My Volga German Heritage And The Food That Goes Along With It

I am half Volga German.  My grandparents as well as my father are full Volga Germans which means I have been exposed a great deal to this part of my family history.  In the late 1800's approximately 25,000 Volga Germans fled Russia and settled in the Central Valley.  My great-grandparents were a part of this immigration and settled in "Rooshian Town" in South-West Fresno.  First, I am grateful to my great-grandparents (whom I was never fortunate enough to meet) for coming here, which allowed for the opportunities I, my family and my children have been able to take advantage of.  Second, I am grateful for them passing down the rich Volga German heritage that I have been able to experience in my life.

I have fond memories of German food when I was growing up.  The staples of our German food were Varingas (this is how we pronounce it.  They are also known as Verriniki and many other variations,) "Dag-Grabble," beerocks and of course smoked German sausage.  You could not find these items at local restaurants so we experienced these foods at family gatherings.

Varingas were always a favorite, and as a child I looked at these as a delicacy.  They are a simple egg, flour and water dough, filled with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut, boiled then fried in butter and served with melted butter.  As I stated above, I looked at these as delicacies.  However, I later learned that these version of the Pierogi, we made because the ingredients were inexpensive.  Like many immigrants, my great grandparents, and my grandparents were field and dairy workers and did not make much money.  Varingas can be filled with almost anything, however, we try to stick with the original recipe as this is what we are accustomed to.  I do not know of any restaurants that sell these, however, varieties of these are available Fresno Pacific University Relief Sale held every year at the college campus in April.

Beerocks are probable the most well known German food.  Again, in my youth these were usually homemade.  However, the Beerock Shop at West and Bullard now sells these.  In addition, the Edison Social Club and Hope Lutheran Church have sales yearly of homemade beerocks made by member of the Volga German community.

The main staple of Volga German food is German sausage.  It was said when I was growing up that if there was not German sausage at an event such as a wedding or family reunion, the event was not a German event. The making of German sausage dates back to the Volga region of Russia.  However, in the Central Valley the "king" of true German sausage was Ohlberg's German sausage.  Ohlberg started making German sausage in Fresno in 1928.  This tradition stayed with Fresno, and the original recipe, made by the original meat grinder, is still available today through Renna's Meat market at Ashlan and First.  There are two varieties of this sausage, fresh and smoked.  I prefer the smoked as this was what I grew up on, however both varieties are excellent and prepared from the original recipe.  Helmuth's in Kerman also sells German sausage, and though I have not tried them, I have heard from many relatives that it is very good.

Again, I do not know of any Fresno restaurants that sell these items, except in part.  I have to experience these delicacies at family functions, like the one I will happily attend at my cousin's home tomorrow.  However, if anyone wants to know more about these items, let me know.  I may decide to have a Volga German night at my house and include the community, as I was fortunate enough to work along side my grandmother and learn these recipes first hand.

I LOVE CUPCAKES!!!!

Anyone who has been my friend on Facebook or Twitter knows that I love cupcakes.  Especially those that incorporate Spam or Bacon as an ingredient.  (Don't go hating these are actually very good cupcakes.  Trust Me.)  Living in Fresno there are a plethora of places to get cupcakes.  Maybe this is one of the reasons I have so much trouble losing weight maybe huh?????  In any event this is a list of places in the Fresno area that I have been to that bake and sell cupcakes.  They each have their own spin on the cupcake however they are all VERY good in their own way.

Cup Cakes is located at Cedar and Herndon.  This was the first local cupcake specialty shop that I knew of.

Charlotte's is located on Olive in the Tower District.  They not only have great cupcakes but also incredible sangwiches.  (The G is not a mis-spelling that is how I say the word.)  I can get lunch AND a cupcake.  (Best BLT I ever had by the way but that is for another blog.)

Sugar Shack is located at Sunnyvale and Perrin.  Now what I like about this place is not only do they make a cupcake that incorporates bacon and another that incorporate Guinness Beer they also sell soft serve frozen yogurt.  I can get a bowl of yogurt the add the cupcake making one bowl of pure goodness.

Chiffono's is located at Cedar and Shepard.  They make great cupcakes as well as other desserts.  I am often torn between a red velvet cupcake and a lemon bar so the easiest thing is to just get both.

The Frosted Cakery is located within walking distance of my house.  This is dangerous.  They also incorporate bacon as well as the famous Spam cupcake.  They share the spot with the SupportR which sells food.  Again this place is very dangerous to me.

If I missed any let me know.  These again are the places I have been to and go to often.  try them all and I am sure you will find your favorite.  (Then I can refer you to my trainer who is incredible in his own right.)

Now if only I could get someone to make a Fried Chicken and Waffle cupcake for my birthday!!!!!

Fresno!!!!!

I have, as of late, seen many "complaints" "attacks" "bitches" about Fresno.  It upsets me to see this.  I was born here.  In the OLD St Agnes in south Fresno.  I have lived here my whole life.  I went to under grad school here and recently graduated from law school here.  I have also been fortunate enough to be a police officer and private investigator in this city.  Because of this, I have learned a great deal about this city and the surrounding cities and what they have to offer.  I like to eat, I like to meet people, and I like to experience things.  This is my nature.  I am curious and inquisitive, as is required in my chosen professions.  I seek out the unusual.  The things that many ignore but are truly gems in this area.  So I have decided to blog, Facebook and Twitter (and any new social media site that comes out) about this city (area) and what I experience here.  I am always actively seeking new places to go to, people to meet, and things to experience.  The Fresno area has so much to offer that many people miss.  I have a rich full life without leaving town.  Everyone here can.  My goal in writing on all these media sources is to expose people to what Fresno has to offer.  There is a LOT, and I hope you follow along on this journey.  I take suggestions, questions, and even complaints.  Hang on because this will be a fun ride.

DISCLAIMER:  I have no financial interest in any places, people, businesses that I mention.  There are simply the ones I have come across in my 46 years.  I have no favorites, I like just about anything.  If I mention something, and you think there is something better or equal to, let me know.  I will check it out.  I am not critiquing here, just making people aware of things.