New residents to town always ask me to write more about the restaurant scene and this week I'm more than happy to oblige despite the fact that I have a lot of plays, movies, videos and Oscar nominated films to review.

One place I am always happy to write about is Joan and Peter's German Restaurant across from the famous San Juan Bakery in San Juan. When I was a poor lad growing up between Brat and Wurst, Germany, plucking sausages for a living off the vine near the Rhine, I learned a lot about good German food. But none better than Joan and Peter's, right here in San Benito County. The neat little place used to be called The Donkey Deli, but too many people thought it was just a sandwich place. While they have one of the best sandwich-and-salad bars this side of the sandwich islands, Joan and Peter want people to try their Kassler Rippchen, and who can blame them? If I had their Kassler Rippchen I'd want the whole world to enjoy. But sometimes, like going to the bank, you get the Wurst Teller, but unlike the bank,their Wurst teller is a good thing. Assorted sausages with sauerkraut and spaetzle. Aye chee waa waa, how it makes me cry for my German youth and my favorite Schnweineschnitzel Ungarissche Art. I mean, what are memories , if not of your Schnweineschnitzel Ungarissche Art? This does happento be my favorite, and it is cooked better than even I remember. Pork cutlet with a bell pepper, ham and paprika sauce makes it sound rather bland, but believe me when Peter gets his hands on these ingredients your taste buds stand and salute. I love the plaque on the wall, "World's Greatest Chef Peter Lottermoser" and who is this from? The Hyatt in San Jose. Can you imagine a place with the finest chefs admitting that Peter is the best? He is.

And Peter is not only the world's best chef, he is smart, too. Smart enough to stay in the kitchen and let Joan greet the customers. Her beautiful smile is every bit as beautiful as her Kalbschnitzel. And nothing in the world is as colorful as Kalbschnitzel. Veal cutlet prepared to your specifications, Jaegerschnitzel, Holsteiner, Munchner, Westphalian or Wienerschnitzel with red cabbage and spaetzle.

For lunch they have sandwiches that you can create at 40 cents per ounce. They also have hot sandwiches, and here I suggest the Rueben Sandwich. Quiche of the day, soup and all kinds of salads. Of course, like me you have left room for one of their famous award-winning desserts. Homemade Bavarian Apple Strudel makes me want to yodel; unfortunately they have an anti-yodel sign put up whenever I enter. Except on Sunday afternoon, when most of the time they have an old-fashion oom-pa-pa German band. This is our favorite time to dine at Joan and Peter's. There is nothing like admiring your Weinerschnitzel and tapping your foot to oom-pa music, and drinking the world's finest beer imported from Germany. My favorite is their Optimator Spaten Munich, A 7.2 percent malt liquor. They also carry the lighter Munich Octoberfest in the 1 pint-9 oz bottle. The kids will love their bottled root beer and of course they have espresso to go with dessert.

Since Joan and Peter are hands-on owners, check their ad or listing in the Pinnacle carefully. They are open Thursday, Friday and Saturday for both lunch and dinner. On Sunday they put in a fuller day than the San Juan Mission. A breakfast buffet from 9am to 1pm with lunch until 5pm. If you want to be sure they are serving your favorite, I'd call ahead, 623-4521. Joan and Peter's German restaurant, the Donkey Deli, and so much more.

When I did restaurant reviews for the Brat and Wurst, Germany Times, I never gave any restaurant four stars, except for Jose and Rosa's Tamale with saurkraut surprise. But here, working at my Pinnacle I'm finally able to give a German restaurant the coveted four aye chee waa waas!