Why Wait for Oktoberfest? Let's Do Febfest!

Welcome to February, surely the grayest and dullest of months in Cincinnati. The holidays have past, the Super Bowl parties are over, and it's still a few weeks until the Reds head for spring training. Some years ago, we decided we needed a way to break up the boredom of winter. Mr. Daisy Mae suggested we get together with friends who also have cabin fever and share traditional German food like we all love during Oktoberfest. We'd call it "Febfest" and share some Gemütlichkeit when we really needed it…during the blah days of February.
Twenty years later, the tradition continues. We get most of what we need from Findlay Market including cheese from Gibbs or Krause's, and sausages from Kroeger & Sons. We use Daisy Mae's own potatoes for homemade potato pancakes, and finish off the meal with an apfelstrüdel baked with crisp Granny Smith apples. Of course, no Febfest is complete without German-style beer so we support our neighbors at Christian Moerlein brewery or Rhinegeist right here in our Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. For those who prefer wine, we pick up a bottle or two from Market Wines at Findlay Market.
It's really easy to have a German celebration with the help of local Cincinnati small businesses. You should try it! Shop locally, celebrate internationally, and have fun with good friends, good food, and good drink.