Germans Will Celebrate A Deutsch Treat
October is here, and to sausage and suds fans, that can mean only one thing: Oktoberfest.
The German-American Society of Spokane will celebrate the traditional fall festival Friday and Saturday at the Deutsches Haus, 25 W. Third.
Reasonably priced German food and imported German beer and wine will be available. Entertainment will include dancing and performances by the Concordia Choir and the Swiss Alpenhorns and Spokane Horn Club.
Admission is $8, not including food and beverage charges. You must be over 21 to attend. For reservations, call 747-0004 or 466-2783.
Bird’s hunting
Our recent IN Food cover story tracing the roots of Canada’s caloric culinary export, the Nanaimo bar, raised a few questions, the most common one apparently being: “Where the heck do I find Bird’s Vanilla Custard Powder?”
The British product, considered essential in the making of an authentic Nanaimo bar, is available at selected Albertson’s, Tidyman’s and Rosauers supermarkets in the Spokane area. Not all stores carry it; call ahead to be sure. Look for it by the packaged pudding mixes.
Tube talk
Autumn also brings a new season of shows on television, including that perennial PBS favorite, “The Frugal Gourmet.”
The Frug’s further adventures start on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. on Spokane’s KSPS-TV, Channel 7, with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the program. Host Jeff Smith will reminisce about his first show in 1973, and cook up some old favorites.
In upcoming installments of the 13-week series, Smith and assistant Craig Wollam will explore Italian regional specialties before finishing with four shows devoted to more alltime favorites including dim sum, dishes made with wine and historic American classics.
And speaking of Italian cooking, “Cucina Amore,” a companion PBS show starring chef Nick Stellino (who was profiled in the Spokane edition of IN Food two weeks ago), airs at a new time on KSPS: Saturdays at 10 a.m.
World tour
Want to dish up some dandy ethnic foods from your own kitchen? A series of classes offered over the next three weeks by the Women’s Health Center at Holy Family Hospital can help.
The menu includes “Mexican: Beans, Rice and Spice” on Oct. 11; “Italian Is More Than Spaghetti” on Oct. 18, and “Oriental Wok Wonders” on Oct. 23. Cost is $15 per class, or $35 for the series. Space is limited; call 482-2477 for information and registration.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing