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I live in Northern Illinois. We have a decent German restaurant in Rockford. There are some in Chicago, and a small town in Wisconsin, New Glarus, has a hotel with a fine little restaurant. Other than that it's kind of sparse for that cuisine. If you live close to Anaheim and can go back there readily, be sure to have spaetzle with your next meal. I just love it.

The first time I had gansbraten in Germany I didn't know what it was. But I ordered it anyway (it was Christmas and I wanted something other than the usual schnitzel). They came out with half a roast goose, dumplings, the works. Boy, was I in heaven.

When I was young we'd have relatives over after church on Christmas Eve. My mom would make a bowl of zultz (headcheese), served with warm pumpernickel, and an uncle would bring spickganz; breast of goose marinated in a brine for a week or more, then smoked for as long. It was served cold, bright and pink; a Pommern delicacy (which is where my maternal side is from). What a treat!