Many Americans consider macaroni and cheese to be the ultimate comfort
food, but Germany’s spin on this American favorite blows boxed noodles
and powdered cheese out of the water. Starting with spätzle, short
and fat egg noodles with the consistency of gnocchi, Speisekammer adds
mounds of gooey asiago and Parmesan cheese. Caught in a net of melting
strings, the noodles cling to the fork in a way that turns watery, neon
Kraft cheese green with envy. Slippery, dark-brown caramelized onions
provide a sweet counterpoint to the salty cheese, which leaves you with
a steaming-hot plate of starch, salt, and sugar. A half-portion of
gratinierte käsespätzle will set you back $6.75
but is heavy and rich enough to be considered a solid meal — even
in its reduced size. However, just in case you need a little extra
comfort in your comfort food, an additional $2 completes the dish with
a pile of Black Forest Ham. Aside from combining meat and cheese
— always a winning pair — the ham gives the spätzle a
smoky flavor and adds a touch of firmness to the otherwise soft dish.
Now that’s comfort food.
Best Spätzle
Speisekammer
