Storytelling at its best! Have you ever made a trip to Heidelberg in Germany? Not yet? Heidelberg is always worthwhile. Hopefully the weather will be better in spring, than it was this weekend. Drenched with rain, we stand in front of the Gundel bakery. The window dressing showed cakes, cookies and breads. Wow! Without rain we would not have popped in and we would not be aware of the story about the Kurfürst’s delight. Our luck!
The Kurfürst’s delight is a specialty of the Gundel bakery. It’s a fine traditional sponge dough ball with nougat cream in the middle, covered by delicious marzipan and chocolate. The original recipe is from 1896.
Chef’s Handyman, Kurfürst’s Delight
Most charming is the story about the Kurfürst’s delight. The Heidelberg Castle was the residence of the princes of the Electoral Palatinate. One of them was Frederick V, who married Elizabeth Stuart, the daughter of the King of England. The marriage was based on true love, which they had to fight for. The royal dynasty wasn’t really found of the marriage, to the fact, that Frederick was just an electoral prince and not a king. Even then the couple was a match made in heaven. Elisabeth Stuart was also called the ‘Pearl of Britannia’.
Years later, when they left the castle, a group of people wanted to recall the flourishing past. Master baker Gundel got the order to create a delicacy in remembrance of the past decade. The story of the frog king gave him the idea. So the Kurfürst’s delight had been born. The whole story can be red here.
Chef’s Handyman, Kurfürst’s Delight
The delicious pastries can be tested at the bakery Gundel in Heidelberg. When the restaurant is too crowded you might prefer to take a pastry to go and eat them in the garden of the castle. Maybe the spirit of the Frederick V and Elisabeth Stuart will be still up there.
Chef’s Handyman, Gundel Heidelberg
The Chef’s Handyman team loves the story of the Kurfürst’s Delight very much. Have a great start into the week, yours Chef’s Handyman team!
