By Jennifer Linn jlinn@gainesvilletimes.com Hofer’s Bakery and Cafe owner Ralph Hofer stayed close to his German roots when he and his staff created their regionally, recognized bratwurst biscuits and gravy. The plate, featuring Nuremberg-style bratwursts cooked into a creamy gravy and poured over hot buttermilk biscuits, was recently recognized by the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s tourism division. The dish earned a place on “100 Plates Locals Love” — a list of top favorite dining options across the state. To see the full list, visit www.exploregeorgia.org/article/100-plates-locals-love. “We were really surprised and honored that the Georgia Department of Tourism thought that was one of the best plates,” Hofer said. The bratwurst, biscuits and gravy have been on the menu at Hofer’s Bakery and Cafe about two years now. “It was actually kind of funny, you know. You think you’re in Georgia, (but then you see) biscuits and gravy at a German restaurant?” he said. The dish appeared at the Helen bakery after Hofer and his kitchen manager talked about adding more menu options. The pair wanted an item catering to local tastes. “But we still kind of wanted to stay with the German theme,” Hofer said. Since the bakery’s biscuits were already popular, Hofer suggested using them in a new recipe — biscuits, gravy and bratwurst. “We tried several different recipes and came up with the one we use now. It’s gone over extremely well,” Hofer said. In fact, it’s gone over so well his bakers often complain of trying to keep up with the biscuit orders. It’s also not uncommon to hear someone saying they’re out of buttermilk, prompting a trip to the nearby grocery store. Hofer’s makes all of its food fresh and daily from corned-beef reubens to waffles and french toast. “We’re not big into buying mass amounts of whatever pre-made,” Hofer said, adding the workers start preparing the food about 2 a.m. “We rock it at night. So when we open at 8 a.m., everything is done and out t