shopping on u.s. base in germany.
Fairy tales do come true! The story of an expats dream coming to fruition.
Living abroad, you miss the obvious: people and food. Both might be available at times, but these times are rare and come with a price (whether it’s import taxes, travel costs, etc). You learn to live without though, make substitutes, do a lot of Skyping and Gchatting, etc. Living abroad makes home more special than you ever dreamed. It is a constant despite changes. It’s a security blanket and visits are so incredibly special. You learn how to truly cherish moments and not waste a second.
Then, sometimes your German roommate really wants to learn how to make perfect cookies (Germans don’t really do cookies) and you have to inform her that you’d love to help her out but for the perfect cookies, you need *soft* brown sugar. Germans have brauner Zucker, which translates directly to brown sugar, but it’s actual a natural, unrefined sugar, not brown sugar as we know it.
A couple weeks later, you happen to be going to Stuttgart and remember there is a U.S. military base near the city. You’ve heard some of the perks of living on base, the main being an American grocery store (the Commissary). Immediately, you go out on an Internet limb and post in the Stuttgart area on CS:
Low and behold, we got a reply (a few actually), but went with our first reply, who we will call B. B met us at the train station, loaded us in his pick up truck that the Army had shipped over (so delightfully American), and we were on our way. Upon entering the base, there were several gates with armed guards (surprisingly not in military uniforms, nor were they American). We were asked for our passports because B had to check us in and out. Unfortunately, Maggie had no ID with her and could not experience the time on base. They were VERY strict on this matter as it is very important to know who is on and off base in case of attack or sensitive information going missing. After coming all this way, we decided to drop her off at a nearby cafe while I did some shopping.
We returned, got me checked in browsed the “mall” and food court, which reminded me immediately of a small town Wal*Mart. After getting a feel for the joint, we moved on to the Commissary, or supermarket. Since I was not allowed to shop myself, B pushed the car while I tried to maintain my crazy excitement. It immediately felt like I was back in the States seeing bags of Doritos, cans of Diet Dr Pepper, and frozen weight loss meals. Someone asked me which line I was in and I had a “did they just speak English to me?” moment. After giddy browsing, I made the following purchases:
Ranch dressing, canned pumpkin, 2 cans Rotel, 1 block Velveeta, 1 large Frank’s Hot Sauce, 1 package corn tortillas, Log Cabin syrup, Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, 1 Diet Dr Pepper, 2 boxes light brown sugar, and Quaker oats
The best part? I purchased all of this for around $20. Well, B purchased this, because I am not allowed. B commented that he would never buy any of these things. My response was YOU WOULD IF YOU COULDN’T HAVE THEM! Sure, these would not be my normal store run items, but I am thrilled at the idea of making another King Ranch chicken casserole and some warm cinnamon buns for breakfast on a Saturday morning.
Additionally, it was so interesting to see the base in general, here that special? American accent, and learn more about what the military is doing over here. Seeing the kindness of people going out of there way to make a silly American girl’s day was really heartwarming.
Ok, so maybe the lead in was a bit over the top, but it was certainly a cool experience and mega thanks to B, who really went out of his way for us!
no soft brown sugar? i learn something new everyday. looks like you tons of goodies. my favorite is the velveeta.
And Europeans only think their baked goods are good… soft brown sugar is pretty much my favorite ingredient. That, and cinnamon.
It is such a trip going onto the bases like that. And the Stuttgart “mall” totally reminded me of the honky mall in Janesville, WI… aka, the mall we never went to because it sucked. Haha. Totally jealous though, I’m going to attempt to make peanut butter cookies this weekend with BV, and I’m a little dubious about the brown sugar situation. We’ll see how it goes!
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hahaha I kept saying it reminded me of shopping in a small town, but still pretty amazing. I’ve done peanut butter cookies here ohne soft brown sugar and they turned out pretty great still
My boyfriend works on a base that is Spanish-American. When I go with him for a night or two, we also stop by the American part for Dr. Pepper, taquitos with ranch dressing and satellite TV! Thankfully, loads of American goodies shops have been popping up in Spain (mail order, too), so we always have an option.
