This card was sent to me by Melanie from Rastatt, a city and baroque residence in the District of Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the Murg river, 6 km (3.7 mi) above its junction with the Rhine and has a population of around 50'000 (2011). Rastatt was
an important place of the War
of the Spanish Succession (Treaty
of Rastatt) and the Revolutions
of 1848 in the German states. This town is in
Southern Germany but, North of the famous Black Forest.
Maybe,
you know of the Black Forest gateau? You see the two pretty women in
this picture on the card. The ones in the traditional costumes! They are in the
colours of the cake. The red hat for the lovely cherries, the white
shirts represent whipped cream and the dark dresses for the
chocolate cake itself. Delicious (the cake of course J).
Black Forest gâteau and Black
Forest cake are the English
names for the German dessert Schwarzwälder
Kirschtorte, literally "Black Forest cherry torte". Black
Forest cake originated in Germany.
What
exactly is this cake? Typically, Black
Forest cake consists of several layers of chocolate cake, with whipped
cream and cherries between each layer. Then the cake is decorated with
additional whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and chocolate shavings. In some
European traditions sour cherries are used both between the layers and for
decorating the top. Traditionally, Kirschwasser (a clear liquor distilled from
tart cherries) is added to the cake, although other liquors are also used (such
as rum, which is common in Austrian recipes). In the United States, Black
Forest cake is most often prepared without alcohol. German statutory
interpretation states Kirschwasser as a mandatory ingredient, otherwise the
cake is legally not allowed to be marketed as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. True
Black Forest cakes are decorated with black cherries. A small tip: if black
cherries are not available, use glacee cherries dipped in melted chocolate.
