World Cup at Hollerbach’s

On June 17th, I went up to Sanford to visit Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Deli to watch the World Cup. Hollerbach’s is a traditional German restaurant with the goal of providing you with a memorable meal and to experience German Gemuetlichkeit, which is a sense of
well-being and happiness that comes from enjoying the company of friends
and family while savoring good food and drink. Claudia Mundlos who runs a blog called Sanford 365 gave me a tip that the restaurant is a popular meeting place to watch World Cup Soccer. Apparently the place goes crazy when the German team is playing. Unfortunately I couldn’t get to Hollerbach’s on the day Germany was playing. 

Brazil was playing Mexico and the game resulted in not a single goal being scored. I’m used to watching basketball where hundreds of points are scores. In comparison, soccer seems slow but I’ve played and know it is damn fun when you are on the field. Hollerbach’s was only mildly full. Most patrons didn’t even notice the game. They focused on good food instead. I ordered some schnitzel and it was an amazing meal washed down with a cold beer.

John Rife and his wife Kamrin were in the crowd. He stopped over to say hello. They were on a date night and they stopped at Hollerbach’s as a rest stop. Such a small world. My work was on display at John’s, East End Market for many months. I just took down the show yesterday. The proprietor of the restaurant recognized my style because an illustration I did for Orlando Life, has been hanging on the wall near the restrooms for several years. The waitress in traditional garb also stopped by several times to check on my progress. I found out that there is one of those drink and paint events at Hollerbach’s once a week. For the price of admission people get a canvas and paint and they are walked through every step of creating a painting. I might return to sketch that someday. Even better are the German musicians who rock the place with German music. Check the restaurant’s calendar and get out to experience Glemuchlichkeit  for yourself.