Food Choices Fantastic at 2010 Festival of the Arts
Time was the Festival of the Arts took place on the lawn west of the Civic Center and the best food was served on its outskirts by Frank Hightower’s bunch from The Cellar.
“We set up a sidewalk bistro just outside the festivities,” his widow Dannie Bea told me. “My father used to come out to pitch in. I remember so clearly, it was like yesterday.”
Beautiful spring days conjoined with art for all five sense have a tendency to cling to whatever primordial fabric it is that makes up memory.
The Festival of the Arts is now one of the city’s premier annual events, and in no small part because of the food. Doubtlessly, Hightower and chef John Bennett helped nudge the level of the food with their impromptu sidewalk bistro back in the day.
This year 28 vendors are on the premises. On opening day I was able to sample bites from four of them with the help of videographer Tanner Herriott and famed freeloader and public information expert Sheri Guyse.
The Iguana Mexican Grill's chicken-avocado cone is a moveable feast at the Arts Festival. Photo by Jim Beckel.
We started out with the chicken-avocado cone from Iguana Mexican Grill. This is a nod to The Mighty Cone down in my hometown, and a fine one at that. Crunchy, creamy, spicy and easy to eat while you walk. That is festival food at its finest. Chef Ryan Parrott and partner Robert Painter, who as always was leading the Iguana cheering squad, succeed again.
Next we made it over to Craig and Carter’s Famous Fish Tacos. I remember Carter Tague from his days with the old Varsity Sports Grill where he managed for a long time. I also recognized him as a charter member of the Stalkers Society for the original Iguana Lounge. We reminisced about the original when it was in the space currently filled by Earl’s Rib Palace on Western, long before it expanded.
“Tomatillos,” he said. “They were the only place in town that had tomatillo salsa.”
So I knew right away that the fish tacos he and his long-time partner would be dynamite. And they are. Atlantic pollock dipped in a batter that includes red chile, chipotle crema and serrano slaw. It’s no surprise that Carter spent a lot of time working at the famous Coyote Cafe in Santa Fe, where he and Craig Stringer still reside. This was my favorite overall dish. Crunchy, spicy, cream — hmmm, running theme — all in a light corn tortilla so it’s not too filling. Super easy to tote around the grounds.
Then we ventured to Deep Fork’s tent where chef Joshua Richardson had my favorite bite overall with the chicken brochette. Bacon-wrapped chicken and artichoke heart. Game over. The Wedgie is a pecan-crusted chicken sandy with a spicy slaw in a pita. Excellent, but the videographer Tanner Herriott has video evidence that plainly depicts it’s a little messy. Thanks for sparing the world my slaw explosion, Tanner. That said, The Wedgie beats the heck out of trying to eat an Indian Taco on the go. We also had Deep Fork’s Drunken Fries with the cheeseburger sauce. If you’ve been to the Drunken Fry, you already know how lip-smacking this dish is. I won’t bore you with the details only relate as Sheri, Tanner and I dug in we were joined by chef Parrott, who ate more than one, actually more than two — perhaps even more than three.
We finished up at Sage Cafe’s booth. Co-owner Charifa was running the register, lighting up food row with her smile. And then there’s the three-cheese mac and cheese that is Sage’s signature. You get the picture. They also had a nice little brownie parfait with a hint of mint, though I didn’t pick up much. I did get plenty of chocolate, including some little chunks within the brownie. What I liked was that the parfait wasn’t huge. Some of the desserts on the row were the size of minor planets. That’s good for some, but not really my thing. Something about crunchy, creamy and spicy. Unfortunately, I didn’t have room for a Strawberries Newport or anything from Coco Flow, though I’m confident that both will live up to the standards we expect.
Anway, everyone who attend will doubtlessly find some thing to love. Enjoy the festival.
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