The expanded number coding scheme is suspended on Thursday, August 6, due to inclement weather brought by the Tropical Storm (TS) #MaymayPH and the southwest monsoon, or habagat, the MMDA said.
READ MORE: https://inqnews.net/codingsuspendedAug6
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Thursday, August 6, 2026
Still paying transfer fees? Here's why more Filipinos are using BDO Pay
By Manila Bulletin Newsroom
In a world where you can do almost anything with a tap, digital payments shouldn’t cost you extra just to access your money. That's what BDO Pay is all about: A payment app built around handling everyday finances with ease, saving more on fees, and enjoying the satisfaction of doing it all in one app.
Keeping things simple and free
Skip the extra fees and unnecessary steps. BDO Pay gives you more ways to seamlessly manage your money in one app:
- Send money for free to any BDO account, other banks, and e-wallets via InstaPay or PesoNet.
- Pay bills to over 2,200 billers and buy load for free.
- Scan QR codes for free—whether paying at stores via QRPh with your BDO Debit Card, using Scan to Pay with your BDO Credit Card, withdrawing or depositing cash at QR-enabled ATMs, or sending money via InstaPay QR.
Built for the way you pay
Paying shouldn't feel like an added item on your long list of tasks, yet many Filipinos still find themselves juggling different apps, cashing in funds, or paying extra fees just to complete everyday transactions.
To get more value from your transactions, BDO Pay also lets you pay directly from your linked BDO account or credit card, no cash-in needed. It also helps you make the most of your spending with available deals, discounts, and cashback offers, while keeping your rewards points easy to view, track, and redeem in one place.
You deserve a payment experience that works for you, not the other way around. With a payment platform like BDO Pay, every transaction is designed to be simple and rewarding—making it easier to go about your day with effortless confidence.
Better when shared
You can introduce your family and friends to the ease and benefit of BDO Pay while earning rewards together.
From July 1 to September 30, 2026, you can turn referrals into cash. Simply share your referral code through the app. Once your loved one signs up and enters the code, you’ll receive ₱100 cash credits, and they’ll get ₱50 cash credits too. Here’s how:
1. Open the BDO Pay app, tap More, then select Refer a Friend.
2. Copy your referral code or tap Invite Friends to share it.
3. Choose a messaging app and send the referral code to your friend.
4. Your friend can then download and sign up for BDO Pay, enter the referral code during sign-up, and complete the registration process.
It’s not only easy; it’s a thoughtful way to help the people you care about enjoy cashless advantage—and get rewarded while you do.
No fees, just pay
The era of paying extra for convenience is coming to an end. If you’re ready to simplify your payment transactions with zero fees, BDO Pay Mo Na! Download on the App Store (iOS), Google Play Store for Android, or Huawei AppGallery for HarmonyOS.
Alex Eala's triumph, a wake-up call
For a country weighed down by endless political noise, controversy, and public frustration, Alex Eala's historic victory at the WTA 500 Mubadala Open in Washington, DC, came like a refreshing breeze. Her breakthrough as the first Filipina to capture a WTA 500 singles title was not merely a sporting achievement. It became a rare moment when Filipinos, regardless of political affiliation, found themselves united in celebration rather than divided by endless debates and mudslinging.
At a time when the national conversation has been dominated by political wrangling and lingering questions surrounding flood control projects, Eala reminded the nation that excellence, not conflict, deserves the loudest applause.
Her victory was earned the hard way. It was built on years of discipline, sacrifice, and relentless improvement. It was no accident that one of the world's finest players, Jessica Pegula, offered heartfelt praise after the final. "I want to congratulate Alex on an amazing tournament," said the world No. 3 and Mubadala Open top seed, adding that Eala's remarkable progress over the past few years and the passionate support she receives everywhere she plays are “amazing.” Earlier in the tournament, Pegula had already described the Filipina as “the future of the tour” after Eala defeated Naomi Osaka.
Those words carry enormous weight because they come from athletes who understand greatness better than anyone.
The accolades did not stop there. Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski called Eala “the most exciting player on the WTA Tour,” praising her fearless style, strong mentality, and ability to take the ball early. While noting that further improvements to her serve could elevate her to Grand Slam contention, he made it clear that the rest of her game already belongs among the elite.
Former US Open champion Andy Roddick echoed that assessment, calling Eala “the real deal.” He admired her willingness to challenge the world’s best without intimidation and observed that her ability to redirect pace and pressure opponents makes her a dangerous competitor no top seed wants to face early in a tournament.
