Leavenworth Oktoberfest

 

For my 22nd birthday my generous parents took me to the Oktoberfest in Leavenworth WA. I had been hinting around the fact that I wanted to go this year for a while but I think they made the final decision while I was in Austria and Germany in May. 

If you have never been to Leavenworth, you must go! It is a small Bavarian themed town with plenty things to do, eat, drink and see. I've been to Bavaria (a state in Germany) and I can honestly say that Leavenworth does remind me a lot of it. Even the beautiful mountains behind Leavenworth are reminiscent of the Alps. 

Before we left for Leavenworth I packed the latest copy of Northwest Palate in my bag because they had just done a feature on Leavenworth and all the great destinations and restaurants one has to visit. 

Our first meal was at the very popular Munchen Haus Bavarian Grill and Beer Garden. Despite the usually long line, this place is a must on your dining schedule. The outdoor Beer Garden is a loud place full of German charm and they serve up a mean bratwurst. 

The sausages are prepared right in front of you and once you get your sausage you then have to make the very difficult decision of which mustard you are going to use (they have over 20 options!). After much thought I settled on garlic Dijon and honey and champagne mustard. They also have fabulous homemade apple cider sauerkraut which I personally think is a  condiment no sausage should go without. 

The Oktoberfest itself was actually a letdown. I expected a much better selection of German foods, but what I found was a disgrace to Germany itself. There were about ten different food booths inside the festival but they all had the same drab menu: bratwurst, polish dog, hot dog and some sort of pulled pork dog. That was it! 

One only had to be in the festival a few minutes to realize it really was all about the beer. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against beer, especially German beer, but I didn't go all the way to Leavenworth for beer. I was there for the food!

Take my suggestion, if you are going to Leavenworth for the Oktoberfest don't eat all your meals in the tents. Venture out into the charming town and discover all the wonderful foods Leavenworth has to offer. 

 Guava and raspberry gelato at Via Dolce Gelato

With that said I still did enjoy the Oktoberfest, and if anyone reading this wants to go it is still going on next Friday and Saturday October 15th and 16th. 

Here is a list of other great places to eat in Leavenworth: 

• King Ludwig's
• Via Dolce Gelato
• The Cheesemongers Shop
• Schocolat

The Food of France

"I have unfinished business with Paris."

This is what I keep telling everyone who asks me how I liked Paris and how I liked the food I ate there. There are two main reasons I say this: first, because we only spent four days in Paris and two were completely filled with going to the Normandy beaches and the Versailles gardens. And second: when I actually WAS in Paris one of our group dinners was at the Hard Rock Cafe (to make myself feel a little less guilty I ordered the Paris Burger), and our very last dinner in Paris--and our last dinner of our whole trip--was at an Italian Restaurant! After spending a week and a half in Italy, we eat our last meal at an Italian Restaurant!

Delicious Raspberry Macaroon

So now you can see why I have unfinished business with Paris. I didn't get to visit a single place from the 15 pages I printed of "Where to Eat in Paris", or David Lebovitz's book, The Sweet Life in Paris (which I diligently read during flights and train rides proceeding Paris).

REAL French Creme Brulee

With all that said, I would like to tell you that I DID have good food in Paris, just not as much as I would have liked.

After some pretty dreary weather in Austria and Germany I was ecstatic when we got off the train in Paris, a city I have dreamed of visiting since I was a child, and it was sunny! That first night our whole group headed to Rue Claire for dinner. It was just around the corner from our hotel (which was also just around the corner from the Eiffel Tower!). The street was simply precious with tons of restaurants, bakeries, specialty food and wine stores, and produce markets. Now this is why I came on this trip!

Places to go on Rue Claire

I did stumble across a few wonderful cafes and bakeries in France but honestly one of my favorite wasn't even in Paris at all! It was in a small town on the northern coast of France, near Normandy beaches, called Sainte Mere Eglise.

I stumbled upon Le Fournil while scoping out a good place to have lunch. Many students from our group were going to have lunch at a hamburger stand nearby. Disappointing and disgusted, I went in search of a "more French" place (these students reported that it was the worst burger of their life, and subsequently came and had a second lunch at the place I picked out!).

