US Midwest and encounters with Hungarian, and German/Mexican Cuisines

I’ve been the last couple weeks in Ohio, commuting in different cities Toledo, Maumee, and Perrysburg. I’ve been enjoying the hospitality of the Midwestern, a particular kind of restaurants, and some sport matches.

Toledo City Hall

When I say particular I mean the unique type of restaurant you find in these places. Places like Tony Packo’s, Byblos, and Arturo’s Fritz & Alfredo’s. Hungarian cuisine where the speciality is hot dogs, Lebanese/Italian restaurant, and Mexican/German cuisine. Nothing is better than having chicken schnitzel with tamale as a side.

Tony Packo’s Hungarian Cuisine 

The place has been around since 1932 but got recognition thanks to the American series M.A.S.H. when one of the main characters mentions the place in several episodes. Since then several famous people has been eating in the place, and signing hot dog buns. The first one to do that was Burt Reynolds in 1972, and since then artist, musicians, and even politicians have sign and being immortalised in a bun.

The Original Packo's

The menu

Bun wall of fame

More signed buns

As you can imagine I went for the Tony Packo’s Moad “the biggest hot dog you will ever eat”, and as a side I tried the fried pickles. Good hot dogs in a different and unique place. Highly recommended if you’re around.

Moad hot dog

Fried Pickles

The German/Mexican

I got to this place by a recommendation from a colleague, I couldn’t resist the idea of experiment a mix of this completely different cuisines. To be honest is a restaurant with practically two menus that you can combine.

German/Mexican

I went for sauerkraut balls (deep fried battered sauerkraut), Anita’s peppers (Jalapeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese, breaded and deep fried), and as a main I had a Huehner Schnitzel with Mexican rice and tamale.

Schnitzel

Mexican rice

Sauerkraut balls

Anita's pepper

Strange but good experience, so if you’re adventurous is a must.

This combination of cuisines is almost as strange as the “Mansiere” (a brassiere for men) created by Frank Costanza in the Seinfeld episode “The Doorman”.

Frank Costanza: Bro's no good. Too ethnic.

Kramer: You got something better?

Frank Costanza: How about the Mansiere?

Kramer: Mansiere

Frank Costanza: That's right; a brassiere for a man