Let other Oktoberfests celebrate with fancy steins and thick pretzels. Here in Wisconsin, nothing says Oktoberfest like deep-fried cheese curds.
In Appleton, where more than 100,000 people jammed College Avenue for the annual Oktoberfest, (celebrated with good ole Midwestern German stubbornness in September) almost every food stand listed cheese curds on its menu.
Unique to Wisconsin and some of the cooler areas of Minnesota, cheese curds are part sustenance, part toy. Fresh cheese curds squeak when you eat them. You squeak when you eat deep-fried cheese curds, a glorious golden symbol of grease, gluten, and gluttony.
They’re ubiquitous in Wisconsin, most gas stations have a bag or two of fresh cheese curds ready for sale, but cheese curds are hard to find anywhere else.
They don’t travel well and, to maximize the squeak factor and minimize risk of botulism, they should be kept at room temperature for only a few hours. Refrigerated cheese curds are no fun at all.
Our advice? Come to Wisconsin, bite into a salty curd, and smile.
A herd of curd eaters and Oktoberfest revelers filled the Avenue this past Saturday. We feel very lucky that we can walk from our house to downtown Appleton for cool events like Oktoberfest, which featured great bands, happy people and plenty of cheese curds.Cheese curds and breakfast brats. Now you know you’re in Wisconsin.Cheese curds and Churros, I appreciate both the alliteration and the fusion.Ya, you betcha, hey! Cheese curds from a truck.Egg rolls, cheese curds and crab rangoons. Even our Asian booths sell cheese curds during Oktoberfest.The international booth–egg rolls, french crepes and, wait for it, cheese curds!Just a couple of lederhosen wearing fellas, eating some curd and finding their way Each booth at the Appleton Oktoberfest raises money for charity. Check out the menu at the St. Patrick’s Parish booth.Steak sandwiches, brats and cheese curds.We had to pick up a fresh bag of cheese curds for research purposes, don’t you know. We bought these at Simon’s Cheese, and we can report that cheese curds still offer squeaky, delicious fun. You should refrigerate them after a few hours, but you can pop them in you microwave for a few seconds to get the same squeaky effect. Really, though, it’s best to eat cheese curbs fresh out of the bag.
I went to St. Norbert College back in the early 70s and have been to Appleton several times. Yes, to those breakfast brats. I never ate one until WI. I don’t recall cheese curds being a big deal back then, but do like them. And you’re right about the squeak when you eat them. I think there’s a little bit of plastic in those curds.
All that’s missing is Wisconsin native, Matt Kenseth and hopefully next Chase Winner… 😉 I could just see him standing on the #20 eating cheese curds!!
Maybe next year:)
I went to St. Norbert College back in the early 70s and have been to Appleton several times. Yes, to those breakfast brats. I never ate one until WI. I don’t recall cheese curds being a big deal back then, but do like them. And you’re right about the squeak when you eat them. I think there’s a little bit of plastic in those curds.
There’s a little magic in those curds. The St. Norbert campus is looking beautiful these days. It’s one of those perfect fall campuses.
Cheese that squeaks? That’s crazy talk! 🙂
It’s even better than cereal that snaps, crackles and pops!
Looks like a blast!! I’m doing some Oktoberfest posting as well this month…October is the best!
October is the best, for food and fun.