After this good lunch we walked outside and discovered Le Fournil across the street. I had to go in. After looking around in astonishment at my dream French Bakery I decided to buy a small white chocolate and raspberry mouse cake (pictured above). I was so caught up in the moment that I took it to go eat outside and forgot a fork! I ended up eating it with my hands like a barbarian--it also didn't help that I was moaning and muttering "this...is...so...good" between mouthfuls of moist cake. 

I was so impressed with my cake that I had to make a second trip into the patisserie to buy something I could take home. My friends told me I probably didn't have enough time and might miss our bus, but this was worth it! I grabbed the first thing I saw that was packaged and paid for it--a small bag of tiny orange candies which I am eating right now!

Many people go to Paris with high expectations for delicious crepes. My first crepe--with nutella--was purchased at a small crepe shop right next door to the Moulin Rouge. But my favorite crepe place was also found on Rue Claire. 

I had heard several girls on my trip mention that they had frequented a crepe cart around the corner so many times that the man now knew their names. On our last night in Paris--after the depressing Italian dinner experience--I knew I needed a crepe. I went with a group of students to this stand. I ordered one of the most simple crepes you can get, cinnamon sugar with butter. I took so many pictures of the crepe man in action that he pretty much offered to apprentice me! I should have taken him up on the offer!

If I had to pick my favorite meal I had in Paris, I would say it was the very last meal I ate there before heading to the Paris airport to fly back home to Portland. I had gotten up early that morning to make sure I was packed and ready to go. I had a little extra time so I decided to wander in search  of a good breakfast. 

I discovered a boulangerie and patisserie directly across the street that I had never noticed before, J.M. Bretteau. I went inside and picked out a heavenly-looking almond croissant. Just thinking of it now is making my mouth water. It was the best pastry I have EVER put into my mouth.

To go with my croissant I went to a fruit stand and purchased a small container of raspberries and some fresh squeezed orange juice. It was such a humble breakfast, and couldn't have cost me more than 7 euros, but like I said, it was the best meal I had in Paris. It was so bittersweet, too, because it was also my last meal of my three week long trip.

Well, this concludes my blog posts about my awesome European trip. It was an experience of a lifetime and I really hope I am blessed enough to have the opportunity to go back again soon--especially to Paris! I made wonderful memories, met people from all over world, took about 2,000 pictures, spent about $300 on souvenirs and ate about 63 meals (with countless snacks and desserts). Just thinking about it now is making me hungry! I think I'll go make myself a crepe....Au Revoir!

The Food of Austria and Germany

Imagine my pure delight when wandering around the streets of Salzburg, Austria I find a food market! Taking up a small square were booth, tents, and carts selling everything from beautiful locally grown produce to fresh made sausages and pretzels. One of the best parts was, that although there were a few tourist-looking people here and there, the market appeared to be mostly full of locals! This would be my first taste of authentic Bavarian fare, and I wanted it to be memorable and mouthwatering.

I immediately knew I had to get a sausage. If there was something I knew about Bavarian food it was that the sausages were awesome--the real deal! I initially passed up a few carts that looked too "touristy" for my preference but, before long, I finally found "the one"!

I knew it was the one because, first, I could not read or understand anything on the menu. And second,  I could not understand the people--the ones who were diligently making the sausages or the ones enthusiastically consuming them.

Although I was excited about the fact that I could not read anything on the menu, it also posed a problem, for obvious reasons. I wanted the best sausage, but how would I know which one to pick. I decided to be bold and ask two older gentlemen in front of me which sausage they were ordering. I was taking a gamble, because for all I knew they only spoke German. Lucky for me they spoke great English and told me exactly what sausage I ought to get: a krainer sausage.

No questions asked I ordered one. What arrived shortly blew my mind: a perfectly seasoned pork and beef sausage with a hint of garlic, and get this, it is filled with melted cheese! It was delicious served with a sweet mustard and a roll. Reason enough to go back to Salzburg--as if I needed any more reasons.

