroveDan]

I bet she would do a brisk business if she also sold Monica Lewinsky handbags.

[ElkGroveDan]

Linda Tripp is a beautiful, courageous lady. I hope she is very happy.

We all agree she's courageous, but let's not overdo it.

[loreldan]

That may be authentic Bratwurst, but one doesn't eat authentic Bratwurst in a hot dog bun. One of my favorite memories of growing up is strolling throught the local Weihnachtsmarkt eating Bratwurst in Brötchen (only one end of the bratwurst sticks out, there's only one hole in Brötchen) with the smell of Gluwein in the air and the local choir singing German carols. I'm hungry.

[tfecw]

If it has a Bäckerei I may consider a move ;)

[linda_22003]

She's a lot better looking since the plastic surgery.

[Dark Skies]

She's made quite an improvement in herself...

[Rapscallion]

God bless her. She is a hero and deserves good things.

[areafiftyone]

Yes she does. Also Congrats on her wedding too. Looks like things are turning around for her big time. Glad to see it. She's been thru so much! God Bless her!