Cat of Sunshine and Siestas recently posted…Tapa Thursdays: Gurumelos
Oh lucky gal! I’m so excited to cook up so new extra American dishes for everyone! We have the mail order options but the mark ups are straight up INSANE. I just can’t make myself do it and prefer to wait for visitors and beg them to bring along the essentials. But you bet I’ll be remaining friends with this soldier!
woo commissary woo!
don’t you just love checking out with the randomest assortment of groceries EVER? I always feel like the cashier is giving my judgy eyes.
hahahaha yesss like I couldn’t actually have a meal with the combinations of goods I bought – so great!
All solid choices. EXCEPT, only one Dr. Pepper!? You are crazy.
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I know, I know. I had limited backspace space and a LOOONG way to lug it – not an ideal situation since my Diet Dr Pepper withdrawals are intense. We can get the reg stuff pretty much everywhere here though!
Interesting selections, although I can’t say any of those items would be on my shopping list, excepting the hot sauce, provided there is no practical local substitute.
I do recall being abroad and missing some things, most notably scotch whisky, chewing tobacco & Marlboro cigarettes, when I was still a smoker. I shall never forget the puzzled look on the shopkeeper’s face in a tobacco shop in Geneva when I asked if they carried chewing tobacco.
Europe and elsewhere also has things which are not readily available in the U.S., among which I recall, Dunhill cigarettes, quality, unsweetened dark chocolate, good local beers and aged cheeses of all kinds.
So very happy for, proud of, and for, you.
Love always,
Daddio
The cheese variety usually is pretty good, except they really don’t have much cheddar or American, which is a mega disappointment. The queso and Rotel are always my essentials for queso nights.
You were so lucky that you found someone to help you out! =) What I would definitely buy if I had to live outside of Germany are German gummibears, all my favorite flavors, and lots of ‘em!
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We have the Haribo gummibears in the US, so you’d be set living there
This post cracked me up! The commissary is such a big deal to expats…including me!! It’s completely saved my cooking life out here. Of course, I’ve got direct access to all the American goods day in and day out.
Although the commissary allure is definitely only active for me while here in Germany…back in the states, I usually shop elsewhere unless I know somethings way on sale there. I have to say, I’m so surprised an Army dude responded back to you guys! Brave souls you are. As for the guards, every US military installation in Germany has to have German civilian employees. I would say about half of the base is German. So that’s why the guards are German and not American like you’d expect. I also think it’s for the military members protection, too. Glad you were able to get the goods you needed! Brown sugar with molasses is a hot commodity out here!! 
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I thought of you writing this post
Cooking favorite recipes is just so difficult without a big American grocery store! How lucky you are to have full commissary access, it is just such a treat! The guy that took us was so nice, but then again, what else does a single army dude have to do on a Thursday afternoon 
Thanks for the guards explanation! He mentioned that it’s a lot easier since the German guys already have their gun license and stuff. I’ve already cooked with my brown sugar, so great!
Glad you were able to get all that stuff. I always get really excited when I find German things in America. Or when people speak German!
I have to say that I was really surprised when I first saw your brown sugar because I only knew German Brauner Zucker. I thought something went wrong with the American one.
Hope your exam went well. But I am sure you did great!
Do you ever cook with the soft brown sugar now?? My German roommate just loved the cookies we made with it!
Oh yeah, I do! I use it for baking and in my tea!
I am so jealous. I know exactly what you mean with the American brown sugar. Another thing that I ‘must’ have from the US is Giardiniera which is a favorite thing of mine from the Chicagoland area. Glad you enjoyed yourself.
I just had to Google Giardiniera! But now i do know it!
Why don’t you make your own pumpkin puree instead of getting the canned stuff? It freezes for a long time. The Giardiniera is a must to try in your lifetime!
First: I’m squirming in my seat I’m so jealous right now.
