By Lisa Play
James Balarezo (Contributing writers) |
September 17, 2010, 1:40 pm
The Leon County Civic Center was packed Saturday, September 11 as hungry Tallahassee community members of all ages and restaurant owners ready to feed them gathered in celebration of the 2010 first annual Tallahassee Food Festival. Even the mayor was in attendance, teaching onlookers his favorite fish recipe. Starting at 9am and ending at 5pm, the festival brought together a diverse crowd for samplings and activities.
“We felt like food is something that joins all of the community together. It’s a large scale event, it’s tasting that is affordable [for the whole family],” said Crystal Green from YourSocialButterfly, the producer of the festival.
The price of admission to the festival covered endless free samples for the event-goers, which gave restaurant vendors an opportunity to put their best products forward and get their name out in the community. This comes at a time when the restaurant industry is taking a hit from the recession, facing a new wave of families eating at home rather than out on the town.
Vendors from from Tallahassee and the surrounding area included the New Leaf Market, Uptown Café and Catering, Magnolia Farms, Ms Betty’s, Cravings, Pan-Handlers, 3 Guys Pizza, IHOP, Sidewalk Café and Lounge 71. Beth Tedio from the Uptown Café and Catering was one vendor who was excited about the publicity festival generated.
“This has been a good venue and it’s generated a lot of interest in [our smoked salmon]” said Tedio about the crowds’ interest in the Uptown Café and Catering’s signature dish.
Some vendors came from as far away as Live Oak, including Darlene and Michael McElwee of Magnolia Farms. The married couple runs an organic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, which is supported by shareholders who buy a portion of the farm’s produce for a preset period.
“We’re trying to expand our CSA run and our raw dairy run and educate people on local food here today,” said Darlene McElwee.
Food samples weren’t the only attraction featured at the festival. Media sponsor Best Buy set up two big screen HD TVs and a tailgating area complete with bleachers and games. Budweiser provided beer samples to those who wanted to catch some college football while enjoying the food the festival had to offer.
On the amateur stage there was the Krispy Kreme Doughnut eating contest, where seven contenders were given one minute to eat a dozen of the bakery’s hot and fresh glazed doughnuts. Another hosted Gulf 104’s “Big Ass Chili Bowl” contest where four chili cooks crafted their best chili in hopes of taking home the first place trophy and bragging rights.
On the celebrity stage, Mayor John Marks and other city officials gave festival goers some of their favorite kitchen tips and recipes.
The event brought more people than some of the vendors expected. 3 Guys Pizza ran out of food twice within the first three hours of the event. Other popular vendors that ran out of food were Cravings and Sidewalk Café.
“It’s a very good turn out…People want to be educated [about food]. Tallahassee has a very strong audience for local food,” said Darlene McElwee.
She noted that long ticket lines that formed as early as noon. If the crowded Civic Center, long lines, and food shortages were any indication of the festival’s success, locals may be seeing a second annual Tallahassee Food Festival next year.
The Tallahassee Food Festival benefited the American Red Cross Capital Area Chapter and was made possible by YourSocialButterfly, an event planning, marketing management & concierge consulting firm.
