Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Coastal Fish & the Hanseatic Table

Updated June 18, 2026

The catch of the North Sea and Baltic, cooked the frugal Hanseatic way. Fresh fish in browned butter, smoked eel, and the dishes that turn yesterday's fish into today's dinner. Nothing wasted.

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Brathering - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Brathering

The northern coastal herring that works twice: fried first for a firm skin and deep flavour, then laid down in vinegar until onion, spice, and sourness do the rest.

Ostfriesische Krabbensuppe - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Ostfriesische Krabbensuppe

The East Frisian shrimp soup that begins at the peeling bowl: sweet North Sea brown shrimp, their shells cooked into stock, then potato, leek, and cream brought in gently.

Finkenwerder Scholle - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Finkenwerder Scholle

Hamburg's flatfish supper lives in one pan: whole plaice floured at the last moment, fried light side down first, then finished with Speck, onion, and bacon fat.

Kieler Sprotten - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Kieler Sprotten

The Schleswig-Holstein fish larder on a board: small sprats, salt, beech smoke, dark rye, and the discipline to dry the fish before the smoke touches them.

Norddeutscher Aaleintopf - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Norddeutscher Aaleintopf

A northern eel stew built on roots, potatoes, herbs, and vinegar, with the fish added late so the broth stays clear and the flesh stays whole.

Hamburger Pannfisch - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Hamburger Pannfisch

Hamburg's fish pan is thrift with a spine: cold boiled potatoes browned hard, cooked fish folded in gently, and a sharp mustard sauce made from the fish liquor.

Backfisch mit Kartoffelsalat - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Backfisch mit Kartoffelsalat

Backfisch works when the batter is cold, the fish is dry, and the oil is steady. Miss one of those and you get a wet coat, not a crisp one.

Bückling - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Bückling

The North Sea and Baltic smokehouse fish: whole herring, salted just enough, cooked in warm smoke until the skin turns gold and the flesh lifts clean from the bones.

Husumer Fischsuppe - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Husumer Fischsuppe

The North Frisian fish soup that starts with what most cooks throw away: shrimp shells, fish bones, leek, root vegetables, and a clear broth balanced sweet against sour.

Fischfrikadellen - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Fischfrikadellen

The coast's thrifty fish cake, built from yesterday's cooked cod or haddock, bound lightly with soaked roll, and fried just long enough to crisp the outside.

Hamburger Aalsuppe - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Hamburger Aalsuppe

Hamburg's old all-in soup: smoked ham bone for depth, dried fruit for sweet-sour bite, herb dumplings for body, and eel added late so it stays clean and whole.

Kabeljau in Senfsauce - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Kabeljau in Senfsauce

Northern cod, barely poached, then sauced with its own broth and good German mustard. The fish stays tender because the pot never boils.

Stralsunder Fischertopf - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Stralsunder Fischertopf

The Baltic fish pot from Stralsund lives on a clean stock, floury potatoes, sour gherkin, and dill, with mustard and cream added late so the broth stays bright.

Matjes nach Hausfrauenart - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Matjes nach Hausfrauenart

A northern early-summer plate of mild cured herring in cool cream, apple, onion, and gherkin, served with hot potatoes, and not a salad.

Hamburger Labskaus - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Hamburger Labskaus

Hamburg's sailor mash is not pretty by accident: pink potato, corned beef, beetroot, fried egg, herring, and pickle, all held together by one rule, dry potatoes before you mash.

Räucheraal - Chef Klaus

Chef Klaus

Räucheraal

The northern smoked fish that asks for clean brining, dry skin, and patient beech smoke, not fuss: golden eel, dark rye, horseradish, and enough acid to cut the fat.

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