Millbrae Festival Takes Eaters Around the World
With Refreshing Wines, Microbrews and Margaritas to Complement the Fare
NOTE: Content below is from 2009 event. Check back 3-4 weeks before the event for updated information.
If you didn’t manage to take an international sojourn this summer, don’t despair ... you can still get the edible equivalent at the Millbrae Art & Wine Festival, September 4-5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Broadway. This year’s festival circles the globe with dishes from Venezuela, Japan, France, the Caribbean and, of course, the good old U.S. of A.
New to the festival is Pica Pica Maize Kitchen, a Michelin Guide–recommended Venezuelan eatery in Napa. The menu features the Latin-American country’s traditional arepas (grilled corn-flour flatbreads) and cachapas (sweet corn pancake) as well as a Venezuelan-American invention, the Maize’wich (grilled cheese on sweet corn bread). Each is served with a choice of fillings including pabellón (shredded skirt steak, black beans, plantains and Monterey cheese), caribe (black beans, plantains and Monterey cheese), pepeada (chicken salad with avocado), pernil (pulled pork, avocado and tomatoes), and ham and cheese. All contain no wheat or gluten. The dishes represent a centuries-old culinary culture that combines Spanish, African, Caribbean and indigenous flavors.
From Central America, Sweet Delights offers the famous Salvadoran cheese-filled cornmeal patties called pupusas. They also cook up gyros from Greece, falafel from the Middle East, and plenty of American favorites like hand-dipped foot-long corndogs, grilled sausages, assorted burgers (beef, turkey, salmon, veggie and portobello), parmesan-fried zucchini and gourmet funnel cakes. Despite its name, California BBQ brings a taste of Asia, with chicken teriyaki in a rice bowl or sandwich, Peking chicken wrap, stir-fried noodles with veggies, and chicken and pork kabobs. Sonoma Teriyaki melds east and west with teriyaki chicken on a stick, Thai spicy wings, barbecued pineapple chicken, steamed or fried rice with vegetables, fried zucchini and garlic fries.
At Aroma Concessions, you’ll find an endless selection of fun finger food. From the veggie world, they have fried calamari, zucchini, and artichokes, as well as roasted corn. And for meat eaters, they offer smoked turkey legs, Philly cheese steaks hot dogs and corndogs. Quesadillas come simply with cheese or as a meaty entrée with chicken. Legendary East Bay gourmand Mike Hutslar wants you to check out his “designer” sausages, along with a perfectly cris selection of jumbo corndogs, fried zucchini, curly fries and mozzarella sticks.
Serious sausage lovers will line up at Duke’s Wrap Delight for their sizzling selection of Cajun chicken, garlic chicken, Hawaiian and Portuguese links. They’ll balance things out with plenty of gyros, falafels, Philly cheesesteaks and ribbon fries.The folks at Hoagie Steak Out are so serious about their cheesesteaks, that’s all they make. Give it your own signature with toppings like their freshly grilled onions, jalapeños, mayo and mustard. Another purist is good ol’ Uncle Bill, who’ll make you say “hot diggity dog” with his traditional corndogs and an oh-so-spicy Cajun version. Gourmet Faire uses Florida’s famous Key limes in its calamari dish and also offers garlic fries, generously stuffed gyros and corn dogs.
Lemoine Crêperie takes its customers on a trip to la belle France with authentic made-to-order crêpes. With savory selections like ham, cheese and spinach, and sweet offerings such as fresh strawberries, peaches, cherries, and whipped cream, who can say non? A lot of people get a hankering for some serious carbs to keep up their stamina during a street festival. Ehr-Good Corn Roast comes to the rescue with roasted just-picked corn and plump baked yams and potatoes. At Olde Tyme Kettle Corn, the carbs come in a convenient bag and are addictively sweet ‘n’ salty. Speaking of addictions, the frozen yogurt at Kurlander Soft Serve calls out to the crowd with its come-hither flavors of va-va-voom vanilla, rich chocolate, intoxicating piña colada and do-you-dare blue goo.
The outstanding wine list will feature award-winning varietals from Mas Wine Company: Mas Vino (a red blend) and Mas Chardonnay, along with Beringer Founders Estate Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and Wolf Blass Champagne. The Margarita King –– The World’s Best Margarita –– offers festivalgoers another refreshing beverage alternative. Margaritas will come in many variations: there’s the “King Cocktail” (basic margarita), the “Miami Vice” (margarita with a splash of pineapple juice), and the “Girlfriend” (margarita with a splash of pomegranate juice). Beer lovers will be delighted with the assortment of tasty brews –– Sam Adams Summer Ale, Sam Adams Boston Lager, Blue Moon Belgian White, Coors Light and Corona. Sip your favorite beverage in a beautiful wine or beer glass adorned with the stylish festival logo. Spacious seating areas with umbrella tables and chairs will be located throughout the festival route. |
