This is the week The Rose of New England might be advised to consider changing its name to the Full Plate of New England as two of everyone’s favorite (food) festivals return. Food festivals in general are, in my opinion, a brilliantly subversive way to bring every kind of people together over something they can agree upon and let’s be honest, it’s hard to argue when your mouth is full of food. (and looking across our nation right now, an outbreak of napkins and paper plates might do us all a world of good). Cooks always say food tastes better when someone else cooks it (I am only in charge of eating in my house) so make sure the cook in your house gets treated.
On Washington Street, a block over from Norwich Free Academy and Chelsea Parade, the 42nd Annual Greek Food Festival starts tomorrow at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and lasts through late Sunday afternoon. The church is (about) a four-minute walk from my house, and it's even closer when the gyros are just about done. So, if you see someone moving briskly but no one is chasing him with a stick, it is in all likelihood me 'measuring' the distance (depends on the cooking time). As it stretches over four days, you could dedicate yourself to enjoying a different specialty each day or a sampling of everything every time you go (no one is judging (I hope)).
Save some room (on your plate and elsewhere) because Saturday is the Taste of Italy at Howard Brown Park, at the mouth of the Norwich harbor (how perfect is that, considering all the food). The press release on the City of Norwich’s website has all the essential information offered in an oh-so-grown-up press but as anyone who’s been at it in previous years will tell you, it’s no accident fun and food start with the same letter. It's only one day and it's spectacular. You have to come here and come hungry-as if you could possibly eat all the things that are being served. HA!
On Saint Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish, no matter what your mom calls you. On Saturday, I answer to Guglielmo because the same thing happens here with being Italian for Taste of Italy. As I said, it’s at the Norwich Harbor in Howard T. Brown Park where the Yantic and Shetucket Rivers form the Thames but you don’t really need my description or a map to find your way there. You can just roll down the car window and follow the aroma, of course (and because bocce balls have no scent).
Between the Greek Food Festival and the Taste of Italy, you’ll probably see neighbors that you haven’t seen since this time last year when we all grabbed plates and dug in. Both festivals are an opportunity for all of us take a moment as the change of seasons starts to accelerate to savor where we are and what we have. So, enjoy the moment and all of the food. Στην υγειά σας and buon appetito.
-bill kenny
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