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Dining in Europe > Dusseldorf The regional capital of Nordrhein-Westfalia is a lively metropolis brimming with culture, media, shopping, fairs, and service industries. It is a city befitting of the 21st century. The gastronomic choice here is as diverse as the international character of its visitors. Whether you are after local specialities like Düsseldorf pork ribs in mustard sauce or scrumptious Oriental dishes, be it Sushi or Peking duck, or even light Mediterranean snacks ' your desires are sure to be satisfied. If this is your first time in Düsseldorf, make sure you pay a visit to one of the breweries or traditional taverns. These are concentrated in a narrow area of the Old Town, which forms the nerve centre of the city. Particularly recommended are Im Füchschen, Zum Uerige, En de Canon, and Zum Schiffchen. Locals and visitors wallow in a typical Rhineland ambience as they sit cosily by the wooden tables or stand at the counter chatting and sipping their dark, aromatic 'Altbier' ' a top fermented brew from Düsseldorf ' while they wait for the blue-frocked "Köbesse" (waitresses) to serve hearty regional food. Even if you have a good command of High German, you may well have problems understanding the menu. The 'Halve Hahn', for example, has nothing to do with chicken (as the name might suggest); it is in fact a portion of cheese studded with caraway seeds and served on a piece of dark rye bread. This speciality comes from the Harz mountains. 'Ähzezupp' denotes a thick, creamy pea soup, while 'Flönz mit Ölk' is a blood sausage made of freshly slaughtered meat served with onions. If you feel uneasy about any of these options, a visit to the Köbes should reassure you. The austere charm of this beer cellar can be off-putting to the uninitiated, but the waiters will be more than glad to serve you the nifty little beer which this establishment takes its name from ' unless, of course, you make the faux pas of ordering a 'Kölsch' (Colognes best-known lager). For, ever since the Battle of Worringen (1288), the two rival communities have held chauvinistic and contemptuous attitudes towards one another. During the winter months, the Rhinelander takes to large plates of mussels in onion sauce to warm up. The traditional Benders Marie is the citys oldest mussel restaurant and boasts twenty different ways of preparing them. In recent years, a younger generation of cooks has experimented with mixing traditional local dishes with international influences. The tasty result has been dubbed 'neudeutsch' (neo-German), and fine examples of this phenomenon can be found at Hecker or Flachskamm. A gem of Mediterranean fish cuisine is La Bouillabaisse. Marmoud Marnoui, the owner of this restaurant, has cooked his way into the hearts of Düsseldorfers with his imaginative scaled fish dishes. You can, of course, also get fish from the Rhine in its original state, namely raw ' in the form of sushi. Düsseldorfs restaurant scene benefits greatly from the citys large Japanese community. Authentically prepared Japanese specialities in varying price ranges can be had all over Düsseldorf. (Fai Sushi, Kikaku, Ohno-Ja, Nippon-Kan and Edo) are just some of the notable examples. But Japans neighbours also have their culinary representatives here, including Thailand (Baan Thai), China (Peking Enten Haus) and Korea (Seoul, Shilla). If your finances are well heeled, try one of the citys prestigious and accordingly pricey gourmet establishments. Star chef Jean-Claude Bourgeuil (Im Schiffchen, Aalschocker) has delighted even the most critical gastronomes over the years with his culinary creations. Other legendary chefs include Peter Nöthel (Hummerstübchen), Günther Scherrer (Victorian), Ingo Köthschneider (Canonicus), Guy de Vries (Himmel und Erde), Thomas Wilden (Thomas) and Franz-Josef Schorn (Schorn). Mediterranean specialities offer a more affordable means of quenching your hunger. Unfussy Portugese food is available from Luso, tapas from La Copa or Las Tapas, and tasty Italian classics at unbeatably low prices from Casa Luigi or Osteria Terracotta. Or perhaps you have a soft spot for Lebanese Meze? In that case, Libanon Restaurantis your best bet. This opulent levantine establishment has become one of citys most popular gastronomic destinations. The Indian subcontinent is also well represented, with aromatic and spicy tandoori dishes and other delicacies on offer at Tandoori and Chanakya. Should you still be undecided at this stage, here are a couple of final tips: authentic African cuisine is served at Okra; traditional French sit-down meals at Robert´s Bistro, and US-style fastfood atState Side. Enjoy your meal! Entertainment in DusseldorfPUBS, BARS AND CAFÉS If you would like to try Altbier Düsseldorf has a lot of places to
