All-you-can-eat for meat lovers: an evening at the Rodizio restaurant!

All-you-can-eat for meat lovers: an evening at the Rodizio restaurant!

The love of meat is flourishing in Cologne – and not just from a culinary perspective. The current enthusiasm for inexpensive steaks and hearty meat dishes is reflected both in restaurant visits and in the everyday eating habits of Germans. Right in the middle of the action is the Rodizio restaurant in Prenzlauer Berg, which offers an “all you can eat” menu with ten different types of meat, including beef and chicken. Guests sit at long tables while the atmosphere is boisterous and loud, accompanied by high beer consumption.

Men between the ages of 20 and 70 in particular show great interest and often come in groups. The restaurant offers a wide range of offerings, such as the option to order the meat in three different cooking levels: “medium – pink”, “rare – grilled until rare” or “well done – grilled through”. In addition, all steak specialties are served with a salad bouquet, accompanied by side dishes such as Mexican rice or rosemary potatoes. A pleasant bonus are the homemade butter variations, which also add flavor.

Growth in meat consumption

The general trend regarding meat consumption in Germany is interesting. On average, every German consumes around 53 kilograms of meat per year. Poultry is particularly popular at 14 kilograms, while beef and veal make up around nine kilograms. Interestingly, overall meat consumption has decreased slightly in recent years, which is accompanied by increasing interest in vegetarian and vegan diets. Around 8.4 million people in Germany describe themselves as vegetarians and around 1.47 million are vegan. The addition “there’s something going on” is apt, because awareness of meat consumption and the increasing demand for alternatives play an important role in the nutritional trend.

On the other hand, this does not mean the end for the meat industry. Over 1,500 companies are active in the meat processing industry in Germany, which generates around 50 billion euros in sales annually. Discounters such as Aldi and Lidl achieve the highest sales with meat, followed by large grocery chains such as Edeka and Rewe. The industry is dominated by small and medium-sized companies, many of which employ fewer than 100 people.

Slight decline and export surpluses

Although the frequency of meat consumption tends to decrease, the level of meat self-sufficiency in Germany remains well over 100 percent, which leads to export surpluses. The large slaughterhouses, such as the Tönnies Group, lead the sales ranking and show how the German meat industry has become more competitive internationally. Nevertheless, the trend towards alternative meat substitutes highlights that many consumers are open to new nutritional options.

In summary, it can be said that despite the increasing number of vegetarians and vegans, interest in meat dishes remains unbroken. Restaurants like Rodizio in Prenzlauer Berg demonstrate that the love for a juicy steak continues to be lived out up close and with enjoyment. Anyone who wants to do a good business with meat in Cologne still has good chances - even if our society's eating habits are changing.