Sunday, October 19, 2014

Oktoberfest at Pomona Fairplex

by: guest blogger @iam_robot

As Oktoberfest beckons, guys and gals rock their lederhosen or dirndl and beeline to Pomona for some brats, beers, and chicken dance. There we will see a traditional Oompah Band playing a selection of foot stomping, thigh slapping German folk tunes to give the festivity a true Hofbrauhaus (Munich historical beer hall) ambiance. Not your cup of tea? Fret not! There are tons of tribute bands playing the tunes of Led Zeppelin, Queen, Black Eyed Peas, and Journey (or Foreigner….aren’t they the same band?).
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Inside the pavilion is the buffet featuring traditional German fare:
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You'll find:
·         Sauerbrauten (Meat roast) served with Brtkatoffelm (German potato salad w/warm bacon vinaigrette) and Wurstalat (salad with marinated meat and spaten vinaigrette)
·         Scweinebraten (Pork Roast) served with Brtkatoffelm (German potato salad w/warm bacon vinaigrette) and Wurstalat (salad with marinated meat and spaten vinaigrette)
·         Weisswurst (Bavarian sweet sausage) served with Brtkatoffelm (German potato salad w/warm bacon vinaigrette) and Wurstalat (salad with marinated meat and spaten vinaigrette)
·         Putenschenkeln ist (Turkey Leg)
·         Maiskolben (Corn in the Husk)
·         Schweinskotelett (Pork Chop on a  Stick)
Apfelstrudel (Apple Strudel)

As you can see, everything is very traditional German bar food – Brats with German Potato Salad and Sweet/ Sour Red Cabbage. For the most part, I thought food was pretty good. My favorite is the Brtkatoffelm or the potato salad. Buttery Yukon Gold potato tasted very savory with a slight tart from the vinaigrette and subtle sweetness from the red onion. But the best part about this potato salad is the BACON. I like how they didn’t skimp on them.

Moving on, I also like the variety of brats, though I wish they were served a bit warmer with toasted bread. The Knockwurst (smoked veal and pork sausage poached in beer) has a very robust flavor and paired really well with the tangy sauerkraut. The Thuringer Bratwurst (beef, veal, pork, marjoram, and garlic) is more on the lean side but the mild spiciness elevated the dog to another level. I thought the bratwurst went well with the earthy and aromatic Warsteiner Oktoberfest beer (served in a 32 oz. stein…of course!).  
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Overall, this is a very fun event. Not quite Munich fun but the spirit, the music, and the beers are there. I thought the food lineup could be improved and I like how they have King Taco, grilled chicken, and hamburger for those who aren’t too keen on Bavarian food. We can't all go to a full on Bavarian festivities with 100 different beers served in a 4 feet tall steins and 20,000 people flocking into 1 big tent. For now, enjoy what we have…beer, brats, greasy food while “Don’t Stop Believin” is playing in the background J

Admission to Oktoberfest at the Fairplex is $5 and can be purchased here.

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