Celebrate Oktoberfest

Written by Rosemary Mantini | 25 September 2009

Cook Up A Party

Oktoberfest 2009 takes place from September 19 to October 4. This year marks the 199th year of that great beer party. Originally a celebration commemorating the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hilburghausen, Oktoberfest transforms the Theresienwiese fairgrounds into a mess of beer tents, rides, performers and food vendors. If you can’t get to Germany this year, travel to Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario where the largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany takes place. Otherwise, play some German music, and try some of our Oktoberfest recipes.

The beer of choice, at least in Germany, is a lager called Märzen typically brewed in March. Make sure you pay a visit to your local beer purveyor to snap up some tasty German brew. At any Oktoberfest celebration, visitors can wander the fairgrounds to find whole chickens or ducks grilled on a spit, roasted pork, sausages, potato dumplings, red cabbage, sauerkraut and warm pretzel bread served with cheese.

Here are some Oktoberfest favourites.

Beef Stew                                                             Wiener Schnitzel 

Sauerkraut

Pretzel Bread                                                        Black Forest Cake