Celebrating Oktoberfest with an Authentic Bavarian Cheese Beer Spread #Recipe and simple party ideas

Everyone has heard the word Oktoberfest but have you ever been to the real Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany? Did you know that Oktoberfest actually starts in September and ends the first weekend in October? The Oktoberfest has been celebrated well over 200 years in Germany and has been the biggest celebration that is known all over the world. Did you know the beer that is served at the Oktoberfest must also be brewed within the city limits of Munich? Beers meeting these criteria may be designated Oktoberfest Beer?

I had no idea that they had strict limits and since I’ve moved to the US well over 15 years ago, I haven’t visited the “Wiesn” (what we call the fairgrounds) at all and I miss it very much. Lucky for me, I have a World Market close by and guess what I found there… Oktoberfest beer! I was ecstatic, to say the least. While shopping I decided to dish up an authentic Oktoberfest dinner complete with original meal for my family to enjoy. If I can’t go to the “Wiesn” I just have to bring the “Wiesn” to Florida, right?

World Market made it real easy to dish up an authentic meal with all the ingredients right there in the store from the Weisswurst, Lowensenf sweet mustard, a must for the Weisswurst dinner, Pretzels and lots of German beer, along with Sauerkraut and many other German products that bring the Oktoberfest a bit closer to the US.

The nice part, all these items are already cooked and ready to go. All you have to do is heat the Weisswurst in some water or vegetable stock and plate with sweet Bavarian mustard for your family and friends to enjoy, be sure to put the beer in the fridge and serve chilled and decorate white blue the colors of Bavaria and you will have the best Oktoberfest right in your very own backyard.

I would like to share one simple recipe for those that would like to venture out and bring a dish to an Oktoberfest party and celebrate in style and tradition. Growing up in Bavaria, we take our traditions very serious, yet each town has their very own traditions and recipes. This is a dish that was very popular in my town and is also very popular at the Oktoberfest. The funny part, the dish has always the same ingredients but called different no matter where you go; as far as I know at the Oktoberfest it is called “Obatzda” (Ohhh-Ba—Tzzz-daaa)… Now say that three times and try to figure out what it is, let’s just call it Bavarian Cheese Beer Spread, a lot easier,  still the same authentic taste and recipe, but everyone in the US will know what the dish will be, now if you wanna call it Obatzda, be my guest, I’d love you for that .

There you have a perfect appetizer to bring for any Oktoberfest party, add a good German beer and some pretzels and you will “WOW” all your guests. Most ingredients can be found at World Market making it a great place to shop for your Oktoberfest shopping.

A few more facts to get you into Oktoberfest mood and ideas to create your very own Oktoberfest in your own backyard, you don’t have to jump on the plane to Munich, unless you want to, but for now, just stick with my tips and ideas and you will not be missing out on much besides the crowed and all the drunk people.

Favorite foods that are dished up at the worlds famous funfair are wide variety of traditional food such as Hendl (roast chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Würstl (sausages) along with Brezen (pretzel), Knödel (potato or bread dumplings), Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Sauerkraut or Rotkohl/Blaukraut (red cabbage) along with such Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda (a spiced cheese-butter spread) and Weisswurst (a white sausage).

What to wear you ask? Traditional women’s attire for Oktoberfest is relatively conservative in nature. The key feature is the “dirndl,” a type of traditional dress with an apron worn over it. Traditional dirndls extend to a woman’s ankles, but other lengths are also available. You don’t have to run out and spend big bucks on a German dirndl for your party, just get a nice dress tie an apron around it and call it a dirndl, no one will know the difference and if they do it will be a fun party talk.

Oktoberfest was originally a big wedding reception in October of 1810 for Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. There was a horse race and food and drink for the populace, so have fun, there is really no right way or wrong way to celebrate Oktoberfest, just have fun and enjoy your family and friends, just be sure to put the Bavarian colors of white and blue into your party and no matter what you serve or dish up, World Market has you covered from drinks to appetizer, main course and even dessert ideas from Germany.

Let’s get shopping and if you throw a Party, be sure to share some pictures with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest  and World Market on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, we would love to see your ideas and recipes.

An Guten’ und O’Zapft is….
(Enjoy dinner and Beer is tapped)