While wandering the streets of Salzburg I learned something very intriguing to a foodie like me...the American pretzel is upside down! I am sure the first American pretzel maker had the best intentions, but they made a huge mistake. In Austria and Germany I kept being made aware of our ignorance with numerous pictures of pretzels, all upside down!--or right-side up...

Our first meal in Germany seemed like it was out of a movie. As soon as we stepped foot into Hofbrauhaus, one of Germany's largest and most popular beer houses, I really knew I was in Germany. Right inside the front door was a full authentic German band, complete with lederhosen and every customer in the whole place had a huge mug of beer which many were swaying in the air while singing. The food wasn't spectacular, but the atmosphere couldn't be beat!

Before we left Germany we spent one night in Rothenberg. A picturesque well-preserved medieval town complete with old fortress walls surrounding the town. It was one of my favorite cities we visited on the whole trip and while there I kept having to remind myself that this was no Leavenworth, this was actually the real deal! This is what Leavenworth is designed after. Everything was so picture-perfect that it seemed surreal!

While in Rotenburg I repeatedly kept seeing what the Germans call "Schneeballen." In fact I purchased the very first one I saw, thinking it was a specialty of the bakery we were in. But when we left this bakery and turned the corner there was another display of these in the window of another bakery--and around the corner another! They were everywhere! Schneeballen were taking over the streets of Rotenburg, Germany. Schneeballen (meaning "snowballs") are strips of tough pastry dough that have been compacted into a ball, deep-friend, and then covered in powdered sugar or chocolate. They looked really delicious, but taste-wise, the ones I had couldn't stand up in a contest against the cookie or the doughnut. 

Our group only spent about 5 days total in Austria and Germany, which was a shame. The food was great (although it was always very heavy meals), the people were wonderful, and the buildings were precious. Almost the whole time we were in these two countries we had really terrible weather (imagine a snow and hailstorm on to of the alps making the "spectacular view" completely white!), but I can't wait to go back!

The Food of Italy

Bakery case of Feliziani, a Pasticcerie in Rome

I vividly remember the moment I first saw a European bakery like I had been dreaming of for the past year. I was trailing along behind the group--like a family of ducks--on our way to Vatican City and from the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of the most beautiful cakes and pies I had ever seen. They were picture perfect and they were so close I could actually smell them. I had to go in. Never mind the fact that I was supposed to be diligently following my two professors to the world's center of Christianity where the pope himself lives. You probably don't understand, and I doubt my professors did either, but I had to buy one of the delicious pastries and I had to do it right away.

Mesmerized like a child walking into a toy store I stepped in, almost zombie-like with an enormous grin on my face and eyes open wide taking in every pastry, loaf of bread and cake. I then snapped out of my trance as I realized the group was continuing on down the street and I had to work fast. I whipped out my camera with the urgency of the paparazzi and began fervently taking dozens of photos. I then focused my attention on the problem at hand: I needed to pick something--only one something--to buy. I couldn't decide what to purchase so I settled on the first pastry I had seen, a perfect little cream puff with a dollop of whipped cream and a strawberry slice. I paid for it and ran out of my dream-bakery, back into the real world. But when I popped it in my mouth minutes later, I was back in heaven again.

One of the many delicious pizzas I devoured in Italy, This one is eggplant pizza

I just got back from the trip of a lifetime. I went with 2 professors and 19 other students to the beautiful countries of Italy, Austria, Germany and France. We spent three weeks on the academic pursuit of learning about the art, history and culture of these countries. However, I have a small confession to make...

I went for the food.

Shrimp from Il Casello Ristorante in Monterosso, Italy

Yes, my childhood dream has been to visit Paris and go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. And yes, I could not wait to see the ancient Roman ruins including the Colosseum. I was also very excited to step foot into many old and beautifuly ornate churches, and I could not wait to see great works of art such as the Mona Lisa and Michelangelo's sculptures like The David. But, as most of you know, my heart's true desire is food.

Waiting area outside a restaurant in Rome

After almost 14 hours of flying we finally made it to our first stop: Rome,  Italy. Other cities we visited include: Assisi, Florence, Naples, Monterosso and Venice. We checked into our hotel which was actually a convent ran by Italian nuns who didn't speak a lick of English (after four days of staying there the nuns still didn't understand that WE didn't speak a lick of Italian either, so they would just talk louder and louder hoping we would have an epiphany and miraculously understand Italian).

