Are your taste buds screaming for some good German-Russian cooking? Do you want to whet your whistle with some good German beer and wine?
You could be in luck.
Oktoberfest is at hand from 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at The Depot in downtown Wadena.
The historic Depot, which is one of four buildings in Wadena on the Historical Register, will benefit from proceeds of Oktoberfest.
Jim Formanek and Curtis Maas, who do the cooking at the Uptown Cafe in downtown Wadena, will be preparing the food at the Uptown and serving it at The Depot.
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What kind of food can folks expect? Maas grew up with it and along with the help of his family he has selected some popular dishes.
German-Russian food is very common in central North Dakota where the Maas family originally settled.
"They were frugal people who could stretch a pound of hamburger to feed six to eight people because they wrapped everything in dough," Maas said.
Fleischkeuchle is exactly that -- seasoned beef wrapped in dough and deep-fried. It will be on the menu for Oktoberfest along with Holubtsy (cabbage rolls in tomato sauce), Kraut Bierach (ham, rice, onion and sauerkraut in dough and baked), Schweinfleisch Knepfla (roast pork with dumplings in sauerkraut), Kartoffelsalat (warm German potato salad), Borscht Soup (beef broth vegetable soup), Gurkensalat (cucumber salad), Kuchen (fruit custard pastry pies) and sausages.
The beer will be American brands especially brewed for Oktoberfest. The featured wine will be Gewurztraminer, a white table wine.
In addition to food, beer and wine, the Oktoberfest will feature German music, a German-Russian cultural video -- supplied by the Maas Family -- and a silent auction.
Kay Browne, executive director of Partners for a Healthy Wadena Region, has been instrumental in setting up the fundraising event.
"The reason we decided to do this year is [to] honor the German immigrants, to remember them and to honor our heritage," said Browne. "This is the 175th anniversary of the Oktoberfest in Munich."
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Munich's Oktoberfest is held in late September and early October. It is the world's largest fair, drawing some six million people annually.
