Philadelphia’s Brauhaus Schmitz is considered to be the ultimate Oktoberfest stop all year long. This fall, the restaurant is spreading the Oktoberfest love throughout the city to its offshoot in Reading Terminal Market and beyond.
Owners Doug and Kelly Hager and Chef Jeremy Nolen will host a lively Oktoberfest Party on Friday, October 4, to celebrate the annual German beer festival at their authentic German-style delicatessen and sandwich shop, Wursthaus Schmitz, located at 51 North 12th Street in Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market. From 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., the popular sausage and cured meats counter will transform into a blue-and-white Bavarian wonderland, with festive decorations, food and live entertainment. Exclusively for this special occasion, Wursthaus Schmitz will partner with Molly Malloy’s, a neighboring pub in Reading Terminal Market, to pour German beer on a pay-as-you-go basis.
“Here at Wursthaus, we celebrate German food all day, every day, but without question Oktoberfest is our favorite time of year,” says Chef Nolen, who grew up in Reading, Penn., surrounded by German culture and cuisine. “We’re excited to host our first-annual Oktoberfest here and see our Germanic family grow with all of our honorary brethren who will join us.”
The sandwich shop and deli will be decorated with blue and white flags and beer signs, and Chef Nolen will prepare his satisfying menu, with the addition of roast pork sandwiches, alongside refreshing German beers. An oompah band will provide live music, and a face painter will help guests get into the festive spirit. The party will follow the annual German-American Day proclamation at City Hall, promising a lively group of revelers to come by and continue the festivities. Guests who attend the event and purchase a sandwich are automatically entered to win two tickets to Oktoberfest at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival on October 20. The event, presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats, sponsored by The Village Voice and hosted by Andrew Zimmern, will feature notable chefs from around the country, including Chef Nolen, who will be showcasing their fest-worthy cuisine. Find more information on the NYC event here.
Also on the schedule for Oktoberfest season is a pretzel-making class to be held at Cook (253 S. 20th Street) on Saturday, October 12, starting at 2 p.m. Pastry queen Jess Nolen of Brauhaus Schmitz will cover a basic pretzel dough recipe and demonstrate some basic pretzel shapes. Guests can choose what shapes they want to try and will be able to select from a selection of toppings, such as cinnamon-sugar, “everything” and more. Space is limited; get your tickets here!
Can’t make it to either celebration this season? Throw your own party! Private events, corporate events, charity events and offsite catering—Brauhaus Schmitz can handle it all, and then some. Check out some of their options here, then contact Marci via email for more info. (Bonus: Book before October 15 and your room rental fee will be waived.)
- Photography: Brauhaus Schmitz
