The Slowcook at Spydog Farm The Slowcook at Spydog Farm

Meet Me at the Fair

August 8th, 2010 · No Comments · Posted in food news

Time for D.C. to have its own fair

Time for D.C. to have its own fair

D.C. isn’t a state, but now it’s going to have its own state fair.

A group of local food bloggers, including our friend Amelia Showalter, have organized the event to take place on the same day as Columbia Heights Day, with all kinds of contests to judge baked goods, pickles, jams, tastiest tomatoes, “most funky looking vegetable”–the works. The fair got a nice write-up on DCist, and there’s more at the D.C. Food for All blog.

To enter any of the contests, go to the state fair’s website (yes, they have a website, and you can follow them on Twitter as well), and click on the “enter” tab under the header. Deadline for entering is Aug. 25. The fair’s being held Aug. 28 on the grounds of Tubman Elementary School, 11th and Irving streets NW.

Meanwhile, I recently received an e-mail from Ellen Kassoff at Equinox restaurant announcing the “First Annual Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival and Recipe Contest.” Here’s the text:

You Say Toe-may-toe, I Say Tah-mah-tah, They Say First-Annual Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival and Recipe Contest –– Our love affair with the bright red fruit began with Founding Father and avid farmer, Thomas Jefferson. Once thought of as a poisonous nuisance, Jefferson travelled all the way to France to comprehend and then prove that tomatoes were not deadly,  in fact they were delicious.  He enthusiastically introduced this succulent nightshade to American kitchens thereby becoming one of America’s earliest champions of the tomato. The Mid-Atlantic tomato season is in full swing and a bumper crop is in store from Mother Nature come September. This, the first annual Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival, kicks off with a tomato recipe contest. Calling on avid backyard gardeners, food devotees, and writers of all things edible to submit your best rendition of the use of the ever-popular tomato. 15 of the Featured Home Chefs will be awarded prizes in 5 contest categories and have a top area chef cook their winning recipe. Festival attendees will get to enjoy 15 tomato-inspired dishes paired with wine on The Woodrow Wilson Plaza  among Washington DC’s most storied monuments and rich history. Five categories that you can submit recipes to: Salsa’s & Soups, Beverages, Tarts, Pies & Quick Breads, Sauces, and Salads

Here is how it works:

    Create a recipe that includes locally-sourced tomatoes. Tomatoes must be procured no further than 25 miles from your home kitchen.

    Submit your recipe, a picture of the tomatoe(s) used and a picture of the finished dish via email here:  wineandfoodeventsdc@gmail.com no later than 5PM EST Monday, September 6th. Please make sure to identify the local resource for your tomatoes.

    The Wine & Food Festival team will select a total of 15 delicious, extra-creative and expertly-executed recipes. If your recipe is selected, your dish will be prepared at the Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival by a renowned Mid-Atlantic chef.

    The Wine & Food Festival team will award one Top Prize per category and recognize two Runner Ups per category. The team will also ask the festival attendees to vote for their favorite dish which will be awarded the festival’s Grand Prize during the event onSeptember 24th.

    Please note: if your recipe is selected to be demonstrated at The Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival, you will be required to be present at the festival and available to meet with the media.

So start thinking all things-tomato and start cooking. The International Wine and Food Festivalteam will announce the recipe contest winners no later than Monday, September 20th.

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