Living like a baller...

(also note the amount of wine glasses on the table)

When she learned of my interest in FC Bayern Munich, Judith promised to take me to several places around Munich frequented by the players. The first of such places was H'ugo's (yes, it's spelled with two apostrophes, why, ???), where we had a GEDS program party/reunion. All of the German students who visited Chapel Hill last fall were there, plus Peter and Judith, and of course Amie and me. The German students told us that H'ugo's is a very "in" restaurant in Munich, and that it's where all the rich men hang out. Judith told me it's a favorite of these guys:

Franck Ribery (left), Luca Toni (right)

(I believe both photos are from Bild)

So, needless to say, this was a totally baller place. Sadly, we did not see Mr. Ribery nor Mr. Toni (who is even more sadly no longer with FC Bayern). However, I did eat the BEST PIZZA OF MY LIFE. I am not even kidding. It's in the picture above--just a plain thin crust, cheese pizza with very lightly seasoned crushed tomatoes as sauce, but with white truffles shaved over the top. I've never really understood what the big deal was about truffles until now, but OMG. The flavor of the truffles somehow mixed perfectly with the mozzarella, so you couldn't even really tell where the deliciousness was coming from, but you also didn't really care, because it was that good. In "Eat, Pray, Love," there's a part in which Elizabeth Gilbert says she's having a relationship with a pizza she's eating in Naples. When I read it at first, I was like, ha ha, that's cute. Now I understand. You can see me with my soulmate in the above photo.

In addition to the truffle pizza, my friend Christina got a ridiculously good smoked salmon and balsamic dressing pizza, and there was so much other good food I can't even describe it all. (Case in point: when we were having problems deciding on appetizers to share as a group, Peter promptly ordered every appetizer on the menu.) There was also aperitifs and LOTS of wine and digestifs after dinner. The female servers started dancing on tables. There were hot reggaeton beats and flashing lights. It was a party, ballers or no ballers.

Seeing all of the German girls again was fabulous. (I'd hung out with Michaela since I'd arrived, but hadn't seen Christina, Andrea, or Kathrin since Chapel Hill.) We made some plans for after their exams, like hiking in the Alps (which apparently have amazing food shacks hidden all up in there) and visiting Neuschwanstein. Plus, Christina and I decided we'd come back to H'ugo's to watch El Clasico in April, 'cause she's a Real Madrid fan (and as you all know, I'm a Barcelona girl). Truffle pizza, wine, and a grudge match? Yes, please!

FYI to Mike and any other visitors to Munich (Jenny? Thomas?): you're eating here. And you're having the truffle pizza. As Peter would say, "it's a MUST."

xoxo