German Cuisine

German Cuisine dates back all the way to the 17th Century when King Fredrick II introduced the potato to German diets. They became popular in German dishes because at the time things were rough because of war, famine, disease and poverty and potatoes were easy to mass produce. At the end of World War I and II food in Germany was scarce because they became very poor because they had to pay back reparations for the wars so this led to Germany being divided into two main sections, East and West Germany.

This led to there being two styles of cooking in Germany. East Germany took on a more Russian style of cooking because they were neighbors with Russia.West Germans kept Germany’s original style of cooking which focused on creating recipes which relied on potatoes, bread and meat.. The North and South sections of Germany had their own main meals as the north favored cooking soups using ingredients such as beans, breads, cereals and rye flour.The south focused on cooking more meals that included meats (mostly sausages), potatoes and sometimes apples. One main sauce that all Germans use is called Pungent mustard. That sauce is popular with Westphalian Ham. Germans primarily eat heavy meals with large portions of bread and meats.  All these characteristics are seen in Huntsville’s German restaurants such as Ol Heidelberg Cafe.

Korean Cuisine  

Korean cuisine is heavily influenced by religion, ancient traditions and the natural environment.Because Korea is a peninsula connect to China and surrounded by three sides by the ocean, their cuisine is affected by this geography. The plains in South Korea make it a perfect area for growing rice which is a main part of most Korean food. 

Seeing how Korea is surrounded by an ocean, seafood such as squid and crabs are also a main part of their meals.The philosophy of Eumyangohaeng is the belief that food is the best medicine. Eumyangihaeng contains five colors (green,red,white,yellow and black)  that represent elements. Koreans believe that when these five ingredients are balanced, so is the body making it healthy. Korean food is often spicy as they typically use ingredients such as soy sauce, red pepper paste, garlic, bean paste, ginger and green union. Rice is very common with these meals and it includes sides of vegetables, seafood and other meats primarily being chicken and beef. Some very popular dishes would be Kimchi, Bibimbap, Juk, and Bulgogi.Huntsville has four main Korean restaurants which contains the same quality of Korean food that was just explained.

Indian Cuisine

Indian cuisine dates back over 5000 years. The cuisine is meant to be eaten socially with large groups of people. Each region of India has their own style of cuisine because of tradition, geography, culture and religion.

Muslims tend to have meat dishes, however they are not allowed to eat pork for religious purposes. Hindus are vegetarian, again for religious purposes. Food choices in India vary between the north, south, west and east regions. In the north, Indians tend to eat flatbreads with most of their meals such as naan and chapati. Southern Indians eat more rice and coconut. Western India is more diverse but is known for its spicy curries.There is mix of seafood, curry, spicy sausages, and chai tea in the area making all of these types of food common.Lastly,we have the eastern area of India.The food in this region relies heavily on rice, vegetables and milk. Dairy products are loved in this region and are used in many dishes.Sitar, Ruchi and Indian Kitchen are Huntsvillie’s 3 main Indian restaurants and they have a wide variety of Indian dishes.

Mexican Cuisine.

The origins of Mexican cuisine can be traced back to 7000 BC.This is before Mexico and Central America were colonized and were full of indiginous people who survived by gathering plants and hunting animals.The main plant they ate during this time was the wild chile pepper.Five hundred years later corn entered their diets when they began to use the process called nixtamalization which led to them creating tortillas and other breads using corn.During this time the people struggled to eat enough protein so they introduced.Corn, beans, tortillas, and chile peppers are from the indiginous people and the meats and cheese are Spanish. Together they make up today’s typical Mexican cuisine which can be found in 42 mexican restaurants in Huntsville.The three main ones being La Esquina Cocina, El Omeca and Los Mariachis.

Opening in 1972, Ol Heidelberg is one of the oldest restaurants in Huntsville. 

The authentic German food restaurant offers top their service and the staff, dressed in the popular German drendels, are always friendly.  The inside of the restaurant is covered in German style decor with original wood style tables, shelves and cabinets filled with German dishes and german knick knacks . The walls are also covered in german paintings. 

The music and warm colors such as green and brown make guests feel calmed and soothed, which helps create the feel as if the restaurant was actually set in Germany.

The menu offers an extremely wide variety of  popular German dishes, like schnitzel, Bratwurst,,  and veal. They also have fish dishes like potato flake crusted Tilapia  and Onion Crusted Grouper. Ol Heidelberg even offers a vegetarian menu as well offering other types of food like cheese, ravioli and a mushroom style schnitzel. 

