Vera Bochow opened The Hungry German at 22 Tees St, at the end of November. She offers a concise menu of traditional German fare, including schnitzel, and Nuremberg and Frankfurter sausages, and of course sauerkraut.

Q. Tell us a little bit about your background and family - and how you ended up in Oamaru:

My family (my husband and two adult children) and I came to New Zealand from Germany 17 years ago and settled in Christchurch.

After working as a nanny for different families, the opportunity to open a small takeaway shop presented itself.

Kelli Williams, a family friend, from One Agency next door (on Tees Street), offered the little shop to me and thought the idea of having a new place for people to enjoy something different would be a great addition to Ōamaru. So we fitted out the shop and got the necessary approvals and now I’m commuting between Christchurch and Oamaru.

Q. What is the story behind The Hungry German? What was your motivation behind opening it?

I always loved cooking and especially cooking for people, so I’m doing what I love! If people enjoy my food as much as I do cooking for them, it’s a win-win.

Q. When did you open? And how has it been going?

I opened the doors on 23 November and had great feedback from locals so far! The Schnitzel Fries Supreme, as well as our Hungry’s Mac’n Cheese (Kaesespaetzle) are a great hit! Our pasta is homemade and it’s also a great vegetarian option.

Q. What is it you love about German food? What do you think will appeal to customers who haven't tried it yet? 

German food is so much more than sausages and sauerkraut – although I have that on my menu too. There are many regional specialties, and I try to bring you a piece of our South German comfort food! 

Kaesespaetzle is very typical for the region (South West Germany) I’m from and a staple in our house, but one thing I have to recommend is definitely the sauerkraut! Not only is it incredibly healthy and good for you, it also tastes delicious.

A Nuremburg sausage with sauerkraut and tomato sauce. Photo: Sarah Rowland

I pan fry it with apples and onions low and slow to bring out the natural sweetness and it’s the perfect accompaniment for any of the sausages or the German meatloaf. It’s also worth mentioning that we have a lot of gluten-free options (our Frankfurters, Nurembergs, German Meatloaf, sauerkraut, potato salad and chips from Makikihi Fries). 

I’m also planning to serve specials from time to time so follow our Facebook page for announcements.

Q. Do you have a favourite dish?

Again, the Sauerkraut and Kaesespaetzle are definitely favourites with my family and myself, and the more people try it, the more they love it too! Although a good Schnitzel never goes amiss.

Q. What are you enjoying about the business? What have you found the most challenging part?

I love it if people enjoy eating my food and come back for more! 

The challenging part is getting the word out, making people aware that we exist, as well as figuring out what people love the most. 

It’s hard to gauge what items people will choose from the menu but this will work out over time and we just evolve and adjust.

Q. What do you like to do outside of your business, in your spare time?

In my spare time, I love spending time with my family (and yes, I love getting everyone together over lunch or dinner) or go for walks at the beach and I’m a real bookworm. Books with a history background especially interest me.

The Hungry German is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am until 7pm.