Broad Appétit 2010

On Sunday, June 6, you can sample that restaurant you’ve always wanted to try, or find out what your regular joint has that’s new, all in one place. From 11am to 5pm, $3 gets you a plate at the third annual Broad Appétit festival.

May 25, 2010; 1:36 PM • by Holly Gordon

On Sunday, June 6, you can sample that restaurant you’ve always wanted to try, or find out what your regular joint has that’s new, all in one place. From 11am to 5pm, $3 gets you a plate at the third annual Broad Appétit festival.

After its inaugural year of 2008, attendance more than doubled, and they expect 25,000 people to attend this year. You know that means body heat of Watermelon-Festival-proportions so wear a hat and get there early. The 100-300 blocks of Broad Street will be teeming with food lovers.

As of now, 37 restaurants have signed up, though they expect to get about 60, giving first priority to those who have participated in the past.

Last year was hot and busy, and many vendors ran out of food, so hopefully they’ll plan for the larger crowd. But get there early to be sure you don’t miss out on your favorites. Pets are not allowed and the organizers recommend backpacking children since strollers take up so much space. Be sure to bring cash—no credit cards will be accepted at the booths.

Chef Jesse Miller of the Culinary School at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College will be co-hosting and emceeing the cooking demo stage. He will present “Reinventing the Backyard Grill,” with the idea that many people don’t know what else to do with the grill year round or how to be more creative with it. “We hope to get some dried vine from local vineyards to use on the grill, to get that smell of grapevine smoking.”

In addition, students from the college will prep and serve an Italian-fused burrito with a balsamic orange reduction and lime sour cream at the college’s booth. “It’ll be local,” says Miller. Also assisting will be Pastry Chef Lana Petfield with a mascarpone semi-freddo (custard/ice cream) with candied cherry tomatoes. “She’s taking all savory ingredients and putting them into a dessert,” Miller reports.

This year, Broad Appétit limited the number of restaurants that could come and asked to see menus ahead of time so, as Miller notes, “There won’t be ten people with BBQ this year.”

A day-long schedule of live music will be on two stages hosted by Metro Sound & Music at 117 W. Broad Street. Also featured at the festival are an interactive kids’ area, local farmers and producers, and an art exhibition.

Participating restaurants (so far):

• Africanne On Main
• Bacchus
• Bistro 27
• Bistro 104
• Café Rustica
• Carena’s Jamaican Grille
• Cous Cous
• Gibson’s Grill
• Ginger Thai Taste
• Grapevine
• Halligan Bar and Grill
• India K’Raja
• J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
• Julep’s New Southern Cuisine
• Kitchen 64
• Kuba Kuba
• Lavenders Café and Specialty Shop/Umami Coffee and Ten Company
• Louisiana Flair
• Mosaic Café and Catering
• Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
• Olio
• Popkin Tavern
• Positive Vibe Café
• Q Barbeque
• Rowland Fine Dining
• Seafire Grill
• Sensi Restaurant
• Sine Irish Pub
• Sticks Kebob Shop
• Tarrant’s Café
• Tastebuds American Bistro
• University of Richmond Center of Culinary Arts
• Weezie’s Kitchen

That will be a good weekend to be downtown, starting with the First Fridays Art Walk on the 4th, Anthem’s Stride Through Time historical walking tour on the 5th, and folk singer Brandi Carlile at The National on Sunday night.

The mission of Broad Appétit is to provide an affordable and enjoyable local food festival in that is locally driven and regionally appealing. Broad Appétit exists to promote the amazing food, art, and music that make Richmond a great place to live and visit. Broad Appétit is hosted by Downtown Neighborhood Association and benefits the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

(Image courtesy of Broad Appetit.)

May 25, 2010 1:36 PM 2