Singapore Living

The German Oktoberfest was originally a celebration of the royal marriage of Bavaria's Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hilderburghausen about 171 years ago. Oktoberfest in the 21st century however is all about quaffing plenty of pork knuckles washed down with German beer served by Teutonic German beer girls, to the loud marching tunes from drunk German bands.

Singaporeans are, as-always, ever-ready to participate in any international celebration, especially when food and drink are a major part of the celebration. Here are some places where you can fall over:

Paulaner Brauhaus
This German microbrewery makes its own fresh Oktoberrfest beer, a strictly controlled blend that's regulated by the 1487 Bavarian Purity Law. The full-bodied beer with a light, hoppy, malt taste has an alcohol content of 5.5% and comprises only barley, hops and water. Half litre (S$15.50), one litre (S$29.90) glasses are available. The restaurant is also flying down a live German band and erm...live German beer girls from Munich to join in the festivities. The menu spread includes Munich white poached sausages, Oktoberfest roast chicken, and spichy Debreziner sausages served with roesti potato. Desserts range from deep-fried camembert cheese with cranberry jam to deep-fried apple rings with ice-cream. Starters are priced at S$13.90, soups at S$8.50, main courses S$28.50, desserts S$9.50.
#01-01 Time 2 @ Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard (Tel: 6883 2572/0)
Oct 5-12
Open Mon-Fri noon-2.30pm, 6.30-10.30pm
Open Sat-Sun 6.30-10.30pm

Marche
Features a German marketplace restaurant concept to get you in the mood. The starter menu includes beef froth with herb pancake (S$3.50), homemade Bavarian potato salad (S$3.00) and Berliner (fried doughnut with custard, S$2.20). The mains menu comprises crispy pork knuckle (S$18 for half), and crispy pork belly with sausage stuffing (S$13.80). You can also have authentic cheese knacker sausage (S$8.20) and bockwurst sausage (S$8.20) with your beer.
B1 The Heeren, 260 Orchard Rd (Tel: 6737 6996)
Till Oct 30
Open daily 11am-11pm

Werner's Oven
Set menus are the Oktoberfest custom here: a S$65 set gets you a plate of sauerkraut, potato salad or mash, assorted sausages (garlic, farmer, smoked, thuringer), 2 Laugenstick breads and one liter of Paulaner beer or German white Riesling wine. A S$95 party platter consists of pork knuckles, assorted sausages, sauerkraut and mash, and 4 glasses of 500ml Paulaner beer or a bottle of Riesling.
#01-02, 6 Upper East Coast Rd (Tel:6442 3897)
Till Oct 31
Open Tues-Sun 11am-9.30pm

Clarke Quay
A tent for revellers will be put up for an Oktoberfest alfresco event. There will be beer drinking and sausage eating competitions, a German band (the Swiss Alpine Lions blowing alphorns), hula hoop girls from Hooters and an appearance from iBrew to introduce home brewing. You can sizzling port knuckles, sausages, red cabbage down with Erdingers.
3E River Valley Road
Oct 9
8pm-late

A timetable of other Erdinger events can be found at http://203.127.114.5/erdinger/html/index.html