I think what you had in Germany must have been a fruhstucksbuffet (not sure of the spelling, but that's close). It's a lavish breakfast buffet of many things, hot and cold. Whenever staying in Germany I always make sure that the pension I'm staying in has a fruhstucksbuffet. Goes back to student days, when my travelling companions and I would take a few bread rolls, some hard-boiled eggs, slices of cheese (no sausage - vegetarian travellers all) and make sandwiches at our table, slip them into our bags and have them for lunch or on the train: two meals (or three) while paying only for room and breakfast. I remember deep disappointment - and some budget reconfiguring - when the advertised fruhstucksbuffet turned out to be stale rolls, margerine, little packets of rubbery 'jam' and ONE cup of instant coffee. Nothing to stick to the ribs or carry away and eat for later. Actually had to pay for meals meals that weekend, since the 'breakfast' was decidedly unsatisfactory...

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