Beer Drinkers Get Head Start With Old World Village’s Septemberfest

Oktoberfest is in full swing already, Wednesdays through Sundays at Old World Village in Huntington Beach. To the accompaniment of an oompah-pa band, you can order steins or pitchers of beer and settle down to serious eating. The beer hall’s barbecue kitchen serves bratwurst, sauerkraut, chicken, potato salad, turkey drumsticks and pretzels, priced from $2.50 to $5.50. The restaurant turns out Wiener schnitzel, roast pork, dumplings, sauerbraten and marinated beef, priced from $5.95 to $13.95, plus a Friday-through-Sunday buffet for $10.95. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and there’s music till 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, till 1:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours are 2 to 9 p.m. There’s no admission charge on Wednesday and Thursday; admission on Friday and Saturday is $5 during September, $9 throughout October. Sunday is family day, from 2 to 9 p.m., with $3.50 admission. Two special days to note on your calendar: Oct. 3: the celebration of Germany’s reunification, with complimentary food served beginning at 6:30 p.m.; Oct. 6: the big Oktoberfest parade day, beginning at 2 p.m. Old World is at 7561 Center Ave.

You can nosh goodies from 50 different restaurants and sip samplings from 10 different wineries in the Mission Viejo Mall, Crown Valley Parkway, Saturday at 7 p.m. . It’s a benefit for the Saddleback College Foundation, which supports scholarships and special events. Tickets are $30 at the door for unlimited food, drink and live entertainment. Participating restaurants include the Stuft Noodle, Truffles, Gabbiano’s, Peppino’s, Olamendi’s, the Claim Jumper, Tony’s Seafood Landing, and Mon Chateau. For information, call John McIntyre, Saddleback College, (714) 582-4530.

More than 40 professional chefs, cooks and pastry chefs from throughout Southern California will create their pieces de resistance , competing for gold, silver and bronze medals at the 25th annual Culinary Arts Salon at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on Sunday. Public viewing of the competition and displays of innovations from food service companies will take place from noon to 5 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall. A formal gourmet dinner and awards ceremony will follow the show in the Marina Ballroom. Admission at the door is $5 for viewing only, $50 (including tax and gratuity) for hors d’oeuvres and dinner. The event is sponsored by the Orange Empire Chefs Assn. For information, call Michael Norton, (714) 956-6719.

Tutto Mare will celebrate the vendemmia, or grape harvest, on Monday with foods prepared by chef Corrado Gianotti and wines offered by Toni Poli. The six courses, beginning at 7 p.m., will include Belgian endive wrapped with Parma prosciutto and aromatic goat cheese, and tenderloin of venison with wild berry sauce. The price is $58, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations: (714) 640-6333. Tutto Mare is at 545 Newport Center Drive in Fashion Island.