My first Italian meal was a modest sandwich, which I soon learned were sold on every corner. There were two main varieties: sandwiches with focaccia-type bread, or childish-looking sandwiches on white bread with the crusts perfectly taken off. I usually went for the more rustic looking ones on the focaccia. My first sandwich was made with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella.  Other varieties included sandwiches with cheese and meat, such as ham, salami and bologna.  Wraps were also available, and most sandwiches could be warmed or toasted upon request.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Italian sandwiches, but my weakness has always been desserts. Before going to Europe I made the goal of eating gelato every day while in Italy, and I am proud to say I was quite successful.

Rome Gelaterie

Gelato is Italian ice cream and I was delighted to learn that it is actually healthier than American ice cream because it has a significantly lower butterfat content and slightly less sugar. While in Europe, I swore I would never eat regular ice cream again, but unfortunately have already broken that vow with Tillamook's chocolate peanut ice cream, which is, in my opinion, the next best thing to gelato.

Since we are on the subject of desserts, I must tell you of the best tiramisu I have ever had. Towards the end of our visit in Italy we were in Monterosso, which is a quaint little beach town on the Mediterranean. On a sunny beautiful day we decided to have a very nice dinner at a beach-side restaurant called Il Casello Ristorante. We sat outside under big yellow umbrellas and I couldn't wait to order seafood, since I hadn't had any yet in Italy. Of course, the seafood was great, but the tiramisu was even better. I tried so very hard to eat it as slowly as possible so as to savor every last bite.

Tiramisu at Il Casello in Monterosso

Before I even left for my trip I decided that I would do everything in my power to try as many different foods I could. I wanted to immerse myself in the Italian culture and eat like an Italian. I quickly learned that a very important aspect of Italian culture is daily espresso. I don't mean espresso like Americans think of espresso: grande white mocha, for example. No I mean espresso. Straight espresso. 

When walking past any restaurant or cafe you are almost guaranteed to see at least one Italian taking an espresso shot out of a small white cup. Most of the time these "shots" are taken standing up at the counter. It didn't take me long before I realized I must get over my sensitivity to caffeine and adversity to strong, black coffee, and just try one. I would not let myself leave Italy without taking a shot of espresso. Well, I'll have you know I did it. Of course, I dumped about two packets of sugar in first, but in the end it wasn't all that bad--however, I would choose an Italian cappuccino over espresso any day!

I had so many awesome meals in Italy, and took pictures of every single one. I wish I could talk about everything I ate, but if I did this blog post would be the length of a novel--if it isn't already... 

Check back soon because I will be blogging about the rest of my travels and all the great meals I had in Austria, Germany and France! Ciao!

 
10 Things Everyone Should Know about Eating in Italy

1. Water is never free. You will be given a water bottle and a glass and charged an obscene amount for this.
2. Salad dressing as we know it does not exist. Be prepared to be served a beautiful salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to be drizzled on it.
3. You will often pay a service fee to sit and eat and/or drink at a restaurant.
4. Gelato is an amazing and inexpensive dessert. Eat as much of it as possible. 
5. Remember, euros are not equivalent to dollars. Believe it or not, I would sometimes almost forget this. Just because something seems like a good deal for 15 euros, does not mean it is a good deal when you realize you are paying about $21 for it (depending on the current exchange rate).
6. Do not expect to be served Olive Garden style bread sticks with your meal. Bread is usually not served (or is not free) and the bread sticks that are offered are skinny, hard, and crunchy sticks.
7. Decaf is usually not an option. If you ask for it and they actually understand what they are saying, they will look at you with disgust and wait for you to order a real espresso drink.
8. Sandwiches are NEVER served with condiments. I am convinced that Italians have never met mustard or mayonnaise.
9. Nutella is everywhere. Take advantage of this fact on every possible occasion. 
10. Italy has wonderful food, but make the effort to get off the beaten tourist path and discover the local favorites! 

**Fore more food-filled reading check out David Lebovitz's recent blog post about eating in Rome