Thanks for the recommendation, J Correa. I, too, have been trying to find a Hefe in the States, comparable to those of Deutschland...but to no avail :(
On that note: I will give your suggestions a try!

MissZiegfeld all Italian?
Where is this name came from 'Ziegfeld'? I suspect you are a good mutt or your kids are...

It is funny how my dd's all american friends some will eat anything I cook from scratch and some will just stare and make faces...all different and it is sometimes not even a taste buts but eyes butts! LOL

I would like to know where is that Oktoberfest took place in NY and if some really need an invitation?

Zaina - you should really try to come to Germanfest in Milwaukee.

I worked at Harters bakery in college. I loved all the cakes because the frosting was not sweet and had really fruit essences.

My favorite of all was bienenstick(sp?) I don't know where to get it anymore now that Harters has closed.

<b>logos,

really!??? Which restaurant was that???</b>

As you are aware I spent a significant amount of time in Munich this year, and I'd really be interested to know which restaurant was affected by / involved in that scandal!

Don't know if I may post the names. One starts with a D..... at Marienplatz. The other is a beergarden in Laim. It weren't the places I would have expected.

logos,

thanks. The D... is pretty obvious - actually with prices that low I always have been a bit apprehesive about the quality of the meat (not its preparation for sure).

I don't know where to place that beergarden in Laim - it does not start with a &quot;H&quot; and houses the Karl Valentin Theatre, does it? That one would be in Haidhausen, I think.

hsv,

thanks for the reply. What kind of beer does one drink in autumn in Germany?

Ziana,

It wasn't an Oktoberfest. It was a private party to celebrate the anniversary of German re-unification.

No, it has nothing to do with Valentin or Haidhausen.

Angelthereader, Are you a fellow Wisconsinite? I think Germanfest is one of the best ethnic festivals we do here in Wisconsin (although they all are pretty good, much better than Sumerfest in my opinion). It is nice to see so many young people involved in these &quot;fests&quot; to keep the tradition going because for the most part the first generations that began these are getting older and the kids didn't come from the &quot;old country&quot;. I agree, Harters and all the other little local bakeries that used to be around here have never, ever been replaced with anything comparable. Do you remember Wilberts on Villard Avenue??? Shirley, Waukesha

Zaina--ZIEGFELD refers to The Ziegfeld Follies, the 1920s/30s Broadway revues.

I am 100% italian, NOT a &quot;mutt&quot;, and I don't have kids.

Christine

Luv - yes I've lived in Wisconsin all my life.
I love the festivals, even Summerfest. I saw Ray Davies this summer. Pretty good for $12.00.
Have you ever gone to Folk Fair?

We went to Stuttgart for their beer festival. The Swabische food was to die for! I love the cool lettuce salad with the warm potato salad underneath, and don't get me started on how much I loved the Maultaschen. Good stuff Maynard!

&gt;Maultaschen
That's the beauty of it all :-)
You only need to travel 100k and find totally different but great food. It's hard to define &quot;German&quot; food. The further north you go the more pasta is replaced by potatoes, but that's only a general guideline.

Logos - you aren't referring to &quot;my&quot; beirgarten, are you? The one in Laim that starts with an H and has the deer? The was our favorite place in all of Munich.

Things have happend and I've become more careful after hearing about them. The guy responsible has comitted suicide about a month ago. :-( Today things should be better!

MissZiegfeld,
I once heard of a story that girl thought she wasn't a mutt until she gave birth to a dark skin baby...because of her Granny who bore her mom with a different color man but Mom was light, her daughter was light BUT her granddaughter was dark...here how the truth unfolded...no one would have known.
It was a scandal of the size of the planet...because grandma's husband was still alive and he never suspected his wife ran around...
I have also another story about my friend who received letter from her real father when she was 20...
So never be so sure and proud...

J Correa,

Doesn't your Trader Joes's sell Franziskaner Hefeweizen? Ours here in Southern Cal. does. Also, our Cost Plus World Market sells Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr and Edelweiss (Austrian). DH's (the Bavarian) favorite is Erdinger, which they sell here in the local German market. Of all of the American versions, he likes Pyramid, but I don't think he has tried Gordon Biersch.

Ziana, I'm still proud of my italian ancestry. My family has done geneological research, etc.. Until the day comes when my parents say &quot;oh by the way, you're adopted&quot;, I'm going to continue to be both sure AND proud.

lvk - I will check for the Franziskaner next time I am in there. I have seen the Erdinger at Bev Mo, I believe. I will pick some up and try it.

You know how the bavarian hefeweisens have that kind of fruity, banana undertone and a lot of the American hefeweisens don't? From what I understand, this is due to the strain of hops that is used. The hefeweisens without that type of hops taste sort of flat too me whereas the bavarian-style ones have the whole taste and aroma thing going on.

In 2005 31.5% of the planets hops were produced north of munich in Hallertau/Holledau. Guess to were it's exported ;-)