Banjo
10-09-2009, 06:03 PM
Willkommen zum Oktoberfest: Guam to celebrate Bavarian tradition
By Amritha Alladi • Pacific Daily News (http://www.guampdn.com/article/20091008/LIFESTYLE/910080319/1024) •
Don the lederhosen and raise your Spaten beer mugs. It's time for Oktoberfest. As thousands flock to Munich this week from all corners of the globe, restaurants and hotels on island are hosting revelries of their own -- complete with authentic German delicacies and of course, an abundance of beer. We've got the guide to all things "festlich" this month, so make the most of your October by celebrating Deutsch-style.
Origins
Oktoberfest originated in the Bavaria region of Germany about 200 years ago, in celebration of King Ludwig I's marriage to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, says Matthias Kraemer, executive sous-chef at La Mirenda restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Guam.
Since then, the German Oktoberfest has drawn about 1.5 million visitors to Munich every year over the course of the fortnightly festivities, Kraemer says. He estimates that the throngs of guests work through about 35,000 gallons of beer and 20,000 gallons of wine.
"It's crazy," Kraemer says. "People just have a good time, they're getting drunk, they eat a lot."
After having lived in Germany for most of his life, he's doing his best to expose Guam residents to dishes from all over the German countryside.
Thus the Oktoberfest dinner buffet at the Hyatt's La Mirenda restaurant will include seven hot entrees, five desserts and eight salads, including an Aufschnitt cold-cut platter with Black Forest ham, a German potato salad, bratwurst sausage, meat gerkin salad, strawberry torte and chocolate cake. Then, quench your thirst with all-you-can-drink Beck's beer on tap.
"That's the only way to drink it," says Kraemer.
A taste of the Fatherland
However, he is worried that some of the Bavarian flavors may be too foreign for local tastes. After all, sauerkraut, or German pickled cabbage, is "very, very sour," and perhaps an acquired taste, he says.
"You guys eat red rice and Portuguese sausage. There's sort of a Spanish influence a little bit. In Germany, they've got some influence from the French," Kraemer says. "It's a whole different ball game. You can't compare the two."
Still, he still urges guests to give it a try.
If German food doesn't appeal to your taste buds, there's always the free-flowing beer to make it all worth it.
In that case, try drinking from the 1-liter Spaten beer mugs that are part of the Sheraton Laguna Guam's October promotion, according to chef Gunnar Müller. A native of Saxony, he says the Sheraton's La Cascata restaurant will be serving authentic German fare every Thursday this month, including German lentil and German potato soups, a wide spread of sausages, meat dumplings, Black Forest cake, apple streudel, an array of breads, spaetzle, fruit tarts and more.
Deutsh pirate cove
Wrap up the month's live entertainment at Jeff's Pirates Cove in Ipan, Talofofo, at the Rocktoberfest on Oct. 18. For six hours guests can enjoy the music of six bands and the refreshing taste of six beers: Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, Beck's, Budweiser, Bud Light and Amberbock.
"It's introduction of the new lines of beers that Budweiser will be carrying on draught," owner Jeff Pleadwell says. "We'll be serving European appetizers like bratwurst sausage, swiss cheese burgers. European-flavor foods will be highlighted."
Admission is free and every hour they'll be giving away $60 to one lucky winner.
"It's going to be a great event," Pleadwell says.
More here (http://www.guampdn.com/article/20091008/LIFESTYLE/910080319/1024)
By Amritha Alladi • Pacific Daily News (http://www.guampdn.com/article/20091008/LIFESTYLE/910080319/1024) •
Don the lederhosen and raise your Spaten beer mugs. It's time for Oktoberfest. As thousands flock to Munich this week from all corners of the globe, restaurants and hotels on island are hosting revelries of their own -- complete with authentic German delicacies and of course, an abundance of beer. We've got the guide to all things "festlich" this month, so make the most of your October by celebrating Deutsch-style.
Origins
Oktoberfest originated in the Bavaria region of Germany about 200 years ago, in celebration of King Ludwig I's marriage to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, says Matthias Kraemer, executive sous-chef at La Mirenda restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Guam.
Since then, the German Oktoberfest has drawn about 1.5 million visitors to Munich every year over the course of the fortnightly festivities, Kraemer says. He estimates that the throngs of guests work through about 35,000 gallons of beer and 20,000 gallons of wine.
"It's crazy," Kraemer says. "People just have a good time, they're getting drunk, they eat a lot."
After having lived in Germany for most of his life, he's doing his best to expose Guam residents to dishes from all over the German countryside.
Thus the Oktoberfest dinner buffet at the Hyatt's La Mirenda restaurant will include seven hot entrees, five desserts and eight salads, including an Aufschnitt cold-cut platter with Black Forest ham, a German potato salad, bratwurst sausage, meat gerkin salad, strawberry torte and chocolate cake. Then, quench your thirst with all-you-can-drink Beck's beer on tap.
"That's the only way to drink it," says Kraemer.
A taste of the Fatherland
However, he is worried that some of the Bavarian flavors may be too foreign for local tastes. After all, sauerkraut, or German pickled cabbage, is "very, very sour," and perhaps an acquired taste, he says.
"You guys eat red rice and Portuguese sausage. There's sort of a Spanish influence a little bit. In Germany, they've got some influence from the French," Kraemer says. "It's a whole different ball game. You can't compare the two."
Still, he still urges guests to give it a try.
If German food doesn't appeal to your taste buds, there's always the free-flowing beer to make it all worth it.
In that case, try drinking from the 1-liter Spaten beer mugs that are part of the Sheraton Laguna Guam's October promotion, according to chef Gunnar Müller. A native of Saxony, he says the Sheraton's La Cascata restaurant will be serving authentic German fare every Thursday this month, including German lentil and German potato soups, a wide spread of sausages, meat dumplings, Black Forest cake, apple streudel, an array of breads, spaetzle, fruit tarts and more.
Deutsh pirate cove
Wrap up the month's live entertainment at Jeff's Pirates Cove in Ipan, Talofofo, at the Rocktoberfest on Oct. 18. For six hours guests can enjoy the music of six bands and the refreshing taste of six beers: Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, Beck's, Budweiser, Bud Light and Amberbock.
"It's introduction of the new lines of beers that Budweiser will be carrying on draught," owner Jeff Pleadwell says. "We'll be serving European appetizers like bratwurst sausage, swiss cheese burgers. European-flavor foods will be highlighted."
Admission is free and every hour they'll be giving away $60 to one lucky winner.
"It's going to be a great event," Pleadwell says.
More here (http://www.guampdn.com/article/20091008/LIFESTYLE/910080319/1024)