Bucyrus, Ohio: So Much More Than Just Bratwurst

To many, Bucyrus, Ohio, may be known as "the Bratwurst Capital of America," and the annual August Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival was voted by Ohio Magazine to be the "best food festival in the state." Those who know Bucyrus only as the Bratwurst Capital are missing so much, because the town is also known as the "Little Town of Tours." One can take any one of a number of free tours in Bucyrus and can see how jewelry is made from scratch, how bratwurst is made (and watch sausage links go through a machine by the hundreds), learn how copper kettles are manufactured by hand at the only manufacturer in the country to make them that way, watch how berries and fruit are made into jelly and apple butter, and so much more.

Of course, Bucyrus is the "Bratwurst Capital of the World," as the small town wrestled the title away from Sheboygan, Wisconsin in the early 1970's. Many of the recipes used to make food for the annual Ohio bratwurst event use authentic recipes from Germany. Local butchers have used the recipes for years, and the meat is cooked over an open fire. The annual event draws huge crowds. A queen is named for the festival, and there are parades, rides, games, crafts, and free entertainment.

In keeping with what Bucyrus is best known for, in the "Little Town of Tours," you can see a machine make hundreds of links of the meat at BratWorks. The business, which began in 1987, has the reputation of having the best bratwurst this side of Germany. You can see the making of the bratwurst, which is shipped across the continental United States, and you can eat some of the tasty meat. On the website of the business, www.thebrats.com, you can view for free recipes using bratwurst, including Bratwurst Minestrone, Bratwurst Pancakes, and Jalapeno Pepper Bratwurst Chili. You can also order Bratwurst online.