Second: The lack of soft brown sugar destroys me. I get around it by using brauner Zucker and then underbaking to the point of inviting salmonella, but it’s not quite the same.
Third: Hahaha, you would if you couldn’t have them! How accurate! I’ve had canned pumpkin sitting in my room for almost a year and a half, I refuse to use it because I’m scared I’ll waste it and not have another one!
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hahaha I know I thought I was so ridiculous buying canned pumpkin but I determined that it was a need. So funny how Germans use pumpkin so differently (although I do love me some pumpkin soup). But really, soft brown sugar is the new gold!
Totally understand your excitement! Favorite line, “You would [want them} if you couldn’t have them.” Haha So true! My vice is Betty Crocker cake mix and FROSTING! But then I can’t find anyone to eat it with me because it’s too sweet for the German palate. Lame! Love the pic of everything you bought
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Ugh soooo get you on the German palette, it always makes me really nervous but all sorts of cookies seem to go over well, so now they’re my safe bet
This was SOOO not over the top!! I absolutely 100% would have bought everything that you purchased! Plus, I’ve really been craving some Strawberry Pop Tarts for some strange reason, so those would be coming home with me, as well as Kens Italian dressing if they had some!! $20 for all of that is a STEAL! I’ve never been on an Army base before – I love that you thought of sending a message, and that’s awesome that you had a handful of replies!! Enjoy every morsel. Oh, and Nestle Tollhouse Morsels would have come home with me, too
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They totally had some Kens, not the best variety, but they had it! Seriously, I felt like itw as such a steal. If I didn’t have to lug it an hour and a half home, I probably would’ve bought LOADS more! I’ve already made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, heaven
Ahhh so awesome!!! I feel like when I travel he thing I miss the most is food I know I love so that’s so great you got to get some staples. I can’t believe you only bought one diet dr pepper!! I’d have bought like 30!!! Lol
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Oh trust me, if I wouldn’t have killed my back or had to lug it a long way home, I would’ve bought a million DDPs. Next time I’ll ahve to bring a large rolling suitcase or something haha
SO. JEALOUS. Is that the reason my chocolate chips cookies turned out super flat? I used the the braunzucker here and they still tasted great, but were super flat and not thick at all, and I couldn’t figure out why.
but cool that you got to have that experience! I’ve never been on a military base.
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Whenever I cook with the brauner zucker, the texture is just so wrong! The taste is there, but they’re just not proper cookies. It was my first time on base. You should see if there’s one near you!!
THIS IS THE GREATEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN!!! I think it is so awesome that you put that message out there and somebody was nice enough to help you out. I bet it felt like heaven!
And your response, “You would if you couldn’t have them” is so true! When I’m back in the States, I eat stuff that I never would eat if I lived there. Like I go crazy in Taco Bell… CRAZY! Now what San Antonio chick goes crazy in Taco Bell?? None, except for this homesick one.
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HAHAHA we had heard there was a Taco Bell on the base and were looking SO forward to it, but low and behold it was there no more and they just had Subway, Burger King, and Popeyes! Ok, Popeyes was kinda cool but not half as cool as a Taco Bell encounter would have been.
Funny!
We get soft brown sugar here but didn’t in Gabon. To be honest, I hardly noticed the difference when baking with raw sugar but totally missed the soft stuff for my oatmeal
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It’s actually not the taste I see the difference, but the texture!
so f’ing jealous.
id kill for a can of rotel.
shoot…id kill for a can of dr. pepper that i didnt have to pay $7 for.
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I could NOT believe what all I got for $20 and I’m treating those Rotel cans like fine china – only comes out for special occasions and you’re still hesitant about using it
Am heading out to Germany with my hubby in August. We both have uk forces I.D ( hubby is in the RAF) and we are hoping to be able to get onto the American BX near Bitburg way. Any thoughts as to whether we can go on or use the shop?
For the base I was at, you had to be invited and accompanied by someone while on base. I was not allowed to purchase the good myself, so B purchased them and I paid him back. Hope this helps!