• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Shop Local, Eat Fresh at the Saratoga Farmers' Market | Food, Crafts, Music in Saratoga Springs

Shop Local, Eat Fresh

  • Markets
    • Winter Market
    • Saratoga Outdoor Markets
    • Clifton Park Market
  • Vendors
    • Become A Vendor
    • Winter Vendors
    • Saratoga Outdoor Vendors
    • Clifton Park Vendors
  • About Us
    • SFM Association
    • History
  • Programs & Events
    • SNAP/EBT & FMNP
    • POP Club for Kids
    • Summer Internships
    • Compost Collection
    • Workshops
  • Get Involved
  • News
    • Featured Article
    • Seasonal Recipes
  • Contact Us

Bavarian

Oktoberfest-ivities to celebrate local fall food and drink

September 14, 2021 By marketeditor

By Emily Meagher

As the air gets a slight chill, we look forward to incorporating fresh produce and locally crafted products into the many festivities that the fall season offers. Before we can think of Thanksgiving or Halloween, the Bavarian Oktoberfest gives us a joyful excuse to start connecting food and community in September.

Yes, September: Oktoberfest takes place in the two-plus weeks leading up to October. The world’s largest “Volksfest,” a beer festival and traveling funfair, originated in 1810 and is held annually in Munich. If you are looking to host your own Oktoberfest celebration, here are some ideas for items to grab from the farmers’ market to honor traditional Bavarian foods while supporting local food and drink producers.

Mean Max Brew Works, photo by Emily Meagher

The classic image of Oktoberfest is gleeful celebrants toasting (or “prost” ing) massive glasses of beer. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market’s newest vendor, Mean Max Brew Works, offers a special “Sixteen Days” Oktoberfest beer, referencing the traditional length of the fest. The brew is a traditional German-style lager and comes in four packs of pint-sized cans (two of which add up to the standard one-liter Oktoberfest serving). Mean Max offers other beers like sours, ales, and stouts, as well.

Ramble Creek Farm, photo by Emily Meagher

Then, for food. As expected, pork plays a part in traditional festivities in the form of sausages and shoulder and knuckle roasts. Stop by Ramble Creek Farm, Grazin’ Acres Farm, or Mariaville Mushroom Men to pick up a pork cut of your choice. But an even more common meat found at German celebrations is roasted chicken. Pick up a whole bird or parts at producers like Squash Villa Farm, Longlesson Farm, Ramble Creek Farm, or Grazin’ Acres Farm. Season thoroughly with poultry seasoning, found at Muddy Trail Jerky. And a lesser known but equally traditional protein is “Steckerlfisch,” literally meaning fish on a stick. Use whitefish, mackerel, or trout from Pura Vida Fisheries and roast with oil, garlic, and spices.

Radishes, photo provided by Green Jeans Market Farm

Lastly, include dishes made from seasonal produce like salted beer radish, available at Green Jeans Market Farm, which serves as a light snack to wash down all that beer. Other traditional snacks include potato pancakes or dumplings, sauerkraut, and of course, freshly baked soft pretzels. Dip the latter in this “obatzda,” a Bavarian beer cheese spread.

This week’s recipe: Obatzda (Bavarian beer cheese spread)

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: Bavarian, beer, fall, festivities, German, Grazin' Acres Farm, green jeans market farm, Longlesson Farm, Mariaville Mushroom Men, Mean Max Brew Works, muddy trail jerky, Oktoberfest, Pura Vida Fisheries, Ramble Creek Farm, Squash Villa Farm

Obatzda (Bavarian beer cheese spread)

September 14, 2021 By marketeditor

Shutterstock

Recipe adapted from Craft Beering
Yield: 6 portions

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 8 oz camembert*, cut in small pieces (or other soft, ripe cheese)
● 8 oz spreadable cheese*, any kind
● ⅓ cup butter, cut in small pieces
● 2 ½ tsp paprika
● 2 tsp ground caraway seed
● Salt and pepper, to taste
● ¼ cup Sixteen Days Oktoberfest beer* (or other lager or pilsner)
● ⅓ cup shallots*, finely diced
● 2 Tbsp + 1 handful scallions*, finely chopped

Instructions
1. Bring the camembert, spreadable cheese, and butter to room temperature.
2. In a mixing bowl, add the two cheeses, butter, paprika, caraway seeds, salt and pepper, and 2 Tbsp of beer and press using a fork until well mixed together. Add more beer until you reach a spread-like, but not runny, consistency.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to firm up.
4. When you are ready to serve, take the dip out of the refrigerator. Run the diced shallots under water in a strainer and dry off with a paper towel before using. Add the shallots and 2 Tbsp of scallions to the dip and fold until they are well incorporated.
5. Garnish with the rest of the scallions. Serve with pretzels, radishes, or rye bread.

Filed Under: News, Seasonal Recipes Tagged With: Bavarian, beer, beer cheese, camembert, cheese, dip, fall, German, Oktoberfest, pretzels, Scallions, shallots, side, snack, spread

Before Footer

Instagram

Have you ever made Linzer cookies? Check out this Have you ever made Linzer cookies?  Check out this recipe at the site and then plan to wander over to the market this weekend for some farm fresh eggs, perpetual vanilla and jams before you get started baking these delicious bites...
https://www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/linzer-cookies-2/
#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #linzercookies❤️ #farmfreshproducts
We hope you will join us for our holiday artist fa We hope you will join us for our holiday artist fair this weekend! 
Local artists will be joining our amazing vendors for one week only!
#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #holidayartistfair #localartistfair
Do you live in the City of Saratoga Springs? If y Do you live in the City of Saratoga Springs?  If you do please vote for us to become part of this special city funding so that we can add a Fresh Tent to our Market. 
This funding will allow us to provide a FRESH TENT that will include not just the supplies to make it happen, but taste testings and recipes for the community, education for children and a $2 coupon when we host the Fresh Tent which will be for 8 weeks in duration.
We need your support to make this happen and appreciate everyone who takes the time to vote for the Saratoga Farmers' Market.
#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆
We are here today! Amazing music … fantastic ve We are here today!  Amazing music … fantastic vendors … added crafters … and we’re here until 1:30!
#saratogafarmersmarket

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

With support from our friends at:

Copyright © 2023 · Saratoga Farmers Market · Design by REACH CREATIVE

    COVID-19: Check our latest Safety Guidelines!
  • Markets
    • Winter Market
    • Saratoga Outdoor Markets
    • Clifton Park Market
  • Vendors
    • Become A Vendor
    • Winter Vendors
    • Saratoga Outdoor Vendors
    • Clifton Park Vendors
  • About Us
    • SFM Association
    • History
  • Programs & Events
    • SNAP/EBT & FMNP
    • POP Club for Kids
    • Summer Internships
    • Compost Collection
    • Workshops
  • Get Involved
  • News
    • Featured Article
    • Seasonal Recipes
  • Contact Us