Oktoberfest in Southern California ~ the following is a sampling in Southern California that ASG has been to, or will be heading out to this year:
- Oktoberfest @ Pomono Fairplex https://fairplex.com/oktoberfest/
- @ Old World Huntington Beach https://www.oldworldhb.com/oktoberfest-orange-county/
- @ Santa Anita Park https://santaanita.com/event/entertainment/oktoberfest/
- @ The Greens at the Rose Bowl https://www.craftoberfestlosangeles.com/
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How to Fest - Random ASG Tips: having lived in Germany for a time....
The obvious are the 'knowns' ~ October-season beers, the German foods like sausages, polka music, etc. However, there are more than a few other things to know, and enjoy!
-Talk to your neighbor at the table, beer halls and bench seating is part of the tradition - make friends at your table and be sure to toast with a hearty "Prost!"
- If you are the lucky enough to get a traditional German selection, try the bread and potatoe dishes.
- German potato dishes to try:
- Hot (or Warm) Potato Salad - warm potatoes cooked in broth, and mixed with vinegar and spices
- Kartoffelkloesse (German Potato Dumplings) - filled with croutons, best served with warm pickled red cabbage
- Kartoffelpuffer (German Potato Pancakes) - hot, oily, and works with any topping - savory or sweet
- Boiled Potatoes - it is what it is, but combined with sausages, sauerkraut and mustard - totally different experience
- Know your sauerkraut - there are so many variations, although I feel States-side we only know the one - but explore! There's a world of gut-healthy, pickled cabbage that is wonderful...
- Know your spaetzle - much like a plain egg noodle, like the boiled potato, it goes so well with the proteins, pickling and mustards
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Visit a SoCal German Deli:
- Old World Huntington Beach https://oldworlddeli.com/
- Continental La Habra https://www.continentaldeli.us/
- Mattern Sausage Orange https://www.yelp.com/biz/mattern-sausage-and-deli-orange-8
- Alpine Deli Thousand Oaks https://www.alpinegermandeli.com/
- Contintental Gourmet - Glendale https://continentalgourmetsausage.com/
- Shreiner's Fine Sausages - Glendale https://www.schreinersfinesausages.com/
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ASG's favorite German sausages: - Weisswurst - soft, subtle and goes well with all the sides
- Wollwurst - like weisswurst, the meat is subtle, but with no casing and a crispy fried exterior
- Leberkase - a meat-lover's loaf, loaded with flavors and great as a sandwich
- Nurnberger Bratwurst - a great breakfast sausage, seasoned with a very unique set of spices (including majoram, mace and celery salt).
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ASG's favorite German cheeses:
- Butterkase - once you have it, you'll keep coming back. Butterkase is so soft (titular), it can be practically spread. This is great pre-sliced and throw it on a roll (or German 'brotchen').
- Holsteiner Tilsiter - semihard and of a specific recipe - I like to have a slice with a sausage roll.
- Bavarian Blu - where Limburger is a bit sharp and pungent, you can go down a level or two with this soft cheese. Makes a great side to bread.
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Check out ASG's Yelp review of The Red Lion Tavern .
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