This article is excerpted from the Utah Eats newsletter, compiled by Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune’s food and drink reporter. To get the full newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday, become a subscriber by going to sltrib.com/newsletters.

Hello, Eaters!

Last weekend, I went to my first-ever Oktoberfest celebration, and I had a blast. Now I’m here to tell you about the food and libations, and give you a few tips if you decide to go.

We went to Snowbird, up Little Cottonwood Canyon, and the drive there and back was gorgeous because the leaves are just starting to turn — so much orange and red. Remember to savor the view!

If you want to park at the resort, the fee is $12 — credit cards only. Take advantage of the parking shuttle, because the walk from the parking lot to the front gate is quite a hike.

No food or drink is allowed inside the festival grounds, and that includes water bottles. (If you’re carrying one, they’ll kindly ask you to dump it out.)

Once inside, we went straight to the Fritten, one of the food tents. I ordered a Bavarian bratwurst, which you can read more about in the Dish of the Week section of this newsletter.

Next, we headed to the Oktoberfest Halle for some beer and entertainment. We bought cute 16-ounce Oktoberfest glasses for our beer, which you can see above. FYI, the big 1-liter steins are only available in last year’s design while supplies last, according to Snowbird’s website.

I got a glass of RoHa Brewing Project’s Harvest Ale, which was a pleasant coppery color and a little malty and a little hoppy. It went perfectly with the polka music playing in the hall. (Tip: Get whipped cream on top of your beer, because it’s fun!)

There was so much good food around that I couldn’t resist getting a couple more things. The soft pretzel with beer cheese ($12) I bought at Gadzooks was fried instead of baked, which I thought was interesting, but delicious.

Here’s a food line tip for you: If you find yourself in a slow-moving line, try a different food stall. A lot of the stalls carry the same food, like the pretzels and bratwurst.

For dessert, I got an ultimate waffle ($14) from the Alpine Bakeshop. It turned out to be a fresh-baked waffle topped with strawberries, peaches, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and Nutella drizzles, baby. My dining companion deemed it to be a “sweet mess,” but I thought the fruit balanced out the more sugary elements.

Oktoberfest is happening at Snowbird every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 13, from noon to 6 p.m. Oktoberfest is a free event. Prost!

Live deliciously,

Kolbie

Food News

• Now that fall is here, it’s time to start planning your holiday cooking and baking. If the thought of all that is daunting, Salt Lake Culinary Education (“SLICE”) is offering plenty of new fall classes that can help you find your confidence in the kitchen. From preparing autumn brunches to baking holiday macarons, SLICE has classes for all skill levels.

• Starting Friday, the Witches Tea at The Grand is returning to the Grand America Hotel, at 555 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. A wicked spin on the hotel’s traditional high tea experience, Witches Tea is offered daily through Halloween and features a festive menu and spooky decor, a news release said. Witchy costumes are encouraged, the release said, and reservations are open starting Friday through Halloween, from noon to 4 p.m. Admission for adults is $49.50; for kids 12 and under, admission is $35.

• Launched last week, The Salt Republic’s Family Meal series continues every Friday through the end of the year at 5:30 p.m. All of the dinners in the series will feature four courses that combine “the rich flavors of the region with the warmth of communal dining,” a news release said. Each dinner has seating for 10 people; tickets are available for purchase on Tock and begin at $100 per person. Wine pairings are available for an additional $60. The Salt Republic is located inside the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City, at 170 S. West Temple.

Openings:

• This weekend, Kneaders Bakery & Cafe is celebrating the opening of its newest location at 1595 W. State St. in Pleasant Grove, pictured above. According to a press release, “The new location will be the first to showcase an overhauled restaurant design that marries a modern, bright feel with the warmth and at-home feeling Kneaders is known for.” The first 100 people in line on Friday will receive free French toast, the release said; doors open at 7 a.m., so you’ll want to arrive between 6 and 6:30 a.m. for French toast.

Booze (and Drink!) News

• The Park City Wine Festival is happening Oct. 3-5, and I’m letting you know about it a little early so you can get your tickets in time. This will be a weekend filled with tastings, wine dinners and lunches, seminars and even a wine hike; all events are ticketed individually, and you can view the entire schedule here.

Dish of the Week

I know the photo I took of my Bavarian bratwurst ($17) looks like a hot mess, but it was a delicious mess. It came with sauerkraut and sauteed onions on top, and I added the mustard, because I can’t eat a brat without mustard. All the flavors complemented one another perfectly. What can I say? It was Oktoberfest on a bun.

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