# Why no potato dumplings?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-potato-dumplings/976436>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** food-cooking\
**Created:** [December 13, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-potato-dumplings/976436 "2022-12-13T01:35:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-potato-dumplings/976436/1 "2022-12-13T01:35:35Z")

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growing up in half-German household (Dad), my mom used to to make potato dumplings from scratch (size of matzo balls at least) to go with sauerbraten, but over the last 30+ years, in the 7-8 cities I’ve lived in or visited, none of the German restaurants make them. I see spaetzle, potato pancakes, gnocchi, once bread dumplings, but no potato. Why is it, you think? they’re not that hard or time consuming to make. Has anyone else noticed this?

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-potato-dumplings/976436/2 "2022-12-13T02:12:55Z")

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That’s a good question. I looked around the German restaurant menus around here, and I don’t see them. You’ll find the Polish version of those at Polish restaurants around here often enough, though. I remember my parents buying some mix for Kartoffelklöße/Knödel at the Eastern European grocery store, but I can’t remember seeing it at German restaurants.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-potato-dumplings/976436/3 "2022-12-13T02:24:40Z")

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[Mader’s Restaurant](https://madersrestaurant.com/menu/dinner-menu/) in Milwaukee has potato dumplings listed as a side on their dinner menu. I know I’ve had 'em a few times over the decades but I really don’t recall much about them. I tend to prefer spaetzle.

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**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-potato-dumplings/976436/4 "2022-12-13T03:11:03Z")

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> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> [Mader’s Restaurant](https://madersrestaurant.com/menu/dinner-menu/) in Milwaukee has potato dumplings listed as a side on their dinner menu.

Damn you for making me hungry for Mader’s! Damn you all to hell!

Stranger

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-potato-dumplings/976436/5 "2022-12-13T03:31:12Z")

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You’re welcome. Let me know when you’re in town next, we can meet there for a bite.