offer, particulary in the Altstadt! You can find a modern, cool atmosphere in Op de Eck at Grabbeplatz or in many of the cafés along the Rhine. If you want to check your e-mail, hit the G@rden internet café, with great lattés. If you crave a cosy café au lait during the day or a sociable evening out, there are many pleasant bars on Ratinger Straße, including Zum Goldenen Einhorn, Ohme Jupp, Zur Uel or Schlonz. On a warm summer night this street becomes a giant outdoor pub. If you prefer sitting and enjoying the view, Burgplatz and the Rhine promenade are the best places - Goldener Ring has a nice beer garden and all of the cafés along the Rhine have great views of the river. But real river-lovers should aim for Rheintreue or Kollers Kahn, both are on boats on the Rhine, found just past the Oberkasseler Bridge. If, after a long, exhausting day you fancy warm, literary surroundings, have a rest at Schnabelewobski, the house where Heinrich Heine, the famous Loreley-poet, was born. Or drown your ears in rock music at the Weißer Bär right nearby. THEATER, COMEDY, MUSIC AND DANCE Culturally, Düsseldorf has plenty to offer: Theres theater at the Schauspielhaus, opera and ballet at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, classical music at the Tonhalle, variety at the JUTA, political cabaret at the Kommödchen, boulevard theater at the Komödie, modern dance at the Tanzhaus NRW and ambitious puppet-theatre at the Düsseldorfer Marionettentheater. The Apollo Varieté beneath the Rheinknie-bridge is run by Roncalli, the famous circus. CINEMA A bit of Cinema Paradiso atmosphere can be found at Cinema, Bambi, Metropol, Lichtburg, Black Box or Souterrain, also called Muggel. Not only do most of these cinemas have an old-fashioned décor, they show classic films, too. The big UFA Cineplexes at the main station and the harbour offer mainstream Hollywood films dubbed in German. If you want to see a film in the original language, look out for ones listed as OmU (original with German subtitles) LIVE MUSIC Live jazz can be found at Dr. Jazz and at the Jazzschmiede. Buck Mulligans offers folk. Do you love 'old blue eyes'? Then catch the German Sinatra, live on stage at Frontpage. At Em Pöötzke the jazz band will play that tune for a 'Heiermann' - Düsseldorf slang for a five Mark coin. The Phillipshalle hosts concerts by big names like Bryan Ferry or Lou Reed. The Zakk is a club venue for smaller concerts, often by local bands. To find your way around you can get a map at the tourist info across from the main station (Hauptbahnhof), tickets can also be purchased at Heinersdorff, or just find a trendy-looking café or bar and pick up one of the free city-guides 'Biograph' or 'Coolibri' to find out whats on. CLUBS If you want to go dancing there is the chic Mauer, Poco Loco (young crowd, often Spanish nights), Unique-Club (modern & alternative), Baby Love (more a bar than a club - so a bit cramped), Anacaonda Electric Lounge (techno & electro), Ratinger Hof (mostly rave) and Kulisse (fourty-somethings and German 'Schlager'-pop). Dusseldorfs trendy professionals go to the brilliantly designed Bankers Boulevard (but don't forget your credit card). Checkers is where Claudia Schiffer was 'discovered' and Sams, is another club close to Königsallee. The mk-2 club is a must for media types and design fans. Tor 3 and the Stahlwerk are in an industrial area outside the center of town, and the ZAKK offers various theme discos, also for the over-thirties. Dining in Europe > Dusseldorf
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