Perhaps the most meaningful recognition came from Rafael Nadal, whose academy helped shape Eala's development. The Spanish legend congratulated his former student on social media, calling the championship “a well-deserved title for all the hard work.”
These endorsements are more than compliments. They are affirmations from respected voices that the Philippines has produced an athlete capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best.
Yet Eala’s greatest contribution may extend beyond tennis.
Her journey offers a powerful lesson for Philippine leaders. Progress is never built on endless political point-scoring or personal rivalries. It is achieved through preparation, discipline, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to a larger purpose. The same qualities that lifted Eala to international glory are the very virtues needed to move the Philippines forward.
Imagine what the Philippines could accomplish if public officials pursued excellence with the same determination Eala displays on every point, placing country above politics and service above self-interest.
Alex Eala has given the nation more than a championship trophy. She has restored hope, even if only for a moment. She reminded Filipinos that greatness is still possible, that hard work still matters, and that the Philippine flag can still rise proudly on the world stage because of talent, integrity, and perseverance.
May her remarkable ascent inspire not only the next generation of athletes but also those entrusted with leading the nation. The Philippines deserves more victories like Alex Eala’s—and far fewer distractions from the work of building a better future.
Davao City dads urge action after couple killed by drag racer
By Ivy Tejano
Photo via DCPO FB
DAVAO CITY – Davao City councilors urged immediate police action, strict accountability, and road safety measures after an alleged illegal drag race caused a fatal crash that killed a young couple on the Davao-Bukidnon Road here.
In a privilege speech before the City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 4, Councilor Jessica Bonguyan, chairperson of the Committee on Public Works and Highways, condemned the illegal street racing as a grave threat to public safety.
"What some view as a midnight thrill is a deadly gamble with public safety. Our public roads are meant for safe travel, not personal speed tracks," Bonguyan said as she condoled with the family of the victims.
Bonguyan pointed out that loud engines and roaring exhaust systems disrupt residential areas and endanger law-abiding motorists. She urged parents to monitor children driving vehicles and asked people to report any illegal racing.
Councilor Luna Acosta, head of the Committee on Peace and Public Safety, said that illegal street racing is considered reckless driving under the country's Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
She added that the illegal activity also violates Davao City's speed limit ordinance and warned that organizers of illegal drag races will be held criminally liable if investigations by the LTO, the City Transport and Traffic Management Office, and DCPO confirm their involvement.
"Organized racing on public roads shows a deliberate effort to circumvent the law. We will coordinate with the agencies involved so that those responsible can be held accountable," Acosta said during the Pulong-Pulong sa Dabawenyos.
Acosta urged motorsport enthusiasts to hold drag races only in designated private venues with a permit and avoid using public roads.
The Davao City Police Office said that a motorcycle with Angelou M. Isidro and partner, Lovely Kim E. Cadayona, 27, onboard was hit by an approaching motorcycle participating in an alleged illegal drag race before dawn on Monday, Aug. 3, in Barangay Catalunan Pequeño.
Police said the collision triggered a chain-reaction crash involving four motorcycles. Isidro and Cadayona died on the spot from severe injuries while another rider was seriously injured.
Three motorcycles were racing on the highway before the incident happened.
The DCPO filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property before the City Prosecutor's Office against the suspects on Tuesday morning.
The primary suspect, whose motorcycle directly collided with the couple, is under police custody while under treatment at the Southern Philippines Medical Center here.
Police are searching for the Yamaha motorcycle rider who fled the scene as well as other unidentified participants. Four individuals voluntarily surrendered to the Baliok Police Station on Tuesday afternoon and admitted active participation in the race.
DCPO director Police Col. Peter Madria said police have increased checkpoints and patrols from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. on major roads, including Davao-Bukidnon Road, Diversion Road, MacArthur Highway, and coastal road extensions.
Madria added that they are partnering with the LTO, CTTMO, and barangay officials to inspect illegal modification shops, impound altered motorcycles, and disperse pre-race gatherings to prevent future street races.
Alas Women absorb four-set loss to Indonesia, miss SEA V.Cup podium
By Mark Rey Montejo
Published Aug 6, 2026
Alas Pilipinas came out empty-handed after bowing to Indonesia, 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 16-25, at the conclusion of the 2026 Women's SEA V. Cup's first leg at the Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam Sunday, Aug. 2.
Alas Pilipinas came out empty-handed after bowing to Indonesia, 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 16-25, at the conclusion of the 2026 Women’s SEA V. Cup’s first leg at the Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam Sunday, Aug. 2.
