I do not talk about it a lot but the truth is, I have brutal social anxiety. Getting to know me is just about impossible, especially since I spent the last six years staying in my home at least eight months of the year. It is very important to me to break out of this anti-social habit and “get out there” which, I am happy to say, I did last night.
Thanks to the Meetup Group Food Bloggers I found out that a group of people were going for the German Pork Buffet and Beer at Deutsches Haus, located at 4875 Victoria Drive.
I had been curious about this place since the first time I lived in Vancouver over eight years ago. A giant rustic building with tons of character, I had always wondered what the food would be like?
Of course I was worried at first about camera etiquette. I noticed nobody took out their cameras to take photos of the food or the building. We all decided to go for the buffet and sat down to eat when I discovered I was only one of two bloggers there.
When I went for my second helping of food, I asked if it was OK to take a photograph and they all said go for it. Phew! So you get to see some of the food. There was goulash (which I bastardized by putting spaetzle in it, LOL), sausages, braised cabbage, sauerkraut, ribs, schnitzel… What hearty food! There was a token salad but everyone, including myself, walked right by the greens and delved into the hot German food.
It had been a very cold and rainy day. I honestly did not think that I was going to be able to eat a lot of food but it was such warming rustic German comfort food, I surprised myself by wanting seconds. Having good company also helped of course but I passed on the beer.
I walked home which was a bit of a challenge after all that food but very satisfying. All the way home I obsessed, wondering if I made an ass out of myself. Starting a new life here in Vancouver with very few personal contacts is challenging and making new ones? Downright painful for me.
I almost backed out of going. To stay in the comfort of our new apartment and make spicy noodles while watching TV almost won but I reminded myself that once I had the chance to meet the world again, I had promised myself I would do it. Meetup Group Food Bloggers made it so much easier.
Good for you Suzie! Embrace your new life in BC!
I’m not much of a mingler myself but you’re right — that’s the only way to meet new people and it’s SO important to do when living in a new city! Despite my German-Swiss background, I’m not really all that fussy about German food. Too heavy and kinda dull. But, having said that, I do love spaetzle. When I was a kid, my Mom would make it once in a while as a special treat. Do you know that “spaetzle” means “little sparrows” in German? Yeah, less appetizing once you know that, amiright?
It is heavy Debra, you’re right! We all noticed that at the dinner. Oh wow, no, I didn’t know that spaetzle meant little sparrows, that’s adorable!