I spent Sunday night in the very fine company of Mary, Nico, Martin, and Mohini. We had cocktails at our favorite laundromat/ bar and then headed to the rustic (not rusty, a distinction we cleared up for our German friends) Kartoffelhaus, which literally translates to "potato house." We ate delicious potatoes of all sorts, including Mary's favorite, the kartoffelpuffer. The white asparagus with hollandaise sauce was especially delicious, and is a Thuringen specialty that you can only buy this time of year (Thuringia is the federal state that we are in). We finished the evening off with some special German Fischergeist, something akin to firewater. It was, in fact, on fire. We had to blow it out before drinking it. (Again, not making this up.)

From left to right, Mohini, Mary, Emily, Nico, and Martin enjoy the rustic Kartoffelhaus.

Mary's delicious Kartoffelpuffer and smoked salmon. Yummerific.

You can't tell that this digestiv is on fire, but it is. Martin is obviously excited.

Reactions to the Fischergeist...

Look at these cute little jugs! They were no more than 2 inches tall.

This weekend: Berlin for my birthday. Shake, shake, get some cake!