I’m a big fan of this headline because of the E. L. Konigsburg-ian sort of name implied. As if there was a person called Currywurst V. Schnitzel and we’re debating something related to that person. That would be great. That’s not what’s happening here. We are debating Currywurst v. Schnitzel. The two great German foodstuffs.
It all started innocently enough. Our own Adrian Clarke is in Germany for some sort of huge goth affair and has been giving us updates on cars he’s seen and his eating habits. Leading to:
Those are indeed fighting words. Currywurst, if you were unfamiliar, involves cutting up little sausages and topping it with curry ketchup in order to make the German equivalent of a hot dog but somehow less healthy. I imagine if you cut up one of the giant sandworms in the book ‘Dune’ you’d end up with something that looked and tasted roughly like Currywurst (sans the psychedelic navigation powers).
Weiner Schnitzel, i.e. Schnitzel in the style of Vienna, is a simple and sublime food that’s similar to a fried pork cutlet or, if you’re in Iowa, a pork tenderloin. It comes in various styles, traditionally made with veal but also made with pork (in my mind the pork version is better). It is a crispy pillow of tenderized meat and a perfect meal for any occasion.
For the record: Jagerschnitzel, or hunter’s schnitzel, is made with a mushroom sauce and Rahmschnitzel, named for former Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel, involves a cream sauce.
If you’re wondering, rouladen is a dish of rolled beef (the roulades) filled with bacon, onions, mustard simmered in a rich gravy.
Thomas makes a terrible argument here and I correct him:
Just for the record, here is Sade:
And here is Boot Scootin’ Boogie:
[Editor’s Note: I’d like to amend my statement above: The other German fast-food, and in my opinion the GOAT, is Leberkässemmel mit Senf. So good, so unbelievably cheap. -DT]
Jason is correct. Volkswagen made its own Currywurst and Curry Ketchup, making it one of the most popular Volkswagen items in the parts catalog.
Anyway, this is an important debate. Please let me know below your thoughts so we can keep working.
Where’s the poll?
They have the technology. They have the capability to make the world’s first Currywurst vs Schnitzel poll.
Hang on, this is horses for courses surely.
Do we need to decide if a 100 series LandCruiser is better than an Ariel Atom?
If The Autopian stands for anything, it is that all wonderful things should be celebrated.
A currywurst from an imbiss at 0300? A sit down schnitzel mit pommes at 1700, prior to the drinking that leads to said currywurst? Both sublime.
There is no need for debate, just appreciation.
Well said! Well said!
Just wanted to share that we named our dachshunds (Dackel) Jaeger and Schnitzel
Also – the park distinction is indicated by the name: Wiener Schnitzel = veal, Schnitzel Wiener Art = pork. Schnitzelreinheitsgebot.
Döner is German. Calling it Turkish is like calling tomato sauce South American because tomatoes came from the new world
these are excellent dog names, good sir
“Mit senf” is one of the few remaining phrases I still remember from high school German.
Mit senf is usually said immediately after ordering any “red” wurst, ie; “ein Rotter mit senf.”
Team rouladen for the win! It is the best. Although my mother always put a pickle spear in them.
My wife prepares Roulanden about twice a month. Served with “salzkartoffeln” (boiled potatoes) or kartoffeln salat. One of my favourites, especially the dark brown gravy.
This debate happened at 3am Aussie time so I didn’t get to weigh in.
I have had currywurst in Germany and it was great, but it’s not exactly easy to find here in rural Australia so I’m going to have to go with the ‘Snitty’.
David tried multiple different snittys while he was here and loved them all, even if they weren’t all that traditional German.
Also appropriate: https://youtu.be/1LGM82uPuvA
All I want and all I need! I was hoping that was the linked song
OK, that is an awesome song!
I’ve never had currywurst, but seeing how I’m not a fan of hotdogs or sausages, I don’t think curry ketchup would help.
So Schnitzel for me.
I like them both. But Jagerschnitzel – the veal version, please – is ethereal. The sadly closed Cafe Steinhoff here in Park Slope made an excellent rendition.
I had Hanschenschnitzel (chicken) in Vienna years ago and it was tasty, but never found it here.
There is a plastic squeeze bottle of curry ketchup in my fridge.
Also, my first boss, a Swede, told me the proper yest for a Wienerschnitzel is you should be able to sit on it wearing a tailcoat and get a grease stain. Since the Austrians out-German the Germans, that sounds about right.
Steinhoff was great! I used to live on 5 minutes from there. I was sad to hear that they closed.
When I was an exchange student in Germany 2.3 billion years ago, after school we would stop by the Schnellimbiss for (IIRC) grilled wurst mit Senf and pommes frites. That to me is German fast food – it’s right there in the name! 🙂
Edit: that was southern Germany, in the Stuttgart area.
