Eurofest was one of those events that I had marked in my calender months ahead of time. I set my stomach on watch for it and started counting down to the weekend. I knew that I had the best guide in town as I had made plans with Ellie who lives nearby and is a Eurofest regular (she and her husband have been there every year for the past 8 years). Eurofest is an outdoor festival that stretches over the whole weekend so that means should the urge strike you to join in the fun, you can do so today!
Even though the food doesn’t start until a bit later we meet up at just after 10am to secure a parking spot that isn’t too far from the centre of things (Ellie says that if you come around noon, the crowds and cars ensure that you will park far away). Entry is $5 per person and children under 15 enter for free. It’s held on a large expanse of the Ararat Reserve in Frenchs Forest and as we approach in the car, we hand the person our money and get our golden tickets. The first sight we’re greeted with is a woman spinning wool on a spinning wheel.
Most popular stand on a hot Spring day? The Beer stand…
Chilli Ginger Lemonade $4
As we wander around we buy a cup of Chilli Ginger Lemonade which is a great way to refresh with the judiciously applied tingly chilli and ginger going well with the icey fizz. There are rides to the left for kids and things to buy on the right from homewares, to finger puppets and other market types of stalls. We head towards the large white tent where we camp ourselves. Each of the clubs, (German, Austrian, Armenian, Dutch and Danish) have a stand in here and produce hot food.
Finger Puppets
Swiss stand
Just outside of this there are also other food stalls that sell a variety of delicious European goodies from Switzerland, Turkey (the omnipresent Gozleme stand), Czechoslovakia, Italy, Germany and others as well as Himalayan.
Dutch Kroketten $2
We can’t say no to a Dutch Kroketten and at $1.50 per stick and 50c for the roll I don’t know why one would. There’s a bit of confusion at the stand when they realise that there’s no onion for the herring fillet and no forks for diners. I take the kroketten in the roll to the table and it’s crunchy and freshly fried although the buttered bun is a bit too big for it.
Almdudler $3.50
Ellie tells me that the food is always good at the Austrian Club stand so our next stop is their stand. We grab an Almdudler (their version of a Coke in popularity). It’s like a herbal lemonade drink like Chi.
Leberkaese with sauerkraut and bread roll $10
We’re curious about the Leberkaese and ask them what it’s like. “Like pork or ham with liver” the friendly man with the tongs says and he offers us a sample. Ellie’s husband Mr J tells us that literally translated it means Liver Cheese although it has no cheese in it, the name reflects more the texture of it when it’s uncooked. It tastes like thick slices of devon fried which just happened to be one of my favourite childhood snacks (it had to be fried and on white bread with tomato sauce please) so I order a Leberkaese with sauerkraut $10 and a Bratwurst with potato salad $10 (both can be bought without the salad for $8).
The Bratwurst is juicy and delicious and the potato salad is an unusual take on the regular mayonnaise laden potato salad. It has a bit more mashed potato, vinegar and oil and is rather mild tasting. The accompaniment that I enjoy the most is the sauerkraut. Sometimes I find this too vinegary but the bacon cube peppered sauerkraut here is mild and tasty.
Ta da! The Belgian chip stand
Belgian fries $5
We sit back and chat for a while before we give in to the lure of the outdoor stalls. Mr NQN minds the table and we go out to buy some Belgian Fries. They’re freshly fried and served in a cone with Dutch mayonnaise. Why Dutch Mayonaise? Well the man that runs it happens to be Dutch and he think it tastes the best. I take a wooden fork and try some. They’re perfectly salted and crunchy golden with a generous serve of mayonnaise and they’re the way that fries should be all the time. “If you get halfway down the cone come back and get some more mayonnaise” the stallowner says and it’s like music to my ears.
Langos with garlic, tomato sauce and cheese $8
Mr NQN is still hungry and wandering around I tossed up between getting a fresh pretzel or a Langos from the Czechoslovakian stand and knowing how much we enjoyed Langos many moons ago I choose this. They fry it fresh and brush some garlic oil on top, cover it with tomato sauce and sprinkle cheese on top. We take it back to the table and cut it up and it’s devoured except for the sauceless sides.
