I’ve been following Sofie Dittman’s blog at The German Foodie for quite some time now and every time I visit, I reconfirm the decision I made not to miss a single post. Sofie is a German living in Northeast Ohio and she blogs about the authentic German food she grew up with. In addition to traditional favorites, she also comes up with some smashing recipes. The city she grew up in Germany was near the French border so she was exposed to ethnic recipes from a young age.
As you can tell from the photograph, Sofie has a wonderful sense of humor and a terrific outlook on life. With Sofie, there’s no pretense nor any desire for it.
What brought her to Ohio you ask? Like all of us who travel to where the job is, she moved to Ohio 16 years ago when her husband took a job there. She told me she’s there permanently or until he’s called to work somewhere else.
White Asparagus with Pancakes, Black Forest Ham and Sauce Hollandaise
As an American living in Australia, I know what it’s like to be away from food you grew up with. When I asked Sofie if there were any foods she missed that she wasn’t able to perfect in her own kitchen, it’s authentic cuisines. A trip eating her way through Alsace would put a smile on her face before eating her way through her native Southwestern Germany. She loves baking but savory foods win her heart.
Her earliest food memories are of cooking and baking with her mother since she was old enough to hold a spoon.
German “Straßburg-Style“ Bologna Salad With Pan-Fried Potatoes
I wondered about a non-native American like Sofie — were there American foods that she just hasn’t been able to like? Yes! She hates icing and any processed ingredients like shortening or corn syrup. She told me that Big Food has had an influence on how Americans bake. I grew up with shortening and Karo syrup and never wondered if there was a better way to bake, did you?
Sofie started her blog when she owned a bakery but didn’t blog much because of her busy schedule but when the bakery closed, she cranked up her blog. It gives her focus and allows her to enjoy several of her passions — photography, writing and cooking.
German Potato Salad and Potato Salad with Bacon and Apples
The only thing blogging has changed in the Dittman household is that now Sofie does the cooking and her husband complains that she cooks too many potatoes. I checked her blog. German potato salad, pan-fried potatoes, salt-boiled potatoes and potato salad with bacon and apples. I could happily exist on those even if her husband couldn’t.
Our conversation got interesting when I asked her where she thinks food blogging is headed over the next few years.
” I think it will continue to expand the way people (used to) think of food journalism. Probably to the chagrin of the traditionalists, but they can just stab themselves in the knee w/ their own forks. There, I’ve said it.”
Interestingly, I feel the same way. Last year I wrote a piece about a post on a woman’s food blog (on another site). In our discussions, she made me promise I would never call her a blogger because “I’m so much better than that.” I still roll my eyes when I think about it so I agree with Sofie completely on this.
German Inspired Filet Mignon Birthday Dinner
Often I ask people which person they’d like to meet, have dinner with or spend an afternoon and out of all the people past and present, Sofie would love to spend an afternoon with her maternal grandmother, a great cook and baker. She has her grandmother’s cookbook along with all the side notes in her handwriting but she has no personal memories of watching her cook or knowing how she made certain things.
A very important thing Sofie does as a food blogger is to help people revive heirloom recipes. I can only imagine how exciting that is. I’ve never done it but I’d love to. I cook traditional French peasant food that my grandparents brought from France and that’s as heirloom as it gets around here. She loves it when her readers try her recipes and then let her know how it came out.
I asked her was there a recipe that she was particularly proud of? In typical Sofie style, it’s usually the last one she’s created. I love her series on Southern BBQ and the English appetizers. Don’t forget her strawberry shortcake she made for Sunday Suppers.
Strawberry Shortcake
If Sofie wasn’t cooking and blogging she’d be a full time photographer. That’s her true love. If she could turn back the clock she’d be off in some far flung region taking photos for National Geographic or maybe in a city like New York or San Francisco capturing people as she sees them.
I asked how just how much time she spends on her blog, including shopping, preparing, cooking, photographing, writing and promoting? I don’t think non-bloggers have any idea how much time we spend producing the weekly or semi-weekly blurbs. I can only imagine how much time a blog takes that posts every day. Sofie says she spends A LOT of time preparing every post but wishes she had more time to set up the photos.
What can we hope to see on The German Foodie this year? Video how-tos and recipes. I really look forward to that. It will really put a face and personality to her blog.
Finally, there’s that food memory that means so much to me. Sauerbraten does it for Sofie. It takes a long time to prepare and she wonders how people made totally involved dishes and multiple course meals before the days of gizmos and gadgets.
