I was floundering in my seat at the Piemont Restaurant in Kirchheimbolanden
I had selected the beef filet made as my main dish
but I wanted to try something outside of the box as well
Just one problem: The waitress returned and said it wasn’t available
a scallop and shrimp dish with a pistachio crust and avocado sauce seemed like a good replacement
The words barely had left my lips before she nixed that option
I found a homemade tagliatelle dish listed as a chef’s recommendation
Little did I know that snap choice was going to be the best part of the meal
nearly 25 miles northeast of Kaiserslautern along the A63
The Italian restaurant had caught my eye due to its seafood and delicacies from the Piedmont region
the land that borders France and Switzerland in northwest Italy
I tried my best to avoid typical Italian fare and taste these items
My companion’s mushroom soup was heavy on the mushroom as well as croutons
and the croutons soaked up the soup’s flavoring well
The dish was topped off with a blue foam that contrasted with the meal’s red hue
before I mixed it with the rest of the ingredients
the meatiness of the mushrooms and venison were so filling that I realized I should have eaten this as the main dish
I scarfed it down and was disappointed when it was gone
The restaurant takes its time making the dishes — the menu has a warning on the opening page about it
both the octopus risotto my companion had ordered and my steak came with the same blue foam
The lemon flavor fits with the seafood vibe of the risotto
My colleague mentioned the tentacles were meaty instead of rubbery
What threw me for a loop was the Parma ham coating
The steak also came with a medley of vegetables — carrots
but the avocado sauce that lined the dish added to the vegetables’ natural flavors
the effort put into the dishes from preparation to cooking to presentation was evident
although it seemed more like a place for date night or for a family gathering than just a typical night out
you won’t go wrong with the food — even when you take a stab in the dark
Prices: Appetizers range from 6.50 to 18 euros
pizza starts at 8.90 euros and goes up to 19 euros
and main dishes range from 14 euros to 65 euros for a T-bone steak
Panic had started to set in after two bad pizza experiences in my neck of the Nordpfalz
I refused to believe my best choice was a doner kebab place
Caruso Ristorante & Vini in Kirchheimbolanden
and the smells emanating from the building early one day got me salivating
I made a reservation for one on a Thursday evening
and what I tasted surpassed my expectations
Serving customers since 1995 just south of the Stadthalle an der Orangerie
Caruso is no surprise to the inhabitants of the town affectionately dubbed Kibo
Its popularity was evident from the few empty tables – most of them two-seaters
I decided to give other items a try as well
building up to the pizza I considered to be the main event
The first item was a daily special: a pumpkin cream soup
and dipping slices of bread into the soup really soaked up the flavors
The tortelloni gorgonzola sounded pretty good based off the menu’s description
but it wasn’t supposed to be the main meal for me
That all changed when the server brought out the dish
which was similar to my homemade Alfredo sauce
After lathering part of a tortelloni in it
I let out a perhaps too loud squeak of delight
The sauce relied on the natural flavor of the cheese
and it was so creamy that each bite filled me with bliss
The Gorgonzola sauce was so good that I did everything but lick the plate clean
A server saw me struggling using a fork to lap it all up once the tortelloni was consumed (at a rapid pace
It was then that the server asked if I was ready for the pizza
I had forgotten completely about my main reason for coming to Caruso
and the weight of all that cheese hit me like a ton of bricks
The server saw that written in eyes and body language and suggested waiting 10 minutes
I agreed that was the best course of action
My stomach still wasn’t ready when the pizza came out
I took my first slice of pizza and realized it made up for my bad experiences thus far
The dough was thicker on the outside and thinner toward the middle
and the sauce was the best I have had since moving to Germany
The cheese and pepperoni were class as well
Thankfully I was able to take half the pizza home because I couldn’t have another bite
I originally went to Caruso looking to restore my faith in the pizza scene but instead found an entire menu I want to sample
The good news for me is that it’s just minutes away from house
Address: Im Kuechengarten 1 67292 Kirchheimbolanden
Prices: Food starts at 8 euros for appetizers and 11 euros for main dishes
Pizza begins at 9 euros with a gluten-free option available
The three months since I moved into my new home in Germany kept me so busy that I didn’t have much chance to check out the sort of restaurant where you relax for a little while
my culinary kickoff came at Restaurant Orangerie in Kirchheimbolanden
about 25 miles northeast of Kaiserslautern
The restaurant reopened under new management in October 2022
meaning the new Orangerie arrived on the scene roughly the same time I did
Its intimate feel is noticeable the moment you walk in
as well as between walls in the main room to give patrons plenty of privacy
so I started with a chestnut soup that had hints of Riesling
 The bacon bits and croutons added a crunchiness that I also found pleasing
I’m glad I didn’t look it up ahead of time
as I guarantee I would not have ordered stuffed pig offal if I had known what it was
A German friend whose grandfather was a butcher later described the dish to me as a porcine version of haggis
It was a favorite of former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl
Restaurant Orangerie’s version consists of two patty-like shapes
carrot bits and chopped onions wrapped in a pig’s stomach lining
On top was a chestnut glaze with cabbage and croquettes
the saumagen tasted so good I would consider having it again
The last dish I ordered came from a special menu for Glan cattle
It came with a horseradish sauce that wasn’t as overbearing as others I’ve tried
The sauce left a little tangy aftertaste while finishing off the accompanying steamed vegetables and parsley potatoes
and I want to return to try some other menu items
but it’s not so expensive that it bars people from going on a regular basis
 As long as you stay away from a steak or a rack of lamb
the main dishes are priced between 17 and 25 euros
The restaurant also has a large wine selection
appropriate for a major wine-producing region
My waiter tried to interest me in butterscotch schnapps after my meal
but I declined for the sake of my drive home
I consider Restaurant Orangerie a great place for date night and get-togethers of small groups
only a few tables were open the entire time I was there
and 5:30-10 p.m.; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Prices: Between 10 and 30 euros for entrees