Intermezzo in Oberammergau yields a simple but elevated dish

On a warm and sunny July afternoon, a group of pilgrimage friends arrived at Oberammergau, Germany, to witness one of the singular superb spiritual events in history: the famous Passion play. In 1633, the villagers of Oberammergau made a vow to God that they would create and perform a Passion play every 10 years if He would spare their 5,000 citizens from the plague then ravishing Europe. They kept that vow with the first performance the following year and continuing to the present day, with few interruptions including World War II and the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Our group of 31 members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre was led masterfully by Cardinal Roger Mahony, K.G.C.H.S., who prepared us excellently by stating one word: “resilience.” In a word, the Passion play was spectacular! Suffice to say, you know you are a living piece of history by attending a full live performance.
 
We discovered quickly that your hotel, meals, tickets, and travel are all intermingled, and the village not only has the Passion play performance, but the same exact menus for all throughout the city. The play runs from May to October, from 2:30-5 p.m. and 8-10:30 p.m., as a five-hours performance with a three-hour intermission (intermezzo).

Intermezzo is where the feasting begins! At intermission, we all leave the theater and head to our predetermined restaurants to dine upon one of three entrées. It may seem regimented and parochial, but it adds to the mystique of Oberammergau and its commitment to Christ.

We dined at Wankalm, and our group was rather evenly divided among the three entrées. I chose the least exotic dish but likely the most delicious: makkaroni kase grande. It was so remarkable that I pursued the owner to get the recipe and secrets to this dish.
 
It may look like macaroni and cheese with bacon, but in reality, it is so much more. The ingredients are basic, like our Lord used at Cana with water or on the shore grilling fish: simple and yet superbly prepared! The folks at Wankalm took simplicity and elevated it to a full-flavored delight. As the recipe details, its three cheeses, tender pasta, sweet and crispy onions, and bacon make this dish beyond good.

When the Oberammergau meal is completed, one does not dawdle. The performance continues precisely at 8 p.m. As we sat there in the theater anxious to follow our Lord to His Resurrection and our salvation, we realized that we were experiencing something special.
 
We were experiencing an intermission of joy and praise. In many ways, this was our personal pilgrimage to bear witness to the heart and love of Jesus — and there are no intermissions when it comes to the love of God for His family.

JOE MICATROTTO SR., K.C.H.S.,
has been a founder and CEO in the restaurant industry for more than 45 years, including among his credits Bucca di Beppo, Panda Express, and MRG Marketing & Management, Inc. (Micatrotto Restaurant Group). He and his wife, Connie, are members of Legatus’ Las Vegas Chapter.