Columnist Muriel Stevens: Boulder Station to host Oktoberfest celebration

Friday, Oct. 2, 1998 | 10:02 a.m.

Oktoberfest is one of Germany's best known festivals. Locally, it has become a time for feasting and frolicking and imbibing traditional brews.

Boulder Station Executive Chef Daniel Pfieffer was born in Switzerland and raised in Germany and is a graduate of the Culinary and Business School in Villingen, Germany. He knows all about Oktoberfest.

According to Chef Daniel, Oktoberfest originated in Munich as a celebration of the marriage of Bavarian royals. Now, Daniel says, it also heralds the end of of last year's beer and the arrival of the new brews. For two wild weeks of celebration the old brews are consumed until they're gone.

Oktoberfest will take place at Boulder Station Oct. 9-11 in an Oktoberfest pavilion (dining tent) housed on the hotel's back valet parking lot. The pavilion will be decorated in traditional blue and white and will feature hand-painted Bavarian backdrops.

Everything from giant pretzels approximately a foot wide ($4) to kaiserschmarrn, a traditional German mousse-like dessert made with egg whites, will be available. Prices are moderate. Cold items such as herring salad, breaded sauteed herring (brathering), roll mops -- rolls of pickled herring stuffed with a pickle -- and popular German cheese snacks are $4. Everything is authentic. The flour for the pretzels was flown in from Germany, the sausages are Bavarian, the potato dumplings, red cabbage, potato salad and sauerkraut are homemade.

Plates of Bavarian bratwurst; rotisserie chicken (brathendel); grilled smoked trout on a skewer; and roast suckling pig (spanferkel) served with red cabbage, potato dumplings, gravy and bread are $6 to $8. All of the main courses include a variety of the homemade side dishes.

All kinds of beers will be sold, everything including pilsners to marzens from Sunset Station's Sunset Brewing Company, Barley's Casino & Brewing Company, Gordon Biersch, Becks Beer and Samuel Adams. Each will be served in a 22-ounce Boulder Station commemorative mug for $4.

A traditional keg-tapping ceremony will open Oktoberfest at 5 p.m. on Friday. "This is a typical opening for the community feast. In Munich all of the town's dignitaries show up," Chef Daniel says. No doubt a few of our good politicos will be on hand at Boulder Station.

Bring the family. There's entertainment with oom-pah bands, Alphorn players, an organ grinder and a closing event when doves and balloons will be released.

There's no charge for admission.

More Oktoberfest

The grandaddy of local Oktoberfest celebrations at Nevada Palace on Boulder Highway at Harmon begins Oct. 1 when the hotel hosts its 10th annual Oktoberfest. In true Oktoberfest tradition, Nevada Palace celebrates for two weeks -- enough time to drink plenty of beer and eat the Oktoberfest specialities. The festival ends Oct. 18.

Nevada Palace Executive Chef Herman Leuch is another Swiss who makes his home in Las Vegas. He is a veteran of many Munich Oktoberfests. For him the annual event brings back many good memories, "the aroma of fresh German foods, the music, and the laughter of people having a good time."

Chef Herman and his chefs will feature many Bavarian and German favorites as well some of his own secret versions of traditional recipes.

A large tent on the parking lot of Nevada Palace will be transformed into a biergaten (beer garden), complete with a lavish Bavarian/European buffet.

Stuffed veal breast, grilled bratwurst and Polish sausages, baked leberkase (veal loaf), liver and meat dumplings, smoked brisket and pork chops, sauerbraten, potato pancakes, spatzle, a host of hot and cold salads, German cold cuts and many desserts are among the food choices. There are many more.

The German/Bavarian Buffet will be served Sunday, 2-7 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5-11 p.m.

Prices are $10 per person; half price for youngsters 4-12 years. Gratuity and sales and entertainment taxes are included.

Short orders

*Big Dog smokes

Big Dog's Cafe and the UNLV Football Foundation will present a "Tour of Italy" tonight in the Pedigree Room upstairs. Festivities begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Food stations open at 7 p.m. Enjoy an evening with Coach Jeff Horton and support the home team. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Foundation. Tickets are $75 each or $125 per couple. Premium cigars are included. Call 876-3647 for tickets.

*Mama's Kitchen at Rio

The Rio will celebrate its seventh annual Italian Festival Oct. 10-11. Dubbed "Mama's Kitchen," the event will feature Italian food, live entertainment and a host of eating contests. Admission is free. Rio's Italian Festival is set in the Outdoors Events Center. Everything from pastas to desserts are available for under $3 each. A Wine and Cheese Terrace will offer specialities from the Rio's own Wine Cellar and Tasting room, fruits, cheeses and breads from the Rio's Toscano Bakery. Breads at special prices are available to take home. The fun begins 11 a.m. each day.

*James Beard dinner

Fine Italian wines will be paired with fine Italian foods when the James Beard benefit dinner takes place at Napa in the Rio on Thursday. Renowned Napa Chef Jean-Louis Palladin will be joined by Italia Baldieri (Rio's Mama Marie's Cucina), Michael Ginor (Huson Valley Foie Gras), Angelo Auriana (Valentino's), Cesare Casella, Paul Bartolotta (Spiaggia), Tony Grande (Il Capriccio), Roberto Donna (Galileo), Mauro Mafrici (I Trulli) and Celestine Drago (Drago & L'Arancino) to present a feast of exceptional Italian specialities. For ticket prices and additional information, call Lisa at 252-7626.