Alpine Village Oktoberfest 2009
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Video of Oktoberfest 2009 at Alpine Village from Los Angeles Foodie on Vimeo.
My bratwurst jones kicked in and kicked in hard this past weekend, and I knew I just wouldn’t be able to wait until this weekend’s Los Angeles Oktoberfest. Fortunately, there’s a fine Oktoberfest celebration happening all month long down at Alpine Village in Torrance, so I made my annual pilgrimage. It claims to be the largest and longest-running Oktoberfest celebration in Southern California, and I’ve seen no evidence that would dispute that. According to the site, 2009 marks the event’s 42nd consecutive year.
First things first: If you’ve never been to Alpine Village in the off-season (i.e., not October), I suggest you check it out. It’s a quaint and wholly unique little German village smack in the middle of the Southland. Its spectacular German restaurant, complete with dance hall, merits a full review of its own. And there’s a fabulous market next door selling German delectables of all kinds.
But I digress – back to the event at hand.
Food is big at Alpine Village’s Oktoberfest – and I don’t just mean it’s important. It’s literally oversized.
Exhibit A:
Yes, that’s a pretzel. And no, that’s not a tiny person eating it. The pretzel is that big. Of course, it’s also $10. But that $10 can easily give a picnic table of five a much-needed means of absorbing the profuse amount of beer that’s likely to be consumed in conjunction with the meal. (And, quite frankly, it’s just a really good pretzel.)
The comical portions apply to the rest of the food as well, including the bratwurst.
Even a run-of-the-mill hotdog is gargantuan. So when my friend told the fräulein behind the food counter that he’d have “just a hotdog,” she was vexed for a moment. She repeated the order back to him a couple of times, and I later understood why. There was no “just” about the hotdog. That hotdog was a commitment.
But let’s be honest: Oktoberfest isn’t just about the food. It’s about beer. So you’ll be pleased to know that those are similarly oversized:
The beer selection is limited, but includes two varieties of Bavaria’s Spaten for a little authenticity. There’s also the ubiquitous Bud Light for those who decide that copious amounts of beer, no matter the brand, is German enough for them.
Combine all this food and beer with a rousing brass band, hilarious contests and abundant chicken dancing, and you have what I call an awesome time. Alpine Village’s Oktoberfest runs through Oct. 25, so I recommend you pull on your best pair of lederhosen and go check it out. More photos in the gallery below.
Beer Garden: Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Alpine Inn: Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Beer Garden Schedule:
Fridays: 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. (21 years and older only)
$8 admission
Saturdays: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. (21 years and older only)
$8 admission
Sunday: Noon to 8 p.m. (Family Day)
$5 Admission
Children under 12 free with adult
Alpine Village
833 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90502
310-327-4384