- 1 kg of beef round roast or brisket
- ---TIP: Choose a good piece of round roast or brisket, and be sure to cook the roast slowly. If you rush it, it will turn into shoe soles.
- 250 ml vinegar, preferably red wine vinegar
- 300 ml water
- 1 teaspoon* salt
- 1 small onion
- 3 cloves (whole)
- ½ laurel leaf
- 1 carrot
- 3 peppercorns
- 40 g bacon
- 40 g lard, oil or butter
- 1 small tablespoon* salt
- a pinch of pepper
- 50 g browned flour
- 2 tablespoons* marinade
- 4 tomatoes or 2 tablespoons* tomato paste
- 750 ml beef broth
- 2 tablespoons* red wine
- ---*denotes REAL spoons
- Tenderize the meat by beating it, washing it, then rubbing it with salt before submerging it into the marinade.
- The meat becomes even more tender if you substitute buttermilk (“Sauermilch”) for all or part of the water.
- In the summer, leave the meat in the marinade for 3 days, in the winter for 4. Turn it periodically as needed.
- The larger the cut, the longer it has to stay in the liquid.
- Dry the meat, garnish it with bacon (cut slits into it and “pull” the bacon through them) and season it with salt and pepper.
- Brown it briskly at high heat together with the carrot and onion.
- Add the browned flour, then the marinade, tomato paste and beef broth.
- Broil in the oven at around 300 F under a closed lid for 1.5 – 2 hours.
- ---MODERN-DAY TIP: use an oven bag. It is MUCH easier and will keep your meat tender.
- To make a gravy, separate out the grease from the top of the liquid, discard it and add the wine.
- Serve with potato dumplings or spätzle, a nice side salad and a hearty red wine. Guten Appetit!
You can follow Sofie on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest
The German Foodie is one of my favourite blogs – it was do awesome and interesting to learn more about the face behind it 😀
Great interview my friend!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Likewise! I may not always comment, but I read regulary – and I so enjoy your voice!
Great interview Maureen! I love the way you write – you make people you write about come alive, and suddenly easy to connect to. They become so much more than just another person behind a blog, typing away to glory about this and that.
Btw, I noticed your recipes always look very well formatted, and wanted to ask you how, but I think I have already figured out why…EasyRecipes…right?
I just downloaded it. I might need to ask you for help while navigating it. My next recipe goes up in it.
wow, I’m blushing. I’m the one whose mother once said, “Maureen, you waste your time writing, it’s awful.” It’s very tough to get past that but I’m trying. You’re great for my self-confidence.
Your mom was WRONG. Plain and simple. 🙂
Agree Sofie! Btw I love the pictures. I haven’t tried German food yet. This is inspiring me 🙂
Thank you SO much for a beautiful write-up! I never knew I could sound THIS interesting! Makes me wanna hop on a plane and spend a week or two or three w/ you (and Uru and the other wonderful Aussie bloggers) just cooking, eating, chatting… Love ya!
Pretty cold now, Sofie, wait a few months and then come to Queensland 🙂 It was a lot of fun writing about you.
I would love to. I’ve been wanting to visit your neck of the woods for some time now…
Great web site and recipes! Love to meet your friends, Maureen xox
I can’t wait to meet you Lizzy, you seem like such a fun person.
Superb write-up, Maureen!
Aww, thanks a lot, you’re really sweet.
I second that, and I am NOT sweet OR polite. It’s not in my genetic make-up. LOL I always mean it. 🙂
What a fantastic write up! As someone who both reads Sofie’s blog faithfully and has had the pleasure of meeting her in person I can say that you’ve presented her quite accurately.
I’m so envious that you met in person! I remember when you did that and I was jealous then too. 🙂
We’re just really going to have to plan a get-together. Seriously. Oh, and Anita is friggin’ awesome. Just sayin’.
I am so hungry reading through this post now!
Love the crepes especially!
oxo
ML
Twenty York Street
http://www.twentyyork.com
Follow me in Twitter: @20YS
Thank you!
I love learning more about the people behind the blogs. Sofie, I feel like I really know you now.
Lovely to meet you Joan and nice to know we share a love of Sofie!
Joan, I enjoy your blog as well!
Sofie is my friend, and I’ll agree, she’s an amazing cook and photographer. I’ve really come to enjoy the writer in her too! I love the way you brought out Sofie’s sense of humor and her straight forward personality, two of the things that make me love her! If you came to visit, you could expect to be the guest of honor at one of her parties where an eclectic group of people come together, eat, talk, laugh, and enjoy themselves, because after all, they are full of good food, good home-made beer (or mead), and surrounded by good company! Thanks for the great article
Oh Mary, I was already wishing I lived closer and now you write this and I want it even more. 🙂
Great Profile. But then I am half German. Sofie’s Sauerbraten is very similar to my mother’s.
