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Oktoberfest

By: Frances Crouter

Raise a stein to Bavaria, cheer the oom-pah band and celebrate Oktoberfest!

It's Tapped!

What began in 1810 as a regional celebration of the marriage of Prince Ludwig has evolved into one of the largest festivals in the world. Hungry, thirsty hordes of merrymakers descend upon Munich, Bavaria's capital. Tents capable of seating 100,000 people offer beer from six local breweries--carried by more than 1600 strong-armed waitresses--and serve southern German specialties.

The 2009 festival runs from September 19th to October 4th. If you can't make it to Munich this year, cook up a small fest of your own.

"Vorspeise" and Snacks

Finger foods and starters to whet the appetite.

Main Dishes and Sides

Stick-to-your-ribs entrées and accompaniments.

Bread

Bake your own dark pumpernickel or sour rye.

Wild Game & Acquired Tastes

For the authentic southern German experience.

After-Dinner Sweets (Süße Nachspeise)

Decadent classics.

Prost!

Oktoberfest calls for beer brewed specifically for the occasion: malty, strong lagers. Munich breweries include Paulaner, Löwenbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus, Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu and the venerable Augustiner Bräu, which has been brewing beer since at least 1328 AD. If you can't find the real Bavarian imports, many American craft breweries make special Oktoberfest beers. You can also serve Sekt--sparkling white wine--and Radler, lager mixed with sparkling lemonade. Finish your night with a round of Schnapps.

A German proverb states, "More drown in the cup than in the sea." (Im Becher ertrinken mehr als im Meer.) Munich provides medical tents to treat the bierleichen--beer corpses: those who overindulge. In order to weather the full two weeks of Oktoberfest, use care while carousing.

Comments

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Shaun-Ann

Sep. 4, 2009 10:27 am

After looking at this menu, I think I might be German and never knew it! Almost all of these seem to be my favorite foods!!!!

JDCornell

Sep. 21, 2009 8:30 am

I love Oktoberfest and German food. I wish it were Oktobertfest every day!

UmSulieman

Sep. 23, 2009 2:02 am

Well....I've been living in Germany for 2 years and personally hate the food here, but I might make the black forest cake...

klf

Sep. 23, 2009 8:02 am

I love German food! German rouladen, red cabbage, and potato dumplings go great together for dinner!!!

Tate

Sep. 23, 2009 8:31 am

the food is ok, but the beer is the best!

JamietheBaker

Sep. 23, 2009 1:20 pm

German food is great! But you have to have the right recipes....I hope I can put some of the recipes that my boyfriends grandmother tought me. And I cant wait to go to Oktoberfest 2010!

mainermom

Sep. 23, 2009 1:57 pm

German food is awesome. We've had a spatzle recipe in our family ever since I can remember. In Lent it is a staple. Can't beat German Potato Salad.

karaburun

Sep. 24, 2009 7:10 am

Now our Wiesn has opend ( so is the name here for this Oktoberfest). You have choose good recipes for our food. I think our food is much diverend to yours, the most of our familys use only fresh things and not ready packages. If you want to make real good german food, you had to choose recipes perhaps from a german side, so I did it for the american recipes to get "the real taste". We live near to Cologne, and here you can get Bayrisch food, but it´s not the same like in Bayern... and it´s "only" 700 km away. I like mostly the Käs-Spätzle (cheese spätzle), and a Leberknödelsuppe (Liver Dumbling Soup). Potatoe salad you can get here in such many different variations: with mayonaise, with vinegar, hot, cold, and many different ingredients. To the desserts: if you want to try a recipe, concider that we don´t use so much sugar, than in the USA!! Try out and taste...

Clarence Shields

Sep. 24, 2009 4:01 pm

My very good friend Holly is there right now on vaction and is enjoying herself emensely.

Gabby

Sep. 25, 2009 6:34 pm

I just came back from vacationing throughout all the Bavaria (Bayern) regions! There was nothing else like it! Definitely will be returning!

ashtastic

Sep. 30, 2009 6:01 pm

Being from German origin Oktoberfest is a huge part of our family tradition. My favorite food and what is always a hit during this fall celebration is my grun bohna und kneeble suppe (green bean and dumpling soup). If you have never had the pleasure of attending Deutche Oktoberfest I highly recommend it.

Lioness4

Oct. 17, 2009 9:43 pm

I have been to the Oktoberfest here in the USA and my neighbor who was from Germany made the best German Potatoe Salad. I did not like it until I had hers. I miss the Oktoberfest we had here, and her German Potatoe Salad. She has since passed away, and would not give me her recipe, it was I believe her family's recipe.

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