Oktoberfest zwei

We couldn't resist - we had to go to the Fremont Oktoberfest.   The beer was quite tasty, even in small plastic mugs.

Several breweries had special offerings; pumpkin beer was quite popular, and to be fair in our comparisons, we tried quite a few.  At the end of the night, we were glad that we were drinking out of tiny mugs instead of the German Oktoberfest standard size!

Oktoberfest!

This weekend our neighborhood is going to be chaotic, as it is Oktoberfest and there will be masses of drunk people quaffing beer out of small plastic mugs.  This is not in any way to be confused with (or compared to) the REAL Oktoberfest in Munich, where they drink beer out of really big glass mugs in tents set up for the occasion.  I have not been to Munich’s Oktoberfest, so I cannot attest to the state of drunkenness of the revelers there, but here it is used as an excuse to get really hammered.  I’m not sure why Americans have chosen to celebrate the 1810 wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig, but I bet a lot of it has to do with beer.  This celebration has popped up in some strange places – for instance, Hong Kong – where you wouldn’t think there is a big German influence.  We attended Oktoberfest there out of curiosity, and found that they had done their best to replicate a Beer Hall (according to my Aussie husband).  They had Polka bands and sausages with sauerkraut and several types of German beer. 

There were also men in lederhosen.  Chinese men.   It looked a little incongruous, if you ask me.  

We ate and drank and had a wonderful time, and I might have a beer in our Hong Kong Oktoberfest stein to remember the occasion this weekend.

Prost!

More Food on a Stick at the Night Market

We were in L.A. over the Labor Day weekend and we very happy to find out that the 626 Asian Night Market had scheduled an encore for that very weekend.  We had heard about it on an episode of Top Chef Masters, of all places and it sounded like just the event for us! 

http://www.626nightmarket.com/

This is the second year of the market;  they hold it in front of the Santa Anita racetrack in the northeast part of Los Angeles.  It is HUGE, with what seemed like hundreds of food booths set up in 5 designated areas.  We couldn’t believe our luck.  My Aussie husband grabbed a map and immediately announced he was headed for the Stinky Tofu Zone.  I was headed in the direction of the pork belly Musubi stall when I saw this:

It made me very happy to see all these offerings in one place – it was Food on a Stick heaven!  The Musubi could wait a little longer.  (it was excellent btw – Mama Musubi Gourmet Rice Balls  If I lived in L.A. I would have them cater every party I had.  I would make up a party, just to eat their food!  Now if only it was on a stick…)