Similar to their last two games, the Nationals, powered by Niña Ytang, Alyssa Solomon, and Bella Belen, stepped on the gas pedal early on to take the opening set.
However, the Indonesians easily solved the riddle and stormed in the next three frames to frustrate the Filipina spikers.
Despite missing out on a podium finish, Solomon brought the Nationals on the spotlight after claiming the Best Opposite Spiker plum.
Indonesia, on the other hand, clinched the bronze honors with Maradanti Namira Tegariani earning the Best Middle Blocker nod.
Ytang delivered a breakout game for the Taka Minowa-mentored crew with 14 points on 11 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, while Solomon and Belen chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Eya Laure, Dell Palomata, and Fifi Sharma combined for 18 points in a losing cause for the Philippines. Indonesia, for its act, leaned on Arsela Nuari Purnama who scored 18 points, while Chelsa Berliana Nurtomo and Mediol Stiovanny Yoku uncorked 16 points apiece.
Meanwhile, the formidable Thailand made quick work of Vietnam, 25-18, 25-17, 25-14, to keep its record pristine and capture the first leg of the annual tournament.
With all teams set for a three-day break, the Philippines will look to finally break into the win column when it faces host Thailand on Friday, Aug. 7, at the Chiang Mai Sports Complex.
BLACKPINK fans urge YG Entertainment to mark 10th anniversary with major group activities
BLACKPINK (YG Entertainment)
Fans of BLACKPINK are calling on YG Entertainment to mark the group’s upcoming 10th debut anniversary with more significant group activities, saying the milestone deserves a celebration that reflects the K-pop act’s global influence.
BLACKPINK, composed of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa, debuted on Aug. 8, 2016, and will celebrate a decade in the music industry this year.
In a statement posted on X, fan organization BLACKPINK Blink Union said the anniversary is a rare milestone that should be commemorated with meaningful projects centered on the group.
“BLACKPINK is not just one of YG Entertainment’s artists… they are the biggest girl group in the world. Their legacy has been built through their identity as a team, and a 10th anniversary is a rare milestone that deserves to be celebrated in a meaningful way,” the group said.
The fan union urged YG Entertainment to organize “significant group activities,” including new music releases, special performances and projects highlighting BLACKPINK’s decade-long journey.
The appeal comes as some BLINKs have expressed disappointment over what they see as limited anniversary preparations.
While YG Entertainment released a commemorative message and announced initiatives such as a “Heritage Collection” and a Weverse membership badge event, some fans said they hoped the celebration would include more substantial group content.
Fans also pointed to BLACKPINK’s relatively small discography compared with other artists of similar global stature, saying more unreleased or previously recorded songs could have been shared during long periods with limited group activities.
“It is especially difficult to understand why previously recorded or unreleased songs have not been coordinated for release when there have been long periods with little group content,” BLACKPINK Blink Union said.
The fan group stressed that the statement was made out of support for BLACKPINK and not as an attack on the agency.
“We sincerely ask that our voices not be overlooked. The fans have been an essential part of BLACKPINK’s success, and we hope this milestone becomes a celebration shared by both the artists and the fandom that has supported them unconditionally for the past decade,” it said.
BLACKPINK (YG Entertainment)
Why does the German language have umlauts?
The two dots over German vowels (ä, ö, ü) didn't start as dots. They are the typographic ghosts of a tiny letter left behind by medieval scribes.
Before umlauts existed, ancient Germanic languages used a suffix containing an "i" or a "j" to make words plural or change a verb's tense. For example, the Old High German word for guest was gast, and its plural was gasti.
Saying "gasti" requires your mouth to start open in the back for the "a," then snap to the front for the "i." Speakers naturally started anticipating the front vowel while still saying the back vowel. This phonetic shortcut pulled the "a" forward in the mouth, creating an intermediate "ä" sound. Gasti began sounding like gästi. Linguists call this process i-mutation, or i-umlaut.
Over hundreds of years, unstressed word endings weakened into a neutral "e" or disappeared entirely. Gästi became the modern German Gäste. With the ending altered, the vowel change was left doing all the grammatical lifting. The mutated vowel was no longer just a lazy pronunciation habit; it was the only thing distinguishing singular from plural (Maus vs. Mäuse, Apfel vs. Äpfel).
When writing down Middle High German, those early scribes needed a way to show that a vowel had been mutated. They started by adding an "e" after the affected vowel (ae, oe, ue). To save space on expensive parchment, they eventually began writing a microscopic "e" directly above the a, o, and u.
