Oktoberfest

My miniature dachshund George (girl George) is the light of my life. What is a better way to celebrate her and her German heritage than with an Oktoberfest party? A drunken weekend at the real deal in Munich inspired my classic menu: sausages, sauerkraut, soft pretzels and plenty of mustards. And the farmers market inspired my asian pear applesauce which begged to be paired with potato pancakes, creme fraiche & chives. My husband Greg (aka George's dad) mixed fall cocktails (crowd favorite: 'the lederhosen' with muddled cranberry, apple cider, ginger beer, lemon & gin) and of course we also had a hefty selection of Oktoberfest beers. Amy set a beautiful table, shying away from a kitschy interpretation of the theme, instead focusing on all things October: white pumpkins, fall foliage, and greenery. Always the theme-a-holic, I managed to slip in a detail of kitsch with pretzel shortbread, tied up with red, black and yellow, for favors. You have one more week: celebrate Oktoberfest!

The Menu

sips

the lederhosen

cranberry, apple cider, ginger beer, lemon, gin

the munich

hard cider, applejack brandy, dry vermouth, bitters, orange twist

das biers

franziskaner: hefe-weisse & hefe dark

ayinger: ur-weisse & weizen-bock

avery kaiser: oktoberfest

snacks

radishes, butter, sea salt

smoked trout, creme fraiche & dill on pumpernickel

wild mushroom crostini with thyme

hard cheese, gherkins, german dijon & salami on rye crisps

dinner

sausages: bockwurst, knackwurst, andouille & hungarian

with sauerkraut

soft pretzels

mustard assortment: sweet hot, stoneground, horseradish, sweet bavarian & extra hot!

potato pancakes with asian pear-applesauce, sour cream & chives

red cabbage braised in vinegar with caraway seeds

spicy greens with lemon and peppery extra virgin olive oil

sweets

apple streudel ala mode with caramel sauce

black forest cake

haribo gummy bears

favor

pretzel shortbread