Is this German? I love potatoes and potato salads too. Going to have to check out the potato salads picture at Sofie’s site.
Never heard of Sophie or her blog till this morning. Thank you for the introduction, Maureen.
LOL I absolutely love the fork quote!! 😀 Her site is great too as is her sense of humour 🙂
I nearly wet myself when I read the fork line. No pretense with her whatsoever. If we don’t want to know what Sofie thinks, we shouldn’t ask. 🙂
Thanks for introducing Sophie I will hop over to visit her site. Love her style.
Agree with Minnie above: “…you make people you write about come alive, and suddenly easy to connect to.”
That’s high praise coming from someone like you, Norma. Thanks!
What a great post. I have had the pleasure of meeting Sofie virtually and one day I hope to meet up with her in person. Her blog is fantastic – the recipes, photos, stories – all keep me wanting to come back for more. Definitely a blog not to miss a single post.
Hi Renee and thanks for visiting. I couldn’t agree with you more.
Maureen, I always look forward to your Friday introductions. I have not visited The German Foodie but I am headed there now. Thanks for sharing – as you always do! PS: I just found this awesome magazine published in your neck of the woods called Vintage Caravan Magazine. I’m so envious. It features old campers like the one I’m re-doing. Have you seen it?
Isn’t it funny.. I entered a local contest today to win a coffee table book on old caravan makeovers. (campers are caravans here) I have seen the magazine but I don’t have a copy.
wow.. those food are great.. healthy, mouth watering.. i want to try that asparagus in pancakes.. she really is great..
I loved that recipe too! Thanks for stopping by.
This is a fantastic write-up and yes, Sofie is really inspiring. I first “saw” her through Foodbuzz and later got to know her through the Food Bloggers Network. I am hoping to meet her in person later this summer! I 100% agree – there is NO pretense with Sofie. She is genuine, honest, and tells you how she feels. I will be making this sauerbraten for Thom (my husband’s parents are from Austria and he loves all foods Germanic in origin) but not until fall. Oh, and Maureen – don’t listen to your mother – keep writing. We’re reading!
Best ~ Jessica
Hi Jessica. Don’t get me started in Austria. I love the place and everything about it. One of my favorite places in the world to visit. I’d live in Salzburg if I could. 🙂
Thanks for the kind words and I’m jealous if you get to meet Sofie!
Sofie is one of my favorite people in the world. I’m so glad you interviewed her and shared it here, Maureen!
My favorite part of the whole article wasn’t the food, or even her gorgeous photography…it was where Sofie truly came shining through:
“I think it will continue to expand the way people (used to) think of food journalism. Probably to the chagrin of the traditionalists, but they can just stab themselves in the knee w/ their own forks. There, I’ve said it.”
LOVE IT!
I want a big bite of the Strawberry Shortcake!
I suspect she’d give you one if you gave her a big smile 🙂
Thanks for introducing Sophie! I’m headed over these now. Her pictures are gorgeous and of course I love the picture of her! 🙂 There recipe looks quite interesting and different from the food I’m use to eating. Great post!
Thanks for the comment. I love that wacky photo. Just goes to show there’s more than a boring cook in there 🙂
Thank you for sharing such a talented individual with us, Maureen! These posts are so fun to read, and I am excited to try her recipes. I am getting so many ideas from her site. Hope you are enjoying a beautiful Queensland week end!
I am excited to check out her blog! I really enjoyed reading the profile and the photos are absolutely AMAZING! That roast recipe is definitely a must try!
Thanks Maureen for another great review. I haven’t come across Sophie so far but I’m about to fix all that. I love her quote! Too funny. And what a silly twat that woman was who is a blogger but asked not to be called a blogger. She should get out of blogging lest she risk being labelled. I love the sound of all those potato dishes – I’m always looking for inspiration when it comes to potatoes. The potato salad with apples sounds really interesting. xx
I love potatoes too. No one would ever find me complaining that they were cooked too often. You’d roll your eyes at who didn’t want to be called a blogger 🙂 To any American reading Charlie’s comment.. twat means jerk not the magical hoo hoo box. 🙂
Great piece, Maureen!!! I’m a fan of Sophie as well…and try to absorb all she shares about photography. My dad loves sauerbraten, so I’ll have to make him this traditional recipe…he’d love it!
