Du, Du Spies Up Mein Live
Yes, yes, Mr. Gernot Katzer, whoever you are, YOU, you spice up my life.
So, the story. The scene: three years ago, Hamburg, the would-be in-laws, my turn to cook, “oh, but he’s zuch a goot kook,” 14 people, new years, me cooking, tagine. Out of my element, out of my country, out of my kitchen, out of my mind. I ask the future mother-in-law if she has tumeric. No dictionary, no computer. She hands me what she/we (blame is not the issue) thought was what I needed. Well, it wasn’t. It was ground saffron. It was a waste of money. It didn’t ruin the meal, but it was a bit “off.”
Moral of the story: get yourself a spice chart.
Solution: Gernot Katzer’s Spice Web Pages.
This dude is thorough, multi-lingual, obsessive, scientific and useful.
Most useful, perhaps, is the chart in 50-some languages of spices and their various names (which he also offers as a printable PDF; only 57 pages!). And for our ginormous German leserschiff, the entire website is also available auf Deutsch.
In addition to providing name comparisons, Mr. Katzer gives histories, chemistries, photographies, etymologies, “sensory qualities,” and the whole shebang. Think: mail order. (Not bride, but spice.)
(Special tanks to CH and his ruvry vife for pointing this out.)
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September 1st, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Wow. That guy is indeed obsessive. And useful. Thanks! Obviously this is his way to procrastinate – looks like his real job includes theoretical thermochemistry…
oh, and there seems to be a book due soon, as well – did you know?
http://www.buchgourmet.com/prod_details.asp?productid=19292&subcat=614
September 8th, 2007 at 1:23 am
I’m glad you find my spice site useful. I noticed in another post of yours that you complain about the quality of Chinese food in Berlin – since I also live in Berlin, I can give you a couple of recommendations for Sichuan Chinese restaurants. The best (to my teste) are both in Uhlandstraße: Tian-fu ?? in Uhlandstr 142 (a few meterst north of Hohenzollernplatz) and Tai-ji ?? in number 194, about a block north of Kantstr. Cantonese cuisine, which is less to my taste but still recommendable, is served in “Good friends” Kantstr. 30
September 8th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Gernot, I’ve heard that your site may be in danger because it costs so much to maintain. Is that true? Or have you found an “angel?”
September 10th, 2007 at 12:15 am
I have never heard about that (and I probably should have). The site costs me exactly nothing (except time, which I spend very willingly), because it’s hosted by my former university which seems able to afford the 3000+ visitors per day.