As Ellie has a gluten intolerance she tries the Lamb curry from the Himalayan stall. The meat is nicely tender and even Ellie’s daughter Little Miss C loves it and asks for bite after bite.
Poffertjes $7
Our savoury tooth is sated so we head over to our long intended target, the Poffertjes stand. We buy it the most traditional way: with butter and icing sugar. Each puff is fluffy and light and lip smackingly good. Good enough for Miss C too who takes a liking to these (although has there ever been a kid in the world that hasn’t liked pancakes?).
Forestberry Gelato $4
Mr NQN also tries a forestberry gelato from the Bravo stand although it’s missing that gorgeous tang that you get from berries and is a very muted and mild flavour despite the absolutely vivid colour.
Representing Austria…
It is then that the parade starts with a start of the bagpipes and we watch as each country parades around the ground in their National Costume.
The Danes (who were a very cheery bunch!)
And guess who? Yep, representing Australia!
Little Miss C and Mr J have to leave – she’s tired from the rides and snacks so Mr NQN, Ellie and I get up and see what’s on offer in the club houses.
Zzzzz
Danish Club Christmas Decorations
Some of the nearby clubs are having open days and the Danish Club is one which we wander into. There are open face sandwiches for sale (3 for $12) and there are portraits of Princess Mary and Prince Frederick and Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik on the wall. They’re selling these adorable Christmas dolls and many are sold from the signs indicating so. On another table there’s a table of marzipan and chocolate based sweets. My eyes light up at the Overflodighedshorn or the Horn of Plenty baked marzipan dessert – I recall Princess Mary and Prince Frederick had one as their wedding cake and it’s usually used in celebrations. She offers me a sample of it and I buy one for my friends who have just gotten engaged.
Dutch Club’s Windmill
I carry it out carefully and onto the last stop, the Dutch Club where there’s a miniature version of the Dutch Shop in the club (damn, no Bitterballen 
) but I do spy Apple Syrup which sounds interesting.
Mini Dutch Shop
Apple Syrup: stroop=syrup in Dutch
Although we spent about $80 here, I leave satisfied, after all I have the Horn of Plenty!
Horn of Plenty $20
So tell me Dear Reader, do you like outdoor festivals?
Eurofest 2009
Held on Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of September
Ararat Reserve, Bantry Bay Road, Frenchs Forest, NSW
Sunday: 9-5pm. Entry is $5 per adult. There is also a free shuttle bus.
http://www.eurofest.org.au/
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37 Comments | Add your own
A really wonderful post, Lorraine, even if I know all this food very good. I like that they import all this european local food to the eurofest. I like leberkäs’, langos and sauerkraut as well. If you don’t like so much the sourness in the sauerkraut you can also use sourcream for attenuate. have a nice weekend… Regards from Germany, Anja
That Horn of Plenty looks fabulous, I have a weakness for marzipan. What a shame it’s too far to drive and buy one today.
Oh I love these kinds of festivals!!! I love discovering different food from different countries – and your food photos are just amazingly scrumptious! Proffiteroles, Belgian chips (with unlimited mayo! That’s indeed music to my ears too!), and what is that Horn of Plenty? Veeeery interesting!
We’re headed off there today! Thanks for the preview! xx
Dear L, thank you for showing the Austrians marching
Reminds me to go to the Austrian Club for some Schnitzel (without sauce – lol) xoxo M
i love food festivals! when I can just try everything and anything! (: and the chilled ginger lemonade looks awesome on a sunny day! Gorgeous pictures as always Lorraine!
Oh wow. I’ve never heard of the Eurofest – what an awesome idea! The belgian chips with dutch mayo sound great too! And lol at the horn of plenty – such a fitting name – looks goood!
Great coverage, I’ll have to keep this in mind for next yr!
LANGOS!!! omg you can get it in Aus!! I wonder if there is a Melbourne equivalent so I can get my hands on some.
How I love food festivals!
The next one I’m planning to go to is the BBC Good Food one in November, am quite excited! Bummed that Gordon Ramsay isn’t going to make an appearance in London though.
On another note, that forestberry gelato looks amazing. Yum.
Thank you very much for the coverage, I am taking a friend from Denmark there now so she can chat in her own language and eat REAL food again.
