Currywurst Mit Pommes

The first time I tried Currywurst was just over six years ago on the streets of Germany in my teensy-tinsy kitchen.  I was in the throws of a lounge-chair-vacation (tell me lounge chair doesn't sound better than lawn chair), issue 101 of Saveur in my hands.  If I remember right, it was just a small article, probably only a one-pager.  But that small article was my introduction to the most popular German fast food, Currywurst.

The thought of sausage sitting in a pool of curried tomato sauce, alongside french fries, would haunt me for days.  Until I finally made it.  It continues to haunt me.  I will get random cravings for Currywurst a few times a year.  And no, they don't just go away.  I have to actually make a batch.

I've tweaked that original recipe here and there over the years to find one that is perfect (in my mind).  But the thing is, I've never tried any Currywurst but my own.   But I know in my heart of (German) hearts that it's the real deal.

Oktoberfest Pizza, with a Pumpernickel Crust and Currywurst Sauce

What do you think of when you think Oktoberfest?  Pizza...right!?  No?  Okay, me neither.  I think BEER!  But I also think bratwurst and hearty bread and lederhosen and beer wenches in puffy peasant blouses with laced up bodices and braids on each side of her head. What can I say?  It's definitely been a dream of mine for a long time to get over to Germany and celebrate it "for real' one of these years!  So, being October...and being that Joanne chose Germany as our Regional Recipes destination this year...I have Oktoberfest on the brain!

That said...I've also had pizza on my mind this month...for a couple of reasons.  One that no longer matters...and another that does.  Our flick of the month over at Food 'n Flix this month, chosen by my co-host Ree, just so happens to be Mystic Pizza! I don't think I'd actually sat down and watched that since the eighties until this month...and now I've watched it three times (and subsequently ordered and received my very own copy from swap-a-dvd)!  It's so fun seeing the likes of Vincent D'onofrio, Julia Roberts, Conchata Ferrell, and Lili Taylor 20-some years younger.