Wonka, Schnitzelfest and NYC Foodies Get-together
Hi boys and girls, How was your weekend?
Mine was dandy, even though I started it out by watching the *terrible* new version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I'm a big fan of the original, and felt that I should probably give the new version a chance. While I will admit that the special effects are quite something, the new movie had none of the heart of the original. I never felt sorry for Depp as Wonka, he was just too... hmmm, creepy and unsympathetic. I missed Gene Wilder singing "Pure Imagination", Jack Albertson and Peter Ostrum singing "(I've Got a) Golden Ticket", and the original Oompa Loompa songs were unbeatable. I did like Freddie Highmore as Charlie and David Kelly as Grandpa Joe, but still... it's just not the original.
Saturday our dinner group met at the Old Heidelberg restaurant in Bethel CT for their annual Schnitzelfest. Here's the menu of schnitzels:
| Schnitzel Festival Menu |
| Wiener Schnitzel - our most Favorite Zwiebel Schnitzel - caramelized Onion Zigeuner Schnitzel - caramelized Bell Pepper Jaeger Schnitzel - brown Gravy & Mushroom Heidelberger - Mushroom, Onion & Bacon Muenchner Schnitzel - topped with Sauerkraut Holsteiner Schnitzel - with Egg sunny side up Schweizer Schnitzel - Tomato& melted Swiss Cheese Rahmschnitzel - not breaded. Cream Sauce & Mushroom Huehner Schnitzel - Chicken Schnitzel Sauerbraten Schnitzel - with Sauerbraten Gravy Bratwurstplatte - Bratwurst with Sauerkraut & mashed Bayerische Schweinshaxe - Pork Shank Koenig Platte - Pork Shank & Bratwurst Kaiser Platte - Pork Shank & Schnitzel |
Beer of the Fest: Schwelmer Bernstein, Weizen, Alt & Pils |
I myself am not a fan of veal, so I opted for chicken schnitzel with sauerbraten gravy. Served with red cabbage and spaetzle, it made for a mighty tasty plate. We started out with some salads (including an excellent cucumber salad) and ended with berries and vanilla sauce and kaisershmaren (hmmm, like thick crepe pieces dusted with pwdered sugar, very yummy). Great rockabilly band too, The Ultra Kings. Only down side, a ton of mosquito bites. They bit me through my jeans!? How rude!
Sunday we had been planning this get together of our NYC foodie group in Central Park. Rain ruined those plans, but Rebecca kindly offered her apartment in Brooklyn. Hooray, the event was saved! In attendance: Dave, Susann, Jessica, Rebecca, Lisa and her boyfriend Sonny (Lisa, I *know* I must have spelled that wrong... please correct me!), and Lisa's parents who were visiting from outside Philly. We took some pictures that I will be posting, and if you took pictures, send them my way and I will post them! The food was so good! Everything from Susann's version of Clotilde's Broccoli and Cornmeal Cake, Rebecca's pizza with smoked mozzarella, Lisa and her gang's lentil salad (must get that recipe!), our edamame hummus, vegetarian muffaletta and bresola mozzarella pesto sandwich, the list went on! And for dessert, Jessica's macaroons, doughnuts from the Doughnut Plant (square jelly doughnuts, yum!), currant bars and chocolate walnut Daim cookies from me... we had ALOT of food! I can't wait to get together again with this great group of people, so many nice folks who just happened to meet because we all read one woman's blog. Small world!
An aside about the small world aspect of this group... Lisa and her parents listen to alot of the same music that Dave and I do (including, but not limited to, Chris Smither and Erin McKeown) and they're going to Falcon Ridge next weekend to boot. But the really amazing little fact is that Lisa's mom has read If I Never Get Back, one of my all-time favorite books! I have *never* met anyone who had heard of this book, let alone read it! And she told me there is a sequel! Whoopee! Must. Find. Book. Stat. Looks like it's out of print, but I can find a used copy through Amazon which will be fine.
All in all, a nice weekend. Didn't have time to read any of the new Harry Potter, but I should be able to get to it soon. Should have brought it to read at the gym. Ah well. :D
