Tag Archives: Biergarten

Epcot’s Germany Pavilion – Nudel Gratin at Home

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This weekend we decided to have our own Oktoberfest celebration at home.  We decided if we can’t celebrate it in World Showcase’s Germany Pavilion, we could bring a little Biergarten to our house.  We love beer and brats no matter the season, but German Nudel Gratin, a treat we usually only enjoy in Epcot, would add just the right touch to our celebration. And make us feel that much closer to our next Disney vacation.

Epcot’s Germany Pavilion – Nudel Gratin at Home

As usual, the application of my mad Google skills payed off with the recipe I needed.  Nudel Gratin is the German version of mac & cheese and calls for the addition of eggs which give the sauce a more custard-like consistency.  Swiss cheese and nutmeg add the flavors that elevate this dish to its happy-memories-of-Epcot deliciousness.

Joseph, taking our Oktoberfest theme to heart, decided we needed more. Appetizers and dessert, to be specific and he got busy making dough, because baking is his specialty. All those hours spent watching the Great British Baking Show have not go to waste. For starters, Joe chose pretzels and beer cheese dip. For dessert, caramel apple rolls. The pretzel making turned into a fun group activity and before long, we were scarfing down some warm delicious pretzels covered in tasty gooey cheese dip.  

After assembling my ingredients and with a little help from my favorite egg producers, I assembled the Nudel Gratin.  The recipe is easy, but total prep time is a little more than an hour.  Joseph tossed together some crispy, vinegar-y cabbage and apple slaw and while the Gratin was in the oven, I cooked up some brats. First I browned them, then tossed some beer in the pan, covered those brats up and let them cook through.  Once our cheesy side dish was ready to serve, it was time for our Oktoberfest-ival. 

Everything was scrumptious! We were so full, we put off dessert for an hour so we could appreciate those caramel apple rolls to the fullest. Joseph made the caramel rum sauce from scratch and its sweet buttery-ness was the perfect topping for those rolls. We considered our Oktoberfest a resounding (and fattening) success!

Have you made any Disney recipes at home lately? How’d it go?    

Disney’s Epcot – The Germany Pavilion

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Germany Pavilion in Epcot 1It may be because I’m half-German or maybe because of its perfect location between China and Italy…just far enough from the beginning of the World Showcase (starting with Mexico) to have worked up a powerful thirst for a good German beer!  Maybe it’s the smells and tastes of the delicious treats inside Karamelle-Kuche – arguably the best sweets shop in Epcot.  Whatever the reasons, I love the Germany Pavilion!  Every detail about this area’s tribute to all things German is just wonderful…er…wunderbar!

Just in case you need them, I’ll give you five great things about Epcot’s Germany Pavilion:

1.  The Food – Delicious options abound!  Want a snack?  Quick service meal?  Full-blown Oktoberfest-style buffet? You can get them all in Epcot’s little slice of Germany.

I’ve mentioned Karamelle-Kuche already – from the makers of Werther’s candies, enter this shop and the aromas alone are amazing.  I recommend a piece of chocolate-covered salted caramel – big enough to share (maybe).

Need a quick meal?  Sommerfest is the place to be.  Enjoy a brat or Frankfurter for a simple lunch.  Feeling brave? Try the Currywurst (bun-less brat with curry ketchup) or the Leberkaese Reuben (German meatloaf in a Reuben sandwich) – not to your liking?  Well, then order the Nudel Gratin – not-your-momma’s mac-n-cheese!  Maybe just a pretzel to go with some beer!

Need a BIG meal? Biergarten will satisfy both the urge to try out a variety of German flavors (it’s a buffet!) and experience some authentic German entertainment at the same time.

2. The Buildings and Courtyard – Right in the center of the action you’ll find a statue of St. George and the Dragon.  Look around!  The architecture is modeled after 400+ year-old German landmarks. Colorful crests and symbols painted on the building’s facades add to the festive atmosphere. The whimsical clock tower where, at the top of each hour, figurines come out to visitors’ delighted surprise.

IMG_28233. The Shops – I love the variety!  Be sure to check out the store with the genuine Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks!  You can also buy many other fantastic German items like beer steins, hats, books, dolls and more.

4. The Beer – The Schofferhofer Grapefruit beer has a near cult following.  Try it out on a sunny, hot afternoon and see why!  Not to your liking? Grab the darkest brew on the menu to go with that Sommerfest pretzel – that’s what I do and..well…it’s perfect and makes me feel both happy and GERMAN!

5. The Scavenger Hunt – Germany is one of the countries you’ll visit on your quest if you choose to participate in Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure.  If you’re visiting right away, you might want to try out the brand new (rumored to be only for the Flower and Garden Festival) Muppets Most Wanted-themed adventure.

Bonus feature:  The miniature village and model train are super cool – located right next to the pavilion. Don’t pass it by.

If you’ve passed by the Germany Pavilion without exploring, I hope you’ll give it a visit next time you’re in the World!  If you’re already a fan, what’s your favorite thing about Epcot’s Germany?