In 1831, a German named Johann Friedrich Ernst traveled to Texas searching for land. The Hill Country was mostly unsettled; fertile land was plentiful. So Ernst sent back home and soon German immigrants began flooding to the region.
Cook's Country
In the Library with Toni Tipton-Martin: The German Community in Texas
In this video, Toni Tipton-Martin discusses how the German immigration to Texas impacted local food culture.
By Published Nov. 9, 2023.
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Over the years, more and more Germans immigrated to the area. Today, many of the descendants of these early immigrants celebrate their German heritage.
Every November, the town of New Braunfels, Texas, hosts a 10-day German food festival called “Wurstfest,” nicknamed a “Ten-Day Salute to Sausage.” But it’s not all sausages at this event; it celebrates multiple facets of food culture. This event is where we drew inspiration for our take on Kartoffelpuffer, or Texas Potato Pancakes.
Cook’s Country’s Editor in Chief Toni Tipton-Martin gives a more detailed story of how German immigration has made for a rich food culture in parts of Texas in the video below.