Mmmm Belgian fries…there’s a fry place here in New York that I go to frequently, they fry each order one at a time, the fries are choppy and hand cut and they have a huge menu of wonderful flavored mayonnaises.
Fun Lorraine, this was fun.Thank you for doing such an indepth & delicious coverage. Am hungry looking at all the fresh yummies you folk devoured. Almost felt like I’d been to the fest … great post!
Looks like you had a great time! We have a similar annual outdoor event in Edmonton, Canada, called Heritage Festival. There are food stalls highlighting cultures from around the world – a great way to travel the world in the space of one day
awesome. looks like a great fun event and so interesting. i’ll have to remember to visit next year.
I love outdoor food festivals!!! Those chips with the mayo look so good as does that pizza looking thing.
Oh I had no idea this was on otherwise I definitely would’ve stopped by to check it out since my bf lives close by. I’ve always wanted to try Belgian frieds with the mayo
Love it! What would one actually DO with apple stroop? I have seen this tins at one of my favourite stores.
Just reporting back for those thinking of going next year:
Kids rides were $4 each or 3 for $10 and that included teapot ride, bouncing castle, fishing for ducks, a sizzler-type ride, flying dumbo and the one where you put the smash the hammer down and the bell goes off (tired here can you tell
)
The German International School was also doing face painting for very reasonable price of $2
Some of the food we sampled and loved:
From the Czech and Slovak stand – Potato pancake with chicken $10 – worth every cent – we shared ours.
We tried the fries too they were yummy.
Pretzels were $3 each – we had plain ones they were heated and tasty, course salt on top.
Kransky roll with sauerkraut $7
Poffertjes (dutch mini pancakes) with strawberries $7 for 12
We were there to watch the Flamenco and Tango entertainment – I daresay next year we’ll make a special effort to do the same – were spectacular… We’ll go both days we decided today!
Recommended trip for families, come early (8am) or late (2pm) so you can park close to the venue.
Wow wow the festival sounds and looks amazing!! Looks like you had a great time! I wish we had such festivals here too!!
What a shame I didn’t read your blog until now and all day today we were trying to figure out what to do and we love outdoor festivals! Looks like you had loads of fun!!
My passion, outdoor food festivals or any type of food festival come to think of it! Am so looking forward to October and the Sydney Food festival, events right through the month, so much to choose from ,finishing off with Aids Trust Good Food in Hyde Park last Saturday in October. Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee
Oh…that looks fantastic!! I haven’t been to an outdoor festival in a while…we went to one as a family a few years ago..it was on Norton St, Leichhardt…so, of course, lots of Italian food!!! YUM!!
I’m hoping to get to this year’s Oktoberfest at Fairfield Showgrounds..we haven’t been for maybe 10 years…and I think it’s about time I got in touch with my German heritage in this way again! LOL I may need some company, especially since my family may not be interested in going this year…anyone interested?!?
Thanks for the great post, Lorraine!
I wish I could’ve gone to this…
I love outdoor festivals. I also love grower’s markets and free concerts in the park. Chilli Ginger Lemonade sounds sooo refreshing!
I love outdoor fests, this is the first time I’ve heard of the Eurofest though, what a great discovery! I’ve always loved devon sandwiches on white bread with tomato sauce, a great childhood favourite, now I have to go and fry my devon to see what it’s like!
Love, love, love outdoor food festivals! Never heard of the Eurofest until your post, what a great discovery, I wonder where they were advertising it? One of my childhood favourites is a devon sandwich, on white (has to be white NEVER brown) with tomato sauce, now I have to try it with the devon fried!
only $5 for all that? awesome, awesome deal. also, let it be known, i adore kilts.
That looks like fun! I love festivals like this esp with lots of food!
I haven’t been to an outdoor festival in a very long time, but the ones I have been to were always tonnes of fun =D.
I’ve been there before years ago and from what I recalled, the entry fee was a bit expensive, not $5. Have they cut the entry fee?
What a lovely way to spend a Sunday, all the food looks delicious. I love food festivals in any way, shape or form. I’m getting very excited for the month of October because of the upcoming Sydney International Food Festival, so many events to partake in. Yippee!!
How did I not notice that horn of plenty before? This looks like my kind of festival. I must try to remember to go next time it’s on.