A handwritten sample showing the typographic evolution of the umlaut from a small, superscript 'e' to the modern two dots. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
In medieval German handwriting scripts like Fraktur and Kurrentschrift, the lowercase "e" consisted of two short vertical strokes. As handwriting sped up and typefaces modernized, those two little vertical slashes eroded into two simple dots.
Because the dots are technically a superimposed "e," German crosswords and official documents still treat ä, ö, and ü as "ae," "oe," and "ue." If a German keyboard isn't available, typing the "e" next to the vowel remains the officially accepted substitute—reverting the spelling back to exactly how scribes wrote it a thousand years ago.
SHAKING MY HEAD
Shaking my head
“SHAKING my head,” commonly abbreviated as SMH, is a popular expression in online chats and internet slang. It is often used to convey disappointment, disbelief, disgust, or other similar negative emotions.
To shake your head means moving it from side to side to signal “no,” express disagreement, or convey sadness, frustration, or disbelief. Sometimes, a simple shake of the head says more than words ever could.
There are moments in life when crying or asking endless questions serves no purpose. Instead, we simply feel paralyzed. A good friend told me exactly that a few days ago. Words sometimes seem inadequate, yet as a writer, I always believe there are words capable of capturing even the most difficult emotions.
After long conversations with friends and colleagues, I have come to one conclusion: sometimes, all you can do is shake your head.
Just look around. Endless follow-ups seem to have become part of our national character. Every day, we encounter people whose indifference leaves us frustrated and discouraged. Sadly, indifference appears to have become one of the defining traits of today’s society.
We try to schedule an appointment, but the other party always seems to be “busy” every single day of the week. Naturally, we don’t want to intrude on anyone’s time, so we tell ourselves, “Maybe tomorrow.”
But how do you feel when you encounter employees or offices that are supposed to serve the public yet seem more interested in reading magazines, making personal phone calls, sending endless text messages, or even becoming downright rude after countless follow-ups? Then comes the familiar excuse: “The boss is out of town.” Grabe!
Yes, today’s column may not sit well with some readers, but honestly, what is the difference between someone who is genuinely busy, someone working hard to earn a living, and someone who is simply indifferent — or just not in the mood to deal with people?
I can say this without hesitation: many people feel powerless when they repeatedly encounter indifference, arrogance, and ignorance. These attitudes slowly drain enthusiasm, discourage initiative, and make even the simplest tasks unnecessarily exhausting.
When you promise to help or support someone, keep your word. Don’t hide behind endless excuses or delaying tactics. A “yes” should mean yes, and a “no” should mean no. If you cannot fulfill a promise, be honest about it. A straightforward answer is always more respectful than endless uncertainty.
Personally, I dislike making people wait — whether for a reply or for an appointment. I make every effort to respond promptly and follow through on my commitments. If I learn that someone tried to reach me but missed me, I do my best to return the call or reconnect. What’s so difficult about that? I simply dislike being late — or worse, remaining silent.
How many brilliant ideas, promising partnerships, and valuable business opportunities have been lost simply because of misunderstanding, indifference, or a lack of appreciation between people? Think about it. Can you see the pattern?
Yes, I, too, feel disappointed whenever I witness opportunities slipping away. We all know that nothing worthwhile comes without effort. But before we can expect progress, we must first learn to keep our promises, help one another, practice honesty, and become responsible contributors to our nation’s stability, unity, and development.
***
Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, or X (formerly Twitter). Visit: www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com/PN
Is it true nobody is perfect?
The Daily Guardian is a renascent Iloilo-based publishing firm and media outfit with bureaus across Western Visayas and beyond. Led by Iloilo's most respected journalists, we pledge to tell the Ilonggo story as seen through the various lenses of society so that every side may be told.
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By Klaus Döring
This famous line is spoken by Osgood Fielding III, played by Joe E. Brown, in Some Like It Hot (directed by Billy Wilder, 1959).
Is it true that nobody is perfect? It is true! No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. It is part of being human. If someone you know makes a mistake, try to be understanding and forgiving instead of immediately criticizing them.
Many of us believe perfectionism is positive. You may count me among them.
More often than I would like to admit, something seemingly inconsequential will cause the same feeling to rear its head again. Something as small as accidentally squashing the makeup I was bringing to my first girlfriend’s family for Christmas can tumble around in my mind for several days, accompanied by occasional thoughts such as, “How stupid!” and “You should have known better.”
