On a recent business trip to Fort Worth, Texas, my friends there took me to the Bavarian Bakery and Cafe. Such an establishment may not seem to jive with the stereotypical Texan cuisine, but it is a very popular place with the locals and it is decidedly authentic as both the owner/operators–husband and wife, Stephan and Melitta Bueschel–were raised in Germany.

I had a sandwich on thick rye bread, still warm from the oven. Warm bread of any sort is olfactory ecstasy and warm rye bread is special. The fragrance is like wine.

The one thing that definitely fit the Texas (the biggest, the best, “don’t mess with Texas”) mystique was the enormous real Bavarian clock on one wall that’s taller than a human…taller even than a Texan. Apparently, from what I’m told, it took a special crew and moving procedures to even get the object inside the restaurant. I kept wondering how it stayed attached to the wall. It must weigh a ton.

If this bakery were near where I live, I’m afraid I would weigh as much as the clock. I have a real weakness for fresh bread. It must be in the genes. Our (my sister and I) maternal great-grandmother and her sons once owned bakeries in Southern Illinois. I sometimes wonder if I’ve missed my calling.

If you are looking for something fun to do tonight—especially if you’re a family—go to the final night of the German American Society of Pinellas County OKTOBERFEST! (8098 66th St. N., Pinellas Park, FL 33781). They serve food from 6 pm-8:30 pm and the event (and beer!) continues until 11:30 pm. Admission is $6, food and drinks you pay for what you order, cash.

They have many of the traditional Oktoberfest meals and pastries. I had the weisswurst (a white sausage) and sauerkraut, plus reiberdatschi (potato pancakes) and then käsekuchen (cheesecake). There are plenty of other German foods at the fest, some of which are pictured here. For example, they had freshly made schnitzel, deep fried on the spot (one of my friends was the schnitzel maker the night I was there) and something I’ve never seen before: thick slices of German bologna, fried. I was too stuffed to try that, but I will remember it for next year.

The best features of the evening for me, though, were the music and dancing. The night I was there, the band was one of the best German bands I’ve ever heard (and I’ve heard a bunch). Not all German bands are created equal. This one grooved! Very tight, very “long” rhythms that made you want to dance. There was no way to sit still.

The dancing highlight of the evening–in fact the reason I went–was performed by friends who are the Gulf Coast Enzianer Schuhplattler Verein which is “a nonprofit, cultural preservation society that is dedicated to upholding the traditions of Bavarian culture through dancing Schuhplattler and wearing Tracht.” Tracht is traditional Bavarian clothes; for instance, lederhosen for men. Schuhplattler is the style of Bavarian dancing that involves stamping and slapping. Unfortunately, too many people only recognize it from Chevy Chase’s lampooning of it in his “European Vacation” movie. In reality, it is a beautiful folk dance form that has many proponents, world-wide. It is excellent for family group participation.

For my friends, Wednesday night (their Schuhplattler rehearsal night) is family night. It is an ideal family activity with a focus on lighthearted fun and sociability. In fact, most German folk music (I confess to being a lifelong fan of German yodels and polkas) have words that are about family life and the home. If this idea intrigues you for your own family, check out their website and their photo page. For sure, try to make it to the German-American Club’s Oktoberfest tonight to watch them dance. Immediately below is a slideshow of my friends’ group dancing last weekend at the Pinellas German-American Club Oktoberfest.

If you can’t make the final night of the German American Club’s Oktoberfest tonight, then make plans to attend the Oldsmar Oktoberfest, October 23-25, held at Tampa Bay Downs (11225 Racetrack Rd., Tampa, FL 33626). This is a mammoth event with rides and music and lots of food. See this Oldsmar Chamber of Commerce page for complete details on that event.

If big crowds aren’t your thing, then try something smaller: area German restaurants are offering special menus during this time, some even having their own mini-Oktoberfests. Be sure to make reservations for these since seating is at a premium during this season. A few examples are the Schnitzelhaus in Tampa, Cafe Vienna in St. Petersburg, Bavarian House on St. Pete Beach, and Cafe Berlin on Treasure Island. I’m sure that even the German bakeries will be having special featured items this time of year, such as the Cafe Mozart German Bakery in St. Pete.

Prost!