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Articles
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| Festivalgoers flock to Oktoberfest for food, fun and furry animals |
VOICE writes, "Festivalgoers flock to Oktoberfest for food, fun and furry animals
BY HANNAH REXROTH
A llama with a sunflower on its head is not an everyday sight along Barracks Row. Neither are military chefs preparing culinary delights or archbishops encouraging passersby to give an angel wings by buying a hotdog. But on this particular day no one blinked an eye, as they were all part of the Barracks Row Oktoberfest.
The fifth annual Barracks Row Festival on Sept. 29 attracted visitors from out of state as well as thousands of locals.
“This year we had our biggest turnout so far,” said Becky Gilmore, promotions committee volunteer with Barracks Row Main Street. Although the event is annual, the Oktoberfest theme was new. “We had good sponsors and decided to turn it into an Oktoberfest this year. Usually it’s more of an art thing,” Gilmore said."
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Art was still a part of the festival, with artists lining the street selling jewelry, paintings and glassware. Friends Lori Spencer and Melissa Murphy had a stand together, with one side holding Spencer’s homemade pies and the other showcasing Murphy’s jewelry and glass art.
A military cook-off was also a new addition to the festival. Fifteen teams of military chefs from around the country took part, each hoping for the chance to prove their branch as having the most culinary talent. The teams were given a mystery box and had 30 minutes to decide what to make, then two and a half hours to prepare the food. Each timeslot throughout the day received a different mystery box.
Competition judge Wally Davenport said the event was more than just a competition. “We want it to primarily be an educational experience. We want to give them motivation to improve their skills,” Davenport said.
Judging was based on taste, presentation and creativity. “That one with the pear fanned out is very creative,” Davenport said as he looked over the display table. He pointed to a plate with a busy array of steak, potatoes and pears. “This one just has too much on the plate.”
Air Force chefs Daniel Peterson and Brian Hall competed in the first time slot of the day. Their plate featured ribeye with a sautéed mushroom sauce and green beans wrapped in prosciutto.
“I was anxious,” said Hall, who works with the Air Force Executive Dining Facility at the Pentagon. “We’ve never done this before. We’re rookies.”
Peterson was pleased with their performance. “It went well,” he said. “We enjoyed ourselves, learned a lot, and worked well as a team.” Peterson’s 8-year-old son, Jaymon, was confident his dad would win. “He did great,” he said. Jaymon’s main concern was that he had to look but not taste. “Man, I wish I could have some leftovers to take. I just want some of those bacon and beans.”
The Marines and the Coast Guard were the only branches represented by only one team each. “I’m glad our team could be here,” said Coast Guard chef Andrew Proulx. “The Coast Guard isn’t always well-represented.” They won a cook-off three years ago, and expected to do so again. “Not to be cocky, but I think we could win. We can stand up against anybody,” Proulx said.
Well, maybe against almost anybody. On this particular day they proved unable to stand up against the Marines, who emerged from the cook-off as the grand prize winners. The winning plate featured mushroom stuffed chicken, herb risotto, buttered carrots and a lobster Neapolitan with tomatoes, lemon vinaigrette and bleu cheese.
In a roped-off section across from the cook-off tents, a group from the Route 1 Velo bicycle team fitted helmets to kids’ heads and held tiny bikes upright while their riders worked to out-pedal the kid beside them.
Sharon Cadiche of Roanoke, Va., laughed as her 2-year-old granddaughter tumbled off her bike. “She always thinks she can ride by herself,” she said. Cadiche and her family were enjoying the festival while her son-in-law, a Navy chef, took part in the cook-off. “He’s cooking lobster,” she said. “That’s all I know.”
The air was potent with the smell of food, both from the cook-off tents and the food vendors lining the street. But the festival featured more than just the normal greasy burgers and hot dogs.
A Tex-Mex stand had a long line waiting to get quesadillas and grilled corn-on-the cob. Crab cakes drew a crowd at Al’s Seafood. Archbishop Michael Seneco, from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, grilled “authentic bratwurst” while he called out, “Buy a hotdog from the church, give an angel its wings!”
For some people, food was the main attraction.
“I came here because I figured there would be some good food,” said D.C. resident Cecelia Wisdom. “I was hoping the military chefs would be handing out food, the smell is making me hungry.”
Wisdom was impressed with the food displays. “I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, but the Marines’ food looks the best,” she said.
For others, the Oktoberfest theme was the highlight.
Martin and Kristen Doczkat, of Arlington, Va., were decked out in traditional Bavarian costume purchased in Germany when they were there last week for the “real” Oktoberfest.
“We’re here because we didn’t get enough Oktoberfest in Munich,” Martin Doczkat said. “This is fun. It’s much smaller here, and all the beer drinkers are stuck in a corner, but I like the location.”
Kristen Doczkat added that the music, played by a German polka band, was authentic. “They were just playing a German drinking song that they played in Munich every fifteen minutes,” she said. Their only complaint was that the beer garden didn’t have enough German beer.
Those not old enough to care whether or not the beer was German flocked to the opposite end of the street, where a moonbounce, petting zoo and face painting station saw constant action.
“I like moonbouncing,” said 9-year-old Justin Jones, who took a break long enough to have his face painted. “I’m gonna get fire painted on one side, and a dog on the other side, white with yellow polka dots.”
Kids swarmed the llamas, rabbits, pigs, goats, miniature ponies, sheep and donkeys to pull their ears and push their hands into their fur. “I’ve only seen llamas on TV before,” said 6-year-old Gabriella Grimaldi as she poked the sunflower perched on the llama’s head. “This big llama is my favorite. He’s so nice, and he smiled at me.”
Whether it was a llama with a sunflower on its head, men in uniform wielding cooking utensils or authentic bratwurst topped with sauerkraut, the festival had something for everyone.
“The festival is always great,” said D.C. resident Michael Mobbs, who attended the festival with his young daughter. “The changes that have occurred on Eighth Street in the last few years are marvelous, and an event like this enables people to come out and see it. It’s a great thing, and it brings people together.”
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Posted on Oct 03, 2007 16:51pm.
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