Many, many (many) years ago I was a teenager on a summer student exchange to Germany - West Berlin,…read moreprimarily, and also a few weeks touring the country with my group. It was a life-changing experience in many good ways, and I also fell in love with good German beer and good German food.
Over the years since there's been more 'internationalization' of American cuisine, such that now it's easy to find bratwursts in the grocery store and schnitzel on menus. It's 'americanized' though, which is typical. Same with beer, since my trip more 'brands' have become available, though nothing like the hyper-local beer I had, still decent and sometimes very good brews.
I've known about the Volksfest for a few years now, however I didn't have the opportunity to go. This year not only did I have time, but dear fellow Yelper Jessica W as my Fest partner, and she was experienced too, so I had an idea what to expect. YESSSS!
Understand, this is a BIG festival. We got there a couple hours after opening and parked about 2 blocks away, everything closer was completely full. It was a decent day though and the walk was nice, so no problem. There is an admission fee - $6, pretty cheap.
The experience: Some very nice vendor stalls offering steins, shirts, pins, pint glasses, cookbooks, etc. They had a beer tent, featuring Warsteiner beers but also with others as well as wine. There was a tent featuring things like bratwurst, hot dogs, etc. Skip it, people. The real gem was the tent - near the rear of the festival - with German cuisine. Things like Leberkase, which I love, and authentic schnitzel.
New to me and definitely one of my new favorites was Maultaschen, which is described as a German meat-filled ravioli, but really isn't, more of a layered flat-spatzle and savory meat roll, and it was *really* good. That with a lovely glass of Warsteiner Pils and I was in my happy food place. Seriously, people, skip the brat tent and head to this one. Yes, more expensive and totally completely worth it.
We also got 'bee cake', which is a divine custard cake with almonds, moist but not falling apart, not overly sweet but yum. They had other very nice looking desserts like berry crumble and strudel. Also the ubiquitous funnel cake.
We dined under a very large tent where there was alternately a German traditional music band and members of the Frankford String Band performing, there was a dance floor and people were getting up and cutting a rug.
Lastly, for kids, there are some rides.
Things to know:
*Everything is cash-only. Buying food and beer involves first buying a coupon book that you then use to buy items. For example, 12 coupons for a 16 ounce beer.
*They have an ATM inside their hall if you don't have cash.
*There are regular bathrooms and port-a-potties.
*The bar inside the club is also open, so you can enjoy beer and spirits in air conditioned comfort with stools and whatever sports game on their TVs.
*There are nicer bathrooms near the bar.
*Come hungry, and don't be afraid to Uber. The beer is awesome and the parking is difficult. :)
YES of COURSE I'm going again. UYE 2019, anyone?