Currywurst and a nice light german beer combine to form the ultimate hangover cure, case closed for me.
I was on Team Schnitzel until I read Thomas’ final argument, and I’m now grudgingly on Team Currywurst.
Well, that’s a lie. I’ve always been, and always will be, on Team Doner. Yes it’s Turkish, but for some reason it’s so much better in Germany than in other non-Turkey countries.
That’s because there are so many Turks in Germany! But actual Turkish food (including Doner) – OMG it’s amazing. When I was stationed in Turkey, some of the guys who worked for me had been there for years and had never eaten off-base!. The first day I was in-country, I marched off base, had a wonderful meal, got the squirts for a few days and was thereafter inoculated and free to enjoy the cuisine. Turkey is a gastronomical wonderland with so many influences from so many cultures. If you’re ever there, pig out! (Just take it easy on any non-fermented dairy products – brucellosis is a thing and it can be very serious.)
Why dont we have both? When I was in Germany, I probably OD’ed on both options.
In all honesty, good schnitzel is probably better, but there are a lot of places that make BAD schnitzel (mainly too dry). Currywurst doesn’t generally have that problem.
Since we’re talking cars, right? (…right?), there exists a car representative of a currywurst, while I’m not aware of a schnitzel-car. So there’s that.
Team Schnitzel, 100%. I like currywurst but mention schnitzel and my eyes light up and I start doing a little dance.
When presented with a menu at a German restaurant, 9 times out of 10 I’m going for Wiener schnitzel ala Holstein with spaetzle and red cabbage. Maybe Jaeger schnitzel if they know how to to it right.
And let me tell you why.
It’s the one German dish my mom rarely makes because she doesn’t like frying things. Sauerbraten, rouladen, klopse, various sausages, kassler rippchen, et al…if I want that, I’m showing up at my parents house.
Team schnitzel
They’re both great, but I agree with the sentiment that Currywurst is more of a fast food and a great snack. Currywurst mit Pommes is delicious, especially in Berlin, but I used to also get very good stuff when I was living in Frankfurt. Schnitzel is also delicious, but the best Schnitzel is the Frankfurter Schnitzel which is a normal Schnitzel with Grüne Soße. I will be in Frankfurt on Tuesday and am looking forward to eating one for dinner.
Having been to Germany and eaten both, I’d have to say I’m on team Currywurst, even if Schnitzel is a better dinner food. Currywurst is much more flexible in terms of a when/where you eat it kinda food.
I have strong opinions about your example of Sade’s Smooth Operator as makeout music. How can you possibly swap tongues while listening to that song?!? As soon as the line “coast to coast LA to Chicago” goes by it would completely kill the mood, tongues would retract, petting would lighten up, and you both would pull apart wondering if you actually heard what you think you heard…because everybody knows that LA to Chicago is not the definition of coast to coast.
Oh, and I’m equally fond of both currywurst and schnitzel. Depends on if I want something heavy or light I suppose.
To be fair, I did have this thought at one point. It’s definitely not the two coasts I normally think about.
See, if we were making out right now this would have completely derailed it.
Sade’s “Smooth Operator” as makeout music? Where are we making out? In a Home Depot after dusk?
Anything regularly played on “Muzak” is instantly disqualified as a makeout track.
“Arch Enemy” or “Ballroom Thieves”! That’s makeout music.
Making out?? I can’t recall when my wife and I last made out. Perhaps this is a sign.
Team food, but I prefer non curry to curry, in general.
Where’s the poll at the bottom?
This deserves a proper vote.
They both have their place. I mean, they’re both ways of ingesting calories, but schnitzel, especially Jägerschnitzel, is just sublime. There is no better comfort food than a plate of Jägerschnitzel mit spätzle, mmmmmmm. The only advantage of Currywurst is that it can be eaten on the run, while schnitzel really must be enjoyed in a dark old Bavarian gasthaus with a stein of bier.
Schnitzel is clearly superior. Also, it has more variants, whereas currywurst is singular.
You have the classic Weiner, the ubiquitous pork, then all manner of sauced versions like Jägerschnitzel.
Also, try a squeeze of lime on your schnitzel because lime>lemon
I’m on team schnitzel. Currywurst is ultramegaokay.
Did Laurence weigh in on this? I recall some surprisingly good schnitzel in Australia.
Edit: team schnitzel for me, but in fairness, currywurst isn’t that crazy different from the U.S. party meatballs thing that people serve in crockpots.
Schnitzel absolutely wins. Currywurst is nasty. Your mileage may vary. The best is the “schnitzel, spaetzle, pretzel special” – that’s my happy meal!
Sgt. Schultz prefers schnitzel, got to agree he looks like a man who knows food
Not sure if I trust Sgt. Schultz. From what I hear, he knows nahsing.
Thats just what he wants you to think. Lol