Feuerzangenbowle

When my boss first sent me this invitation with this title, I absolutely had no idea. I just knew that there was going to be drinks and food. No one was able to give me a concrete explanation except for the fact that it's become a tradition of my German boss to host this every year around the holidays.

I was lucky enough get a ride with that boss to go to his house, along with an Austrian colleague so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do some digging on the details of this "event".

Apparently, "feuerzangenbowle" turns out to be a drink which literally means fire + clippers (tongs) + punch. Much of it had to be actually "demonstrated" to be seen but these were the details I was given:
- It's usually sold in German-speaking areas everywhere at Christmas markets
- It's like malted wine (hot wine) but stronger and better
- There is a movie with the same name that made it popular. It's shown during holiday season on TV every year and every German knows this.

I finally found out why it had to be "seen".The base is made of red wine and spices, exactly like hot wine. Then there is a sugar "bowl" (literaly looks like a cone ball) that is soaked in rum (VERY strong rum) which is then lit on fire. The strong rum ignites the fire and the sugar is slowly melted on top of the hot wine. The end result is spiked and sweet version of hot wine.

 
Of course, there were German foods aplenty. I had my share of potato salad, obatzda (Bavarian cheese butter), various German breads, pudding, meatballs, and chicken roasts. Yum and yum! It was especially special as it was kind of like Thanksgiving - which I have now realized that I've missed spending with my family 10 years in a row!

Obatzda....incredibly amazing with bread

Dessert made by my colleagues: apple crumble, blueberry cheese cake, and cinnamon apple spice bread