[title type="h3"]Oktoberfest @ Ralph's On The Park. [/title]
Despite the popularity of Oktoberfest (and it is indeed popular, given the number of people who ask me about it), the number of restaurants that celebrate the Bohemian fall seasonal festival is small. But we appear to have a promising newcomer to the festivities. Ralph's On The Park started its Oktoberfest the same time they do in Munich--mid-September. (The reason for this is that it gets cold early in Germany, and more beer can be sold if they start in September.)
The menu brings four appetizers and three entrees to the fore, all matched with German beers and wines if you like. Whoever was in charge of selecting the quaffs did a great job of it. Several intriguing wines will be there, notably a German Gewurztraminer and a Beerenauslese late-hardest, sweet wine. (You also know whether you have had too much beer and wine by trying to pronounce the words.)
All of this is assembled by Chedf Chip Flanagan, who spent some time in Germany this summer at the request of the U.S. Department of State. Chip never leaves any dish without his finishing touches, so the will not likely be the standard Oktoberfest food. Here's the menu:
Pretzel & Obaztda
House-made soft pretzel, Camembert cheese spread 9
Wine: Augustiner Bräu Edelstoff 7
Spaetzle
Creole mustard dumplings, jumbo lump crab, green garbanzos, brown butter
Wine: Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier 6
German Lager & Cheese Soup
Rye crouton, gratinéed Emmenthaler 9
Wine: Weihenstephen Original Premium Lager 6
Kohlrouladen
Stuffed cabbage rolls, veal reduction 10
Wine: Andechser Weissbier Dunkel 11
Schweinshaxe
Braised pork knuckle, sauerkraut, apples, juniper, butter poached potatoes 23
Wine: Gewurtztraminer ‘14, Villa Wolf by J. L Loosen, Pfalz, GER 8
Sauerbraten
Red wine marinated brisket, braised red cabbage, knodel 23
Wine: Spatburgunder “Pinot” ‘10, August Kesseler, Pfalz, GER 12
Schnitzel Holstein
Chicken breast, fried egg, white anchovy, capers, parsley, lemon 23
Wine: Gruner Veltiner ‘14, Kamptal, Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg, AUS 10.5
Warm Apple Strudel
Vanilla sauce, Creole cream cheese ice cream 8
Gingerbread Trifle
Sweetened quark (German sour cream), meringue, gingerbread cookies 8
Wine: Riesling Beerenauslese ‘06, Dr. Loosen, Mosel, GER 15
The Oktoberfest menu at Ralph's began last week, so they have the act reasonably well practiced. It's entirely a la carte, with the prices on the menu above. The gemutlichkeit will persist until October 11. It's available for dinner only, seven nights a week.
Ralph's On The Park
City Park Area: 900 City Park Ave. 504-488-1000. www.ralphsonthepark.com.
NOMenu invites restaurants or organizations with upcoming special events to tell us, so we might add the news to this free department. Send to news@nomenu.com.
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