You're Not In Munich Anymore Dorothy

This past weekend my wife and I journeyed to La Crosse, Wisconsin to meet up with some friends at what is billed as "Oktoberfest USA". Having attended Oktoberfest in Munich the year before we were curious to see how the La Crosse version compared to the real thing.

At the risk of sounding like one of those smug Euro-loving weenies, to whom the way they do things "over there" is inherently so much superior to the way that Americans do them, I dare say I was not impressed with "Oktoberfest USA". Basically it was just an excuse for cheeseheads to get together, eat brats, and drink untold gallons of Miller Lite ("your beer tastes like swill to us"). Sort of like a Packers tail gate party extended over eight days.

Oh sure they had a parade. But whereas the Munich parade features horse drawn wagons (sponsored by local breweries) decorated with flowers, and people wearing traditional Bavarian attire the highlight of the La Crosse edition was a cow. Granted it was a rather large cow (you'll note the impressive udders) but still it's only a cow. While it was a very appropriate representation of Wisconsin it doesn't really say Oktoberfest.

And yes, they had food in La Crosse. Most of which was either brats or some brat based byproduct. We had breakfast Saturday morning at a Country Kitchen and their special was brat omelets. Yes, brat omelets. Before you laugh consider that two of my friends who hail from Green Bay ordered said special.

Apparently Wisconsin's idea of German food begins and ends with the bratwurst. Interestingly enough when we were in Munich brats (or any other sausages for that matter) were hardly the most popular food item. Roasted chicken was ubiquitous and quite delicious. Radishes were also quite prevalent, although they are not exactly what I hanker for after a couple of brews. I'm sure if you looked at brat consumption the state of Wisconsin would dwarf Germany, at least on a per capita basis.

So to summarize.

In Munich you have good beer served in one liter glasses, accompanied by roasted chicken, with traditional German music in the background.

In La Crosse you have Miller Lite served in plastic cups, accompanied by brats, with crappy rock and roll in the background.

Lest you think that my well known anti-Wisconsin sympathies are clouding my opinions, one of my friends who used to live in the Twin Cities and now resides in Green Bay (poor bastage) stated that the Gastof Zur Gemutlichkeit, a German restaurant in Nordeast Minneapolis, provided a much better Oktoberfest environment than did La Crosse.

UPDATE: Long time reader and frequent e-mail contributor James Phillips picked up a hint of disrespect regarding the comparison with the Gastof Zur Gemutlichkeit. None was intended. The Gastof is a hell of a fun place to celebrate Oktoberfest or any Germanic festival for that matter. Many a time have I passed the boot in the cellar of the Gastof and I have always thoroughly enjoyed myself. Ein Prosit!