No one is sure about the origin of Bavarian cream, but during the late 17th and early 18th centuries many French chefs worked at the court of the Wittelsbach Princes (a German family that ruled Bavaria from the 12th century to 1918).
Phil Riske
Senior Reporter/Writer
Editor’s note: Maybe I’m in a lead mine, but I haven’t heard a good joke in ages. If you’re in the same boat, here’s what has been my favorite story. (Sorry if you’ve heard it)
Roy was a WWII veteran who served in southern Germany and received two Purple Hearts for wounds he sustained. At age 65, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given a year to live. Wanting to do something for him, his close friends asked Roy for his “last wish.”
“Before I die, I want to eat another piece of Bavarian cream pie,” Roy answered. “There was this little cafe in Bavaria where we would go on leave, and the pie was the best I have ever eaten. I’ve always dreamed of going back there for another helping .”
His friends collected the money to send Roy to Bavaria, and a couple of them drove him to the airport. On the way, their car was broadsided. Roy had two broken ribs. In pain, he said goodbye to his friends and flagged a taxi to the airport.
Roy’s pain on the trip was intense. After he arrived in Berlin, he took a cab to his hotel. That night, the hotel caught fire, and Roy suffered burns on his legs and arms, but remained steadfast in getting to Bavaria.
As fate would have it, a van taking Roy to his hotel in Bavaria rolled over near the cafe where he dined during the war and threw him out on the street. Bloody and near death, Roy crawled on his hands and feet to the cafe, where an employee helped him up and said he’d call an ambulance.
“No, no,” Roy said. “Please seat me at a table. I’m okay”
A waitress attended to him. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“What can I get you?”
“I’d like a piece of your Bavarian cream pie, please.”
“I’m so sorry, we haven’t served Bavarian cream pie for years.”
“Apple’s fine then,” said Roy.
