Great Food for an Oktoberfest in St. John's:

We've heard of, or enjoyed the festive food of the traditional Bavarian style but Newfoundland has it's own special food for celebrations. The food of Oktoberfest is the food of the people. It can be simple like bratwurst and potatoes. It can be fancy like Sauerbraten, or sweet honey mustard. It celebrates the locally grown products. Homemade breads and pretzels. Much of the food makes great "street food" - perfect for festival goers.

Newfoundlanders have their own party food, with much of the same appeal. Fish and chips, Jig's dinner, cabbage rolls, toutons and plenty of tastes both sweet and savory.

An Oktoberfest on the Rock would try to offer the best of both worlds. An ideal celebration would see local restaurants and food vendors participating by offering both local and Oktoberfest style specials. A walk through the downtown of St. John's would see a number of participating places sporting a sign that indicates to potential diners, that this place is offering a special menu on Festival days, somehow in keeping with the spirit of the Oktoberfest.  This steakhouse offers special desserts, roasted  beef or pork with apple and potato dishes. The family restaurant is offering both fish and chips and Oktoberfest sausage on it's menu. Perhaps a choice of Toutons or Strudel  at this coffee shop. Perhaps something as simple as a choice between local blueberry wine or a happy Rheine wine or Riesling on the wine list at another restaurant.  The possibilities are endless.

At the concert site or on George Street, the booths and carts offer Sausage or Schnitzel on a bun. Perhaps fish cakes and cabbage rolls? The more daring restaurants offer both BBQ pig-tails and deep fried cod tongues. 

An afternoon food festival has an open competition among local restaurants to find the best cabbage roll, best fish and brewis, the best fish cake or best sauerkraut recipe  and other awards for best offering in different food categories.

If the festival grows to a city-wide or regional festival, the possibilities are great for local famers, bakers, wine makers and restaurateurs.