Falling short of a bigger goal, even when I know achieving it would be nearly impossible, can temporarily flatten me. When a former agent told me that she knew I was going to write a book someday but that the particular idea I had pitched to her did not suit the market, I felt deflated in a gut-punching way that went beyond disappointment. The negative drowned out the positive. “You’re never going to write a book,” my internal voice said. “You’re not good enough.” That voice did not care that this directly contradicted what the agent had actually said. And, to this day, I have not finished my first book.
That is the thing about perfectionism. It takes no prisoners.
If I have struggled with perfectionism, I am far from alone. The tendency starts young — and it is becoming more common. Thomas Curran and Andrew Hill’s meta-analysis of perfectionism rates from 1989 to 2016, the first study to compare perfectionism across generations, found significant increases among more recent undergraduates in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada. In other words, the average college student in the study’s most recent year was much more likely to have perfectionistic tendencies than a student in the 1990s or early 2000s.
“It is heading toward an epidemic and a public health issue.” It is a striking quotation from Katie Rasmussen.
“As many as two in five kids and adolescents are perfectionists,” says Rasmussen, who researches child development and perfectionism at West Virginia University. “We’re starting to talk about how it’s heading toward an epidemic and public health issue.”
The rise in perfectionism does not mean each generation is becoming more accomplished. It means we are getting sicker and sadder and even undermining our own potential.
Here is another striking example: French artist Claude Monet, a perfectionist, often destroyed his paintings in a temper while saying, “My life has been nothing but a failure.”
Perfectionism, after all, is an ultimately self-defeating way to move through the world. It is built on an excruciating irony: Making and admitting mistakes are necessary parts of growing, learning, and being human. Doing so also makes you better at your career, relationships, and life in general. By avoiding mistakes at any cost, perfectionists can make it harder to reach their own lofty goals.
But the drawback of perfectionism is not just that it holds you back from being your most successful, productive self. Perfectionistic tendencies have been linked to a long list of clinical issues: depression and anxiety, even in children; self-harm; social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia; obsessive-compulsive disorder; binge eating, anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders; post-traumatic stress disorder; chronic fatigue syndrome; insomnia; hoarding; dyspepsia; chronic headaches; and, most damning of all, early mortality and suicide.
“It’s something that cuts across everything in terms of psychological problems,” says Sarah Egan, a senior research fellow at Curtin University in Perth who specializes in perfectionism, eating disorders, and anxiety.
Culturally, I learned, we often see perfectionism as positive. Even saying you have perfectionist tendencies can come across as a coy compliment to yourself; it is practically a stock answer to the “What’s your worst trait?” question in job interviews. Past employers, now you know! I was not just being cute.
It is difficult to tell who is motivated and conscientious and who is a perfectionist. In my daily teaching at the University of Southeastern Philippines and Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City, I meet students who work hard and receive poor marks. If a student tells herself, “I’m disappointed, but it’s OK; I’m still a good person overall,” that is healthy. If the message is, “I’m a failure. I’m not good enough,” that is perfectionism.
That inner voice criticizes different things in different people — work, relationships, tidiness, and fitness. My own tendencies may differ greatly from somebody else’s. It can take someone who knows me well to notice them. When I messaged one of my friends to say I was writing this story, he immediately sent back a long line of laughing emojis.
Perfectionists can turn smooth sailing into a storm and a brief ill wind into a Category 5 hurricane. At the very least, they perceive it that way. And, because the ironies never end, the behaviors perfectionists adopt ultimately make them more likely to fail.
Thinking of perfectionism makes me think of my own childhood, which was peppered with avoiding — or starting and quitting — almost every sport there was. If I was not adept at something almost from the get-go, I did not want to continue — especially if an audience was watching. In fact, multiple studies have found a correlation between perfectionism and performance anxiety, even in children as young as 10.
Mental health problems are not just caused by perfectionism; some of these problems can lead to perfectionism, too. One study, for example, found that over a one-year period, college students who had social anxiety were more likely to become perfectionists — but not vice versa.
When it comes to the most dramatic example, suicide, numerous studies have also found that perfectionism is a lethal contributor on its own. One found that perfectionism made depressed patients more likely to think about suicide, even above and beyond feelings of hopelessness. A meta-analysis, described as the most complete examination of the suicide-perfectionism link at the time, found that nearly every perfectionistic tendency — including being concerned about mistakes, feeling as though you are never good enough, having critical parents, or simply having high personal standards — was correlated with thinking about suicide more frequently. The two exceptions were being organized and being demanding of others.
