The Culinary Specialties of Oktoberfest

Different regions boast distinct specialties, particularly when it comes to food. The same goes for the capital city of Bavaria, Germany.

Munich is popular for the weißwürste (weisswurt), white sausages ten to twelve centimeters long and two centimeters thick. They are made from minced veal and fresh bacon, and typically flavored with parsley, lemon, mace, onion, ginger and cardamom. Afterwards, the mixture is stuffed into fresh, clean pork casings.

This type of sausage is traditionally eaten as a snack between breakfast and lunch. Prior to the advent of refrigerators, weißwürste would go bad before nightfall because the meat is not smoked. It is often served together with weisswurstsenf (Bavarian sweet mustard), brazen (pretzels) and weißbier (specialty Bavarian beer).

Leberkäse is similar to bologna. It is made by grinding corned beef, pork, bacon and onions and then baking the mixture as a loaf in a bread pan. Bavarian leberkäse are allowed not to contain liver, otherwise there must be a minimum liver content of four percent.

Leberkäse can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Some serve it on a bread roll and season it with mustard. Others cut leberkäse into finger-thick slices, and accompany it with sweet mustard, pretzels or kartoffelsalat (potato salad). Pan-fried variants are served with a friend egg, potato salad and spinach.

Leberknödel (liver dumplings) are usually part of a Pfälzer Teller (Palatinate Plate) together with a slice of baked saumagen (stuffed sow's stomach), sausage, sauerkraut and bread. They can also be served with just the last two.

Well-loved desserts include the apfelstrudel (apple strudel with vanilla sauce), millirahmstrudel (cream cheese strudel), dampfnudeln (yeast dumplings with custard) and auszogene (donut-shaped fried pastry without a hole). The prinzregententorte, a dark chocolate glaze-covered pastry consisting of more than six thin layers of sponge cake interlaid with chocolate buttercream, is popular as well.

Pollux Parker is an adventurer who loves discovering secret island getaways in each country he visits. Pollux also likes to collect German Flag and buy cheap German Flag.

Head to Munich Festival For German Beer Tasting

When people think of Germany as a place to head to for a holiday staying in a youth hostel, there are many things which may spring to mind as ideal ways to pass the time.

From checking out the interesting history of cities such as Munich, Berlin and Hamburg, to sampling the wide range of traditional food on offer before dancing the night away in some of the dance clubs which the country is famous for, there is truly something for every traveller in the nation.

But those who love sampling different types of alcohol could find heading to the city of Munich and staying in a Munich hostel the best way to experience the country, as the metropolis hosts a number of beer festivals.

One of the best beer festivals for tourists to visit is the Strong Beer Festival, which is held every March in Munich.

A world famous festival

The Strong Beer festival is famous the world over and boasts an interesting background and story.

Called Starkbierzeit, the festival is a must see for any Brit choosing a trip to a youth hostel in Germany as part of their summer break or longer travelling plans.

According to legend, the history of the beer event can be traced right back to the time of the Paulaner monks. It is thought that during times of fasting, when the monks were not allowed to consume any food in the day, they brewed extra strong beer to sustain them.

As such, the strong beer which can be drunk at many of Germany's festivals often has an interesting malty flavour and a more distinctive taste than other beers which Brits may have sampled abroad.

When visitors have sampled a pint or two of German beer, they can eat some traditional German food, such as roast chicken - or Brathendl, as well as other snacks including Steckerlfisch - literally fish on a stick.

Traditional cultural activities including stone lifting competitions can also be enjoyed at the beer festival, an event definitely worth visiting on a holiday to Munich.

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Upcoming Ocktoberfest Dates:

Oktoberfest Munich Dates:

2010: September 18 - October 3
2011: September 17 - October 3
2012: September 22 - October 7