- May 1, 2024
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Being a 20-something in Palm Coast, it is necessary to change things up every once in a while to make things interesting. In the past, groups of friends have done this by hosting murder mystery dinner parties. This past weekend, a co-worker changed up the same old routine but hosting Oktoberfest.
Centofanti is nowhere near a German last name, and neither was Jaci’s maiden name, Beckett. But Biedermann, her mother’s maiden name, is as German as they come, and Jaci wanted to embrace her roots by starting this annual event.
In preparation for the festivities, the pork for the main course, sauerbraten, soaked for several days in a mixture of vinegar, water, herbs, spices and seasonings.The recipe was her grandfather’s, handwritten on a recipe card. The marinade and slow roast gives the meat a delicious sour flavor and a pull-apart tenderness that the table full of guests couldn’t get enough of. But of course, you can’t have sauerbraten without spätzle, an egg-and-flour noodle similar to a dumpling.
We were taught the proper way to eat the dish: spätzle on the bottom with the sauerbraten and gravy on top, getting a little bit of everything in each bite.
Our plates were rounded out with Brussels sprouts and a not-so-German salad and crescent rolls. Earlier in the evening, we indulged in a traditional German potato salad and homemade soft pretzels.
Traditional antique German beer steins were scattered throughout the house, and of course, the only beer allowed at the party was German-made. There were a few rule-breakers/protesters who snuck in other beers. But since they won awards in Germany, they were able to slide by.
As usual, I was put in charge of making the dessert. The request was for a bite-sized black forest cherry chocolate cake. I figured that’s what cupcakes were — bite-sized cakes. The outcome was black forest chocolate cupcakes with a dark cherry filling and homemade whipped cream topping.
I realize that saying a dinner party was fun makes me sound like a real adult; so I am just going to say that the food, and beer, was delicious and I’m looking forward to the next time we celebrate someone’s heritage with food and drink.