Some of those criteria, particularly pressure from parents and perfectionistic concerns, were also correlated with more suicide attempts.
In many ways, poorer health outcomes for perfectionists are not that surprising. “Perfectionists are pretty much awash with stress. Even when it’s not stressful, they’ll typically find a way to make it stressful,” says Gordon Flett, who has studied perfectionism for more than 30 years and whose assessment scale, developed with Paul Hewitt, is considered a gold standard. In addition, he says, if your perfectionism finds an outlet in, say, workaholism, it is unlikely that you will take many breaks to relax — something we now know both our bodies and brains require for healthy functioning.
After all, many of us live in societies where the first question asked when we meet someone is what they do for a living. We live in societies where we are so literally valued for the quality and extent of our accomplishments that those achievements often correlate directly with our ability to pay rent or put food on the table. Complete strangers weigh these on-paper values to determine everything from whether we can rent that flat, buy that car, or receive that loan. We then signal our access to those resources through our appearance — these shoes, that physique — and other people weigh that, in turn, to determine whether we are the right person for a job interview or dinner invitation.
Fear of failure is being magnified in other ways, too. Take social media: Make a mistake today, and your fear that it might be broadcast, even globally, is hardly irrational. At the same time, all those glossy feeds reinforce unrealistic standards.
In my opinion — and I am not alone in this — you do not have to be perfect to be lovable or to be loved. It is a work in progress. What I have also noticed is that each time I am able to replace criticism and perfectionism with compassion, I feel not only less stressed but also freer. Apparently, that is not unusual.
How do you accept that nobody is perfect? If I could give you five tips to help you accept who you are, they would be these:
See your perceived flaws in a whole new light. Nothing is ever completely good or completely bad.
Practice gratitude daily.
Recognize that you are not your thoughts.
Be vulnerable with others.
Look after yourself.
+++
Email: doringklaus@gmail.com, follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X, or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Volker Eichener
Following
Professor at Hochschule Düsseldorf
Those “some people” have either never been to Germany or, if they had been, they had traveled with eyes closed. Or they have looked for boring cuisine and selected the country’s most boring restaurants.
First, Germany has a diverse landscape, with sea coasts, plains, rivers, lakes, mild mountains and steep mountains. So, already geography provides a diverse cuisine, with fish and seafood, freshwater fish, beef, pork, chicken, lamb and lots and lots of venison (roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, wild boar, hare, pheasant, partridge…).
Second, Germany is located in the centre of Europe, with nine neighbouring countries. So, there are many cross-border influences.
Third, Germans travel a lot. And the bring holiday cuisine home.
Fourth, Germany has a lot of immigrants. Many of them have opened eateries in Germany.
As a result, we have an extreme variety of food: traditional German food from various regions, Dutch food, French food, Swiss and Austrian food, Czech food, Polish food, Danish food, Italian food, Greek food, Turkish food, Spanish food, Arabian food, African food, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian food and more. In every village you find ethnic eateries. In a city, you find cuisine from several continents.
These influences have been integrated in home cooking, of course. Every grocery store has ingredients for Italian, Polish, Turkish, Asian, Mexican, Russian cuisine. Many German families cook pasta with ragù bolognese, chili con carne, Thai curry, Croatian cevapcici, Spanish paella, French flammkuchen or other “exotic” dishes. They may not always be authentic and a mix of German and ethnic cooking traditions, but they add to culinary diversity.
According to a survey, here a few of the most popular dishes which are eaten in Germany (home cooked):
Lasagne, inspired by holidays in Italy and by migrant workers from Italy
Schnitzel Vienna style, imported from neighbouring Austria, but extremely popular (here with German potato salad)
Beef roulade with red cabbage and dumplings, traditional German
Thai curry with chicken
Stuffed bell peppers from the Balkan
Fermented herring (Matjes), traditional North German, but popular in the Netherlands and all Northern European countries
Königsberger Klopse - meat dumplings with anchovies and capers in a creamy sauce, usually served with red beet
Asparagus - extremely popular when in season
Chili con carne - German style. A popular party dish.
Maultaschen - Swabian ravioli.
Pike-perch on Savoy cabbage
Chicken stew
Rye bread with North Sea shrimps and scrambled eggs
Lentil stew
Leipziger Allerlei - spring vegetables with crayfish
Baked salmon with spinach
Dover sole roulades
Venison with chanterelles
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