I ordered Jager schnitzel which is basically a pork and gravy dish. The dish came with a choice of potatoes so I decided to go for the German potato salad. I also paid an upcharge for the cucumber salad. With a family of German descent who cook this dish regularly at home, I feel it compared to my grandmother’s version. The gravy was thick, had a good taste and the pork was tender. There is a reason it is a top-seller for the restaurant. 

But the best part is the dessert choices. When you enter Ol Heildberg you walk into the cafe before you actually enter the dining area. So when you walk in you get to see all of the cakes set out  in the display case, the cakes are not always the same so if you are looking for a dessert you have to ask what they are serving that day. Which makes the restaurant different because it’s not the same things everyday which makes the restaurant more interesting. Along with the slice of cake you order you have the option of also getting a cup of coffee along with the slice of your choosing. 

Ol Heildberg is closed on Mondays but it is always open on Tuesday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. But on the busier days of the week  they open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 9:30. If you want authentic German style food in a restaurant that feels like an authentic German restaurant then Ol heidelberg is the perfect choice for you. 

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Sitar is bringing a taste and the culture of India to Huntsville. It is located at 420 Jordan Lane and offers classic Indian dishes for those looking to taste different cultures without having to travel great distances. 

Sitar is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and opens again from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the week. The menu has over 50 selections including soups, vegetarian dishes, lamb specialities, chef specialties and Tandoori specialties. The prices are a little on the higher side, but for authentic Indian food I believe it is worth the cost.

Customers step into a restaurant full of decorations from the culture when going in to order including a sitar on the wall. The tables are all set with glasses and napkins inside as well as the blaring of Indian music to provide an authentic experience. 

I ordered two Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken) dishes and garlic naan to dip. I waited for around 20 minutes and I could tell by the way the smell of the food filled my car that the food was going to be fantastic. The total came to $39, but it is a small price to pay for delectable food.

The Butter Chicken was packaged in a clear container and it would be impossible to miss. The food was a vibrant orange which I found fascinating because I have ordered this dish from other Indian restaurants and it has always been a more dull color. The garlic naan was flavorful and covered in just about every green herb from cilantro to parsley.

The Butter Chicken had a creamy texture and was full of spice. I ordered the mild when given the choice of mild, medium and hot in fear of the spice level. I thought it had the perfect kick to it for those with a low spice tolerance, but like the flavor. The naan was by far my favorite food from the restaurant. Its texture made it easy to tear apart for a mess-free lunch. However, the combination of naan and Butter Chicken made the perfect lunch. I would relate the combo to a grilled cheese and tomato soup duo on a winter day, but I believe it is even better than that.

Although I had to get my food for carry out, I still got to enjoy the atmosphere and hope to go back to dine in to get the full experience. I will also be back to try some of their desserts including Kheer (rice pudding) and mango ice cream because I did not have the room for it. When going to Sitar, getting Butter Chicken is a must.

Making their mark, Mr.Naked Taco brings their experience to Huntsville. The restaurant is located at 2030 Cecil Ashburn Drive where they offer traditional Mexican cuisine. 

A North Alabama chain, there are six locations in the area with this specific location opening this year. The restaurant is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. for customers to try the new location for lunch or dinner.

Mr.Naked Taco is decorated in a more subtle tone compared to other Mexican restaurants, with a focus on more silver, black and gray colors. It offers booth seating for large groups or families as well as table seating. As a plus, there is usually no wait to be seated.

After finding a seat, the servers welcome you with a menu as well as your choice of drink from their selection of Pepsi products, lemonade and their traditional Aguas Frescas. The servers also bring chips and salsa to the table and can add cheese dip upon request. 

Their menu is filled with options of tacos and quesadillas along with their lunch specialties available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The lunch specialties include items such as taco plates and enchiladas, and display one of their highly recommended items. These items are spread throughout the menu and are highlighted in green to show customers some of their most popular items.

But this menu is not where the options stop because Mr.Naked Taco also has a dessert-themed section of their restaurant in the connecting section of the building. It is decorated with bright oranges, pinks and greens as a contrast to the toned-down feel of their other dining area. They serve homemade ice cream and traditional Mexican desserts for their customers to enjoy after spending time in the main dining area.

This inclusion and their prices makes Mr.Naked Taco a full course experience for people looking for a cheaper option a place to go. This can become a restaurant for everyo

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ne to return to on a regular basis.