The German Bakery Story-Part 1

Something eerie happened to me last week. It involves a job I had in Massachusetts, a German couple, a dream, and a German bakery.

When I lived in MA, I worked for Home Instead Senior Care. We provided home care and support for elderly people in their homes. I was willing to take the training to care for people with Alzheimers and dementia. It was the hardest job I've ever had.

Mrs G had Alzheimers. I came into their home at a time when Mr G was trying to work in their home office on the second floor of the house. Mrs G didn't want Mr G to leave her sight and he needed someone to keep her company downstairs, do a little grocery shopping and cook their main meal of the day.

The G's had come to the US from Germany in the 1950's. He was an expert in Biodynamic and Organic gardening. Like many Europeans, they ate their largest meal at noon. We discovered quickly that my usual lunch for clients that consisted of soup and sandwiches wouldn't do. Mrs G ate like a bird, but she ate well if the meals were German dishes that tasted, to her "just like home".

Mr G was willing to teach me not only German cooking, but ORGANIC German cooking. Their kitchen was an amateur cook's dream. There was a large cupboard full of Le Creuset cookware and a large center island with the gas stove and oven built in.

Three mornings a week I showed up at 9am. Mr G would ask what I planned to cook that day. Then he would go out to his garden with a big basket and bring back whatever vegetables and herbs I needed that day. He taught me to make Spaetzle, Sauerbraten, German Potato Salad, Cucumber Salad and Goulasch.

The G's had chocolate every day after lunch and always shared. At 4pm, they would have coffee and sweets. Sometimes I made them a pie. People who visited would bring pastries. We were thrilled when Panera and Trader Joe's finally arrived on Cape Cod.

The G's decided move back to Germany just about the time I was planning to move to FL. I read a couple of articles about a famous German Bakery in Central Florida. I told Mr G that I would try to find it someday.

Last Monday night I had a dream that Mr and Mrs G were in. I don't remember too much about the dream except that they were there. Tuesday, we found the German Bakery.

And we weren't even looking for it. I took pictures.
The rest of the story.....soon.