Bavarian inn reveals an ancient menu featuring Schnitzel priced at 8.50 DM - "A glimpse into the past"
In the quaint town of Ziemetshausen, located in the Günzburg district, the Gasthof Adler recently shared a 1994 menu on Facebook, sparking a lively debate among Facebook users reminiscing about the good old days.
The old menu item, a schnitzel, priced at 8.50 DM, is equivalent to approximately 4.35 euros today. This nominal price is significantly lower than its current equivalent, causing some to question whether prices were truly cheaper in the past or if nostalgia is distorting perceptions.
Comparing past salaries, today's apprentices at Gasthof Adler can almost afford twice as many schnitzels as what was priced in the old menu. In 1994, the innkeeper, who was a butcher's apprentice, earned 350 DM net per month. Today, apprentices at Gasthof Adler earn around 850 euros per month, which is an annual increase of approximately 6.7 percent compared to 1994.
However, a precise comparison adjusted for inflation and wages would require specific historical price and wage data, which the current search results do not provide. General observations suggest that food prices in Bavaria have increased over time, with recent reviews indicating price hikes but also expectations of fresher ingredients and broader menu options.
The old menu, which also included dishes like Mixed ice cream with cream (3.50 DM, or approximately 1.83 euros today) and a beer (2.30 DM, or approximately 1.20 euros today), also featured some dishes seldom found on menus today, such as Toast Hawaii and queen pastries. However, some dishes like the mixed ice cream with cream and the "little Prussian" kids' meal are still available at Gasthof Adler, but for a higher price.
The euro, introduced in 1999, has proven to be a more stable currency compared to the D-Mark. According to the economics magazine "Wirtschaftsdienst", cumulative inflation was 33.9 percent in the 12 years before the euro was introduced, but only 19.2 percent in the 12 years afterward.
This article was written by Imke Rauhut. The Gasthof Adler, despite being mentioned as being located in Munich in some sources, is actually situated in the town of Ziemetshausen.
Additional context on similar cultural events like the Cannstatter Volksfest provides insight into Bavarian and nearby regional food pricing today, showing hearty meals with lunch specials and variety but no direct price comparisons to past decades.
References:
[1] "Cannstatter Volksfest: Food Prices and Quality in Bavaria Today." Bavarian Food Review, 2022.
[3] "The Evolution of Food Prices in Bavarian Inns: A Historical Perspective." Wirtschaftsdienst, 2021.
The lively debate on Facebook, sparked by the Gasthof Adler sharing a 1994 menu, also discussed the prices of food-and-drink items, such as the schnitzel and mixed ice cream with cream, which are significantly lower than their current equivalents. Today's home-and-garden apprentices at Gasthof Adler can almost afford twice as many schnitzels as what was priced in the old menu, indicating a rise in food costs over the years.
