CINCINNATI — There’s nothing like getting into the holiday spirit with a hot cup of cocoa, a piece of warm strudel, and music and lights everywhere you turn.
For the fourth year, German culture is taking center stage along the Ohio River with Cincinnati’s Christkindlmarkt.
“Knowing how to bake the shell is important. If you open the oven too early, they collapse,” said Servatii Pastry Shop Owner Greg Gottenbusch as he prepared their signature cream puffs.
Gottenbusch has whipping up cream puffs, strudel, pretzels, cookies and dozens of other sweet treats down to a science.
“My father came over from Germany, opened the bakery in 1963, and we’ve been here in Cincinnati and part of the community ever since,” he said.
Right after high school, he went to Germany and did a three-year apprenticeship at a pastry shop.
“Just like my father and my grandfather did. Went to the same school as they did,” he said.
The rest is history, and his family has been sharing their love of German food and culture for years.
Since Christmas markets are a big deal in Europe, Gottenbusch is excited to have Servatii as the head sponsor of this year’s Christkindlmarkt.
“A thousand pretzels on the weekend, 500 to 600 cream puffs easy, strudel 4 to 500 pieces,” he said.
It’s busy, but in the best way.
The free event spans a long five-week period from Nov. 22 to Dec. 28.
“We’ve grown the event year after year and this year we’re actually expanding all the way to Carol Ann’s Carousel which is an original wooden carousel located right next to the Moerlein Lager House,” said Christkindlmarkt and Moerlein Lager House Managing Member Greg Hardman.
This year, they’ll host more than 50 vendors and authentic German crafters and chocolatiers, and a massive heated fest tent to keep the chill away.
“We average about a little over 100,000 people that come through,” Hardman said.
People of all ages can find something sweet to try.
“It is amazingly family-friendly. This year we have an interactive kids zone where they can put their face through and get their pictures taken with different characters as well as LED lighted teeter totters and then we have a children’s craft making area,” Hardman said.
For Gottenbusch, it’s more than just making pastries.
“These are things that I’ve been making since I was 18 years old and to still be making them at my age of 53 right now, it feels good,” he said.
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