GERMAN
Oh, Germany…the country that takes credit for institutionalizing what could be termed “World-Wide Beer-Guzzling Month.” Brining together Germans and non-Germans alike, Oktoberfest is the time to indulge in grilled brats, warm pretzels, and endless streams of beer no matter where you live – unless you live in the worst place ever. Fortunately, DC embraces the gluttony with open arms, mouths, and the occasional lederhosen. While the official Oktoberfest has since wrapped up and moved on, starting this weekend DC will continue to feast on Munich’s leftovers and half-empty beer steins. Even better, some local restaurants provide us with a slice of Germany all year long. And we can’t thank them enough.
When you hear the word “October” you may think of pumpkins, ghosts and goblins, and of course, beer. With the month of October comes Oktoberfest, the biggest fair in the world, where millions of people come to Munich to experience hundreds of local beers and traditional German cuisine. This festival, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, is not only for the locals. You can bet in a city such as Miami, there will be at least a few restaurants joining in the festivities. One such place is Shake Shack, who will be presenting its annual Shaktoberfest menu from Friday, October 1 through the 10th. The menu will include items reminiscent of the German festival itself including garlic sausage, currywurst, and Hungarian smoked sausage. In addition to the cuisine, what’s an Oktoberfest celebration without the beer? Shake Shack will be featuring seasonal brews from Shipyard’s Pumpkinhead Ale, to Abita, S.O.S. They will also be donating $1 from every Abita beer purchased to S.O.S., a fund that aids in the restoration from the oil spill in the gulf. To cap off the meal there will be Bavarian- Inspired Concretes of German Chocolate and Cranberry Almond Streusel. Don’t miss out on this tasty foreign culinary experience.
Oktoberfest isn't all about beer, lederhosen, drunken debates about philosophy, art, and culture and this partnership will prove it to you. The bohemian watering hole in Boston's South End, The Beehive, is pairing up with the epicenter of German culture in Boston, the Goethe Institut to celebrate this Bavarian holiday.
On Tuesday, October 5th, "Oktoberfest Der Beehive" will be pumped with music and entertainment from the Bavarian Hofbrau Band. Coming from Executive Chef Rebecca Newell's kitchen will waft the smells of German Sausages, House Roast Pork Knuckle, Sauerkraut and potatoes. If you can't make it for dinner, don't worry about it. The band starts up at 8:00 p.m., which is the perfect time to raise a glass of cold beer and nibble on some oven fresh pretzels with your freunde. As always, there is no cover charge, but reservations for dinner are recommended because Oktoberfest comes but once a year!
As we have all learned from Top Chef, it takes a certain kind of training and talent to pull off a great dessert. The world of pastry, confections, chocolate, and sugar is the icing on the cake for any party or special event. The New England Dessert Showcase presented table after table of artfully created treats.
With dozens of vendors from specialized chocolatiers and ice cream makers to established patisiers like Konditor Meister, the exhibits included some of the best of everything. The Brewer's Cow was a popular spot with guests. The Brewer's Cow is all about beer infused ice cream with flavors like Irish Stout, Black and Tan, Double Chocolate Bock, Oatmeal Stout, Ten Penny Beer Nut Parfait, and a seasonal Spiced Pumpkin Stout. Konditor Meister is the standard, having been around for over 20 years, they are a well-established bakery with a portfolio of exceptionally designed cakes. At the showcase, guests were also given a taste (for the eyes and the taste buds) of some of their cakes and smaller tarts and pastries. With completely different roots than the European, more specifically German, traditions that the chefs at Konditor Meister create, Japonaise Bakery sampled some of their refined patisserie. Chef Hiroko Sakan of Japonaise Bakery describes her treats as French with a Japanese twist.
Tea Time: Now enjoy your favorite designers with a cup of tea. German shop, Donkey Products, has released a small collection of tea bags attached to the bodies of designers, including Karl Lagerfeld, Donatella Versace, Jean-Paul Gaultier and more. We wonder why they didn't fit Alber Elbaz on to one of those things?
The teabags are priced at $10, but we're sure the real excitement will come from shopping on the website attempting to decipher German.
Time To Get Busy: We confess that we are major Twitter fans, so when The Cobra Snake tweeted a photo of condoms he was gifted by Proper Attire, we knew we had to add them to this week's shopping list. Even better, the condoms are designed by Jeremy Scott - who by the way, tweets away too.
Hallo Berlin Cart
Cuisine: German Soul Food
Price: Berliner Curry Wurst, $5.50
Midtown
54th Street and 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Mon-Fri 12pm-3pm
Just follow your nose. If you still can't find it, just look for the street cart with the longest line. There are ten types of sausage all waiting to be devoured by you, but prepare to wait. Long lines are the only complaint you will hear about this place. Bring a magazine or better yet grab one of their printed menus for some good reads. The bratwurst, currywurst, smoked-cheese bratwurst and the German fries are excellent but if you're feeling indecisive, try the Dictator's Special, which only leaves you with the choice of what to eat first. The only downfall of this street food is if it falls down on the street you cannot eat it (3 second rule) and you will have to wait a long time to get another order.
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