In 2011 we visited the Spring Lake Cafe in Fircrest for Oktoberfest and celebrated a few birthdays. This year Peg was the only birthday person in town, so we celebrated her birthday in Oktoberfest fashion.
Eventhough we were a happy and boistrous group, there was no alcohol involved, much to the dismay of my friend, Randy. So, I tried singing the German drinking song (altering the location, of course), "In Fircrest There is No Beer." He was not amused. Randy's always pretty happy. A beer would have really pleased him, however.
Peg opened her gifts and had a fun time. The cards were passed around for everyone to read, but the dark chocolate stayed with her.
One of the joys of dining during Oktoberfest is German accordion music. The music and the entertainer were the same as last year. He's always smiling and knows how to connect with the people.
Just as the previous year, our table of 12 was the loudest in the restaurant. Loudest during Oktoberfest usually means we were having the best time. And we did. Last spring I had an eye appointment and was sitting with a friend of mine when the accordion player sat down beside me. We exchanged pleasantries. He looked kind of familiar, but when he said he played accordion I knew exactly who he was. I told him we had enjoyed his music at Spring Lake and mentioned we had a birthday party. He knew exactly who we were, also.
Last October I made sure his tip jar wasn't empty and this time I made sure it was full. Nice guy and great time.
When it was time for the Chicken Dance (a dance accompanied by flapping wing gestures and dancing, the only volunteers were two people from our group. Sue and Kate. Sue was a professional accordion player in her distant past and she appreciated the music and fun. I think both Sue and Kate had done the dance before, but just to make sure they were given a little instruction. I think the quality of dance steps vary, but usually enthusiasm makes up for any and all defficiencies.
A week before I carried on an email conversation of quips. When a friend remarked that he would be doing the Chicken Dance over the weekend, I replied, "I prefer the Fried Chicken Dance." He fired back with, "Of course. You can't do it sober." LMAOROTF!
Actually, the women did the dance sober and were beaming when they were through. I know they understood that we were laughing with them and not at them.
Kate is Peg's youngest sister. She was born in Germany on their father's last tour before he retired from the USAF. Peg graduated high school there as well.
Kate lives in the Syracuse area of New York. Over the past few years she has visited here with friends and family. He daughter came out on her own and now is putting herself through college by working at the Snoqualmie Falls casino. This means that Kate will be visiting even more in the future.
Kate graduated from high school here in Tacoma and still has plenty of friends around here. She traveled to the rainforest, the King Tut exhibit, and up and down the I-5 corridor. She constantly has a smile on her face here in Washington.
Spring Lake makes sure you have enought to eat. There was a lot of sharing going on with our party. I had the Jagerschnitzel ($16.95), which is like a chicken-fried steak and brown gravy with spaetzel (German dumpling/noodles) and red cabbage (sweet and pickled). I ate about half of my schnitzel and all of my noodles and cabbage. I also had a portion of Kate's rouladen, which takes an acquired taste. A beef steak is rolled up with a pickle, baked and served with brown gravy.
Instead of bread as an appetizer, sliced portions of soft pretzels were served. I restricted the pieces I ate, because I love butter added to them. I know, I know . . . I could cut out the butter, but then what's the point? At home we each a combination of butter and olive oil, so I can fool myself that it's almost healthy.
The cream of barley soup was excellent. It looked good, but I had salad. Spring Lake does a good job of feeding you.
At the far end of our table were Donn and Pat. The three waitresses were all wearing German style clothing. I think only one of the waitresses was German, however. We've seen her before at Spring Lake, the restaurant at Meadowpark Golf Course, and perhaps even Denny Faker's old Bavarian Restaurant on Division.
With a limited selection, the food was served fairly quickly and that was a good thing. Reservations are required and the restaurant is not usually open on Saturday nights. The music and German food began at five on this Oktoberfest celebration.
Spring Lake is a little strange. They don't have a regular website, they have irregular hours, and they didn't give me a call back when I left them a phone message on Monday. Donn had to repeatedly call until he had someone answer the phone and was able to make reservations.
Almost everyone saved room for dessert. The menu offered apple or cherry struedel. Peg and her sister Pat shared an apple struedel. I was going to order the cheery struedel until one of the waitresses walked by me carrying a plate with the apple/pumpkin bread pudding.
Having a bite of something warmed up in the microwave is sometimes scary. I had a bite of Peg's apple struedel and had to bulp some root beer to ease the pain of a burnt mouth. My bread pudding had pockes of warm and cold. The cold parts were okay, and the warm parts were better. Kate didn't like the consistency, but I think she got some of the cold parts.
Warmed up correctly with a little whiskey sauce on the pudding and it would have been outstanding.
People were lined up and waiting for our seats when all packed up to go. We laughed and ate and enjoyed ourselves. You can't ask for much more than that. As we left, the accordion entertainer played a happy birthday song and followed us out onto the sidewalk before switching to the Chicken Dance. We laughed. Peg had a huge smile on her face. I think she had a nice birthday party.