Looks like it was a fun day! I like outdoor festivals if the sun is shining and the weathe ris warm – oh, and there is shade or I have a nice big hat.
Yes I do. An hour or so away we have “mule days.” Yes, really. The tradition is that the entire area puts out yards sales. So the hour drive takes 4-5 hours because we stop at all the yards. Then we go eat. Next spring I’ll blog it, mules included.
It was a great day out with both of you! My favourite of the day was the Belgium Fries too!!
Each year I plan to go to the Eurofest (with some Swiss friends who invite us every year)…and something inevitably happens so we don’t end up there. Next year….
I always keep a few Bratwurst sausages in my freezer. I boil them in salt then grill them to perfection.
Oh so juicy they become! Onions are mandatory LOL
Thanks for the write up!
Hi anja -thankyou so much!
Ahh that’s a great tip for the sauerkraut, thankyou so much! 
Hi Amy-Isn’t it just!? I know, I wish it was stocked a bit closer as I loved it!
Hi Trisha-they’re great aren’t they
I was in heaven! 
Yes it’s made of baked marzipan. For the longest time I thought it was biscuit!
Hi Liss-Oh cool, have fun! xxx
Hi Big M-Haha I thought of you!
Yes no sauce 
xxx
Hi Lianne-Yes I’m so tempted to try everything
So much food so little time! Thankyou so much!
Hi Betty-I always miss it but this year I was determined to go
Yes it’s so…full on! Thanks and yes do try and get there next year 
Hi Esz-Yes! I love it! It’s hard to find and not many places have it but I always make sure to order it if I see it
Hi Su-yin-Oh that sounds like it would be lots of fun!
Aww no what a shame, was he scheduled to?
Hi Jeff-You’re welcome! I bet she feels like she’s at home!
Hi anna-Oh yes I have to say that freshly fried fries are the best!
and flavoured mayo’s? Be still my beating heart!
Hi deeba-Thankyou! You’re more than welcome! Thanks for your kind words
Hi Michelle-Thanks, we did!
I love those kinds of festivals, sounds like lots of fun!
Hi Simon-Definitely do! It’s lots of fun
Hi sandra-Me too
They were both so good! 
I had to ask the Belgian chip guy where else he appears as I wanted more! 
Hi Jacq-Ah what a shame! But there’s always next year
I don’t have them nearly as much as I’d like! 
Hi Carol-I’m not sure, I guess use in place of regular syrup!
I’d love to give it a try!
Hi Liss-Oh yes the potato pancake sadly wasn’t there when we visited
I asked for it but I think it was too early for the delivery 
I wanted to get a pretzel but the Langos won out in the end 
Yes it’s a fun weekend! Great tips, thanks Liss! 
Hi Avanika-We had a great time! Yes they’re a great way to spend a spring day
Hi Stefania-Ahh what a shame! It would have been such a nice day!
Hi Matilda-Yes SIFF sounds like lots of fun!
Have lots of fun!
Hi Liv-Thankyou!
Oh yes I remember that one, it was great! We went last year 
Yes what a great idea. I hope there are some takers as it sounds like a great day! 
You’re welcome!
Hi Caro-Yes they’re so much fun!
It was just what we needed!
Hi Moya-Oh cool, maybe next year? Haha yes try them fried and let me know what you think!
Hi grace-Well $5 was just for entry
Haha really! 
Hi pigpigscorner-Yep lots of food is a must at a festival!
Hi Lauren-I’ve been dying for Spring to start so I could go to some
Hi Lilia-It’s $5 per person entry plus whatever you choose to do there
Hi Matilda-It’s lots of fun!
Have fun at SIFF!
Hi Y -I don’t know how, it’s so… horny!
Hi Cakelaw-It was a great day
Yes a rainy festival is no fun. I think they’ve been lucky with the weather!
Hi Angela-Oh wow, that sounds amazing! I can’t wait to see your blog on it! :O :O
Hi Ellie-thanks for taking us, it was lots of fun!
Mmm yes more fries please!
Hi spice and more-Oh what a shame! It’s lots of fun. Maybe next year?
Hi Adrian-Ahh cool, they’re always great to have as a standby!
Mmm yes onions too? A great combo! You’re welcome! 
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