Thanks Liz. btw.. I LOVED your strawberry mascarpone ice cream.. everyone should dash over and have a look.
I love that you feature bloggers in your blog. It’s kind of guest post blogging but even better… You introduced me to a few bloggers already and now thank you for introducing me to Sophie. Great job guys. I love the write up too… and please tell your mom that I said so haha!
malou
Malou, I love you to bits!!
Love Sofie! Her food always makes you wanna knock on her door and hope she will let you join her by the dinner table. This was really fun to read!
Maureen- This is an amazing piece of writing. I love how you went about this one. Your writing style makes me so jealous of your talent. And what a wonderful subject. Love Sofie.
Sofie- It was so great getting to know more about you. Being a potato fan you can always call me up for dinner when your hubs get tired of them.
Thanks for introducing Sophie..heading over to her blog. Your writing is so captivating, I could not skip even a single line!
Well I wasnt hungry until I saw all these delectable entries wow I just want some of everything here! WHAT A SPREAD!
It’s definitely interesting to hear a non-American’s perspective on the American food scene! Great interview!
What a wonderful profile. I’m excited to head over to Sofie’s blog and start reading through her recipes and thoughts on food in general.
So delighted to “meet” Sofie. How wonderful to learn a bit more about her. Everything looks so delicious. Preserving the past is serious business. I enjoyed this post so much Maureen. Thank you so much for sharing.
P.S. Love the Sauerbraten recipe!
Such a fabulous post, and I will definitely have to check out Sofie’s blog! Funny, I have German ancestry on my Dad’s side of the family, but don’t know much about German Cuisine. Well, except for my all time favorite-German Chocolate Cake. Does that count???
It ALL counts 🙂 I sense your Germanness through that cake for sure!
I love your Food Writer Friday posts! They are such a fantastic way to introduce bloggers to the community. I love Sofie’s blog and all her lovely recipes and photos.
Maureen, you know I never miss this post of urs…
Not only you introduce us to some amazing blogger, you connect us with them and their passion…
I totally agree with somany people above u are a very talented writer!!
thanks for sharing her blog! 🙂 will check on it!
i just loved your write up Maureen! and it was soooo awesome to learn more about Sofie, one of my favorite bloggers! everything is so beautifully photographed and looks so delicious!
Wonderful interview and writeup! This is definitely one blogger who intrigues me and I’ll be following. I love her story and her philosophy and the recipes sound homey and delicious. Thanks again, Maureen, for introducing your favorite bloggers to us!
Her photos look great! I love finding new interesting food blogs to follow, her blog sounds perfect!
Great interview! Love Sofie’s portrait. Love all of the pictures, actually. This is a new blogger for me – thanks for the introduction. Another fantastic interview.
Maureen, it is so great to learn so much about Sofie and I just love all the pics!
What an inspiring and informative post! I’m looking forward to trying out some of Sophie’s recipes!
A truly wonderfully written interview about a very interesting woman and culinary talent. I must go see her site, I love German and Alsacian dishes and all these images of her food look so delicious! Thanks for “introducing” us to her.
Meanwhile, I have been trying to subscribe to you via email and it won’t ever send me the confirmation. I’ve tried about 4 different times now…what am I doing wrong?
What a fun post Maureen! I can appreciate Sophie and her recipes as I have a German-American background myself and enjoyed many of the same type of foods growing up! To me, it’s so fascinating to see all the amazing, unique blogs out there!
Thanks Maureen for another great interview! With your interesting and witty questions, this series have been fun to read. Hi Sofie! I’m new to your blog and it’s very nice to meet you. I’m going to visit Sofie now. 🙂
What a wonderful write up. Heading to German foodie’s website right away. Her food looks incredible!
Thanks for the great interview with Sofie–and a sampling of her gorgeous photos!
im always eyeing on desserts, and now here comes strawberry shortcake! yummy!
Latest: The Pork Way to Go
You really do a terrific job of portraying who Sophie is – I feel like I know her now. I’m off to go visit her blog!
Kristi, you will love Sophie’s blog 🙂
Maureen, your writing is warm and personal and this interview was a delight. I so enjoy “meeting” the food writers you feature. Still smiling over the “don’t call me a blogger” statement you mentioned. 😉
That blogger thing cracked me up too. “Wanker” comes to mind but I wouldn’t say that out loud and would deny thinking it. 🙂 Thanks a lot for the kind words.
Superb post. Thanks for this wonderful post 🙂