Tag: food industry

California has 6 of the best German restaurants: Yelp

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Yelp released a list of the top 30 German restaurants across the country, and six spots in California made the list.

Yelp released a list of the top 30 German restaurants across the country, and six spots in California made the list.

Screen grab from German Guys’ Facebook

For those who are craving bratwurst, hot pretzels, sauerkraut or schnitzel, six restaurants in California are among the top spots for German food in the country, according to Yelp.

Yelp released its “top 30 German eateries worth traveling to this winter,” and restaurants and delis across the state made the Nov. 30 list, including in Big Bear Lake, Palm Desert, Calimesa, Orange, Stockton and Campbell.

To find the top German restaurants in the US, Yelp identified businesses in the German category and ranked them based on the total volume and ratings of reviews.

The Old German Deli —Big Bear Lake

A small resort city in Southern California is home to one of the top German spots in the United States.

The Old German Deli serves sandwiches, soups, bratwurst and other sausages.

“After eating here, I now understand why there are so many 5-star reviews. The sausages are SO tasty and served on perfectly-toasted buns along with some delightful sides,” one Yelp reviewer wrote.

Sides include sauerkraut, potato salad, potato soup, or split pea soup (only if it’s winter.)

Big Bear Lake is about 100 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

Alps Village —Palm Desert

In Coachella Valley, the Alps Village is another top contender on Yelp’s list.

The family-owned restaurant offers spaetzle, pretzels, schnitzel and other popular German dishes. Yelp reviewers raved about Mama Milkas stuffed cabbage rolls, the cevapcici and the chicken paprikash.

“Great food, festive vibe, fantastic service, ice cold beer and friendly staff. It’s no wonder this place has a line out the door,” another reviewer wrote.

The restaurant is about 20 miles southeast of Palm Springs.

George’s Market — Calimesa

George’s Market, a German deli in Calimesa, was also recognized.

The grocery and deli spot is popular on Yelp for its German hot plate, pastrami sandwich and Black Forest ham.

“The pastrami is melt in your mouth tender. We go there as often as we can,” said one reviewer.

The deli also has a patio where dogs are allowed on a leash, one reviewer said.

“Decor is cute, nostalgic, and quaint. There’s inside and outside seating and you can tell that it’s a hit with the locals, seeing as it looks like everyone knows each other and with how packed the parking lot was,” another reviewer wrote.

Calimesa is about 20 miles southeast of San Bernardino.

Matter Sausage & Deli — Orange

Customers can order sandwiches at Mattern Sausage & Deli in Orange, but the deli also serves a vast selection of cold-cut meats, sausages and cheeses.

Yelp reviewers recommend ordering the salami to go or getting it in a sandwich.

“Got a pound of German salami, a poor boy sandwich, a smoked brat with Gouda and a roast beef sandwich. Brought it home and the family loved every bite,” one reviewer said.

Orange is about 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

German Guys — Stockton

In Stockton, a couple from Germany opened German Guys with the goal of serving original German recipes.

Their restaurant also made it among Yelp’s top German restaurants in the country.

And Yelp reviewers seem to agree.

“We love finding those little out of the way, family-owned places that leave you with a full tummy and a warm heart. German Guys ticked all those boxes for us,” one reviewer wrote.

Other reviewers also noted the restaurant being a bit out of the way, but worth the drive.

“You drive and drive, and then just when you’re sure you’re lost and doomed to live in your car … it’s on the left. TOTALLY WORTH IT! I’d drive twice as far for this food,” another reviewer wrote.

Dishes on the dinner menu include a wide list of schnitzel, including lemon schnitzel and the gipsy schnitzel with a creamy tomato, onion and sweet bell pepper sauce.

Stockton is about 50 miles south of Sacramento.

Naschmarkt — Campbell

A Bay Area restaurant in Campbell also made Yelp’s top German spots in the country. But Naschmarkt’s main cuisine is Austrian.

“Naschmarkt has been a new Modern European staple in downtown Campbell for numerous years, and it is one of the best if not better spots on Campbell Ave,” one reviewer wrote.

Like other restaurants on Yelp’s list, Naschmarkt also offers German staples, including pretzels, spaghetti and sausage.

Yelp reviewers recommend the Hungarian beef goulash, the apple strudel and the double cooked pork belly.

“The Beef goulash was tender, full of earthy, bright paprika and perfectly balanced with cream and a side of spaetzle,” one reviewer said.

Naschmarkt has another location in Palo Alto.

Campbell is about 8 miles southwest of San Jose.

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Food Stamp Strategies, High-Paying Side Gigs and More of Our Most-Read Money Stories of the Year

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BrianAJackson / Getty Images/iStockphoto

BrianAJackson / Getty Images/iStockphoto

With inflation surging throughout the year — reaching a 40-year high of 9.1% in June — many Americans found themselves more strapped for cash than ever. The ways they dealt with these hard economic times ranged from utilizing food stamps to purchase necessities, taking on side gigs to bring in extra money and looking for ways to reduce household bills.

Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings Tips
Take a Look Back: 2022 Year in Review

Inflation hit retires particularly hard, as many have a fixed income and finite savings, so they may have needed to spend more than they had originally budgeted to cover basic expenses. To reduce expenses, some retirees consider relocating to places with lower costs of living.

Looking back at GOBankingRates’ most-read money stories of the year, it’s clear that Americans in all phases of life were looking for ways to get by in an increasingly expensive world. Here’s a look at our top 10 money stories of 2022:

  1. Surprising Things You Can Buy With Food Stamps

  2. 5 Best Southern Cities To Retire on a Budget of $1,500 a Month

  3. 8 Purchases Retirees Almost Always Regret

  4. 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job

  5. The Best Cities With Great Weather To Retire on $2,000 a Month

  6. 9 Bills You Should Never Put on Autopay

  7. 10 Best Countries To Live on Just a Social Security Check

  8. The Best Cities To Retire on $2,000 a Month

  9. Best Cities To Retire on a Budget of $1,500 a Month

  10. Unplug These Appliances That Hike Up Your Electricity Bill

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Food Stamp Strategies, High-Paying Side Gigs and More of Our Most-Read Money Stories of the Year

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What To Eat And Drink At The Immersive LA Holiday Extravaganza That Celebrities Love

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It’s holiday time, so things are getting lit in Calabasas again.

The immersive Holiday Road event, with a nearly 1-mile walking trail featuring thousands of lights and massive installations that are correctly billed as “larger than life,” is back for its third year at King Gillette Ranch. And this family-friendly, star-studded extravaganza, which has been visited by Billie Eilish, Charlize Theron, Matt Damon, Dwayne Johnson, Jamie Foxx, Miley Cyrus, Megan Fox, Hailey Bieber, Demi Lovato, Kylie Jenner and (of course) Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian among many others, is also a terrific place to eat and drink.

Popular food trucks on Holiday Road, many of which are often booked well in advance for the holidays, including Shark Tank alums Cousins ​​Maine Lobster and Baby’s Badass Burgers. Hungry Holiday Road revelers can also grab dinner at the Vivace Pizza, Heritage LA, Salt N’ Pepper, Middle Feast, Flamin Hot Chicken and Wise Barbecue trucks. For dessert, there’s Beignet Box (cofounded by actress/singer Christina Milian) and Dreamy Creations (a two-time winner on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars).

And because Holiday Road aims to be fun for the whole family, and families include moms and dads, the bar setup is similarly impressive. Don’t be surprised if you see Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston at Holiday Road one evening. the Breaking Bad actors have their own Dos Hombres mezcal brand, which is being poured in Holiday Road’s Merry, Merry, Mezcal Paloma. Other libations that will get grown into the holiday spirit include the spiked Ho Ho Ho Cocoa, Rudolph’s Margarita and Naughty Hot Cider. There’s a 100-person VIP bar that can be reserved for private parties.

Holiday Road cofounders Ben Biscotti and Tony Schubert are veterans of the entertainment and events industry who know that food-and-beverage shouldn’t be an afterthought when you bring in big crowds for a festive gathering. Biscotti’s father (Forbes contributor Louis Biscotti) works in food-and-beverage accounting. Biscotti has family members who manage and operate hotels. So he understands the value of hospitality at both Holiday Road and also his annual Halloween-themed Nights of the Jack event at King Gillette Ranch.

“Coming from this background, the F&B and the hospitality side of these events are so important,” Biscotti says. “People think of the F&B and hospitality side as ancillary, but they’re the main focal points for us. Having quality food and beverage your family can enjoy only adds to the quality of the overall experience. So we curated a group of top-tier food trucks in LA that were booked many months in advance. They came out for us because it’s such a great experience and because of the volume of people.”

Holiday Road, which takes up about 60 acres of King Gillette Ranch, is attended by about 2,500 to 4,500 people per night. (“It’s a lot of people that come through, especially in the peak of the season, but it doesn’t ever feel overly crowded because the grounds are so expansive,” Biscotti says.) The guests often include a slew of celebrities and influencers who are taking selfies and photographing the walking trail just like the rest of the crowd.

“Being out in Calabasas was really kind of fortuitous for us because a ton of celebrities and athletes and tastemakers live between Malibu and Calabasas,” Biscotti says. “And it kind of grew organically into this destination for them. The Kardashians live a few miles away. The Rams have their training facility nearby, and a lot of players live around there. Hidden Hills is very close. We also have personal relationships with many celebrities and athletes and people who are on social media and have a lot of influence. They help move the needle. They come out, they post and tag for us. It’s really a big part of our allure out there.”

Holiday Road runs through December 30.

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