But the city's long coffee and brewing traditions also leave their mark, as do the regional delicacies cabbage, asparagus and strawberries. It's also impossible to imagine the culinary map of Bremen without the rollo, which was invented in Bremen, and the many sweets made here.

Hamburg's signature dishes include (from breakfast to dessert): Franzbrötchen (French rolls, allegedly influenced by Napoleon's troops), Currywurst (Celebrated in Uwe Timm's novel 'The Invention of Curried Sausage'), Labskaus (Seafarers' stew of various ingredients tinted a bright pink from beetroot) and Rote Grütze ( ...