The Knacks: July 05, 2004 Archives

During our family vacation this year, Suzette and I went to dinner at a quiet German restaurant in downtown Helen, Georgia. We'd already eaten German earlier in the week, so I was feeling a little bit adventurous and wasn't quite sure what to order.

All the menu choices were nicely translated and described: wiener schnitzel was breaded veal, etc. Then I saw it: Ofenfrische Schweinehaxen. No English description. No translation. The description in German translated roughly to "for the one who knows". So of course I ordered it.

Every once in a while, a gamble pays off beyond your wildest dreams, and this was one of those times. What they brought out to me was beautiful: A fresh (not cured) ham hock, served short end up. It stood at least 9 inches tall and must have weighed at least a pound and a half. Brown crispy perfectly seasoned—bay and probably a hint of allspice—skin encasing warm fatty pork. I hope that place is still there if we end up back there someday.

Sadly, I didn't have my camera with me that night. Here are some of the pics I did get, though.