Paula Deen? Um, no thank you. If all those Food Network-sponsored festivals are leaving a bad taste in your mouth, there are plenty of alternatives for those who like to eat (and party) but would rather stay as far away from Guy Fieri and that stupid haircut of his as possible. Here, eight great places to get down this year.
HAWAII FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
Honolulu, HI, September 6-9
With chefs from such far-flung locales as Korea, Australia, Japan and Singapore, this fest, only in its second year, has assembled one of the more interesting talent rosters. Founders (and James Beard award-winners) Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong put an emphasis on sustainability, so even visiting chefs incorporate local ingredients in their recipes. But venture outside the three venues (Hilton Hawaiian Village, Halekulani Hotel, The Modern Honolulu) to really get in touch with the island’s culinary traditions. On the “Bounty of He’eia” excursion to an 800-year-old ahupua’a (indigenous farm), you’ll enjoy a mid-day feast of wild pig cooked in the ground, steamed purple Molokai sweet potato and taro, smoked and raw fish and Hawaiian seaweed, all prepared by local chef/healer Kealoha Domingo. Also in the works is an outing to a fish auction to see seafood harvested from local waters. (Tickets from $50; hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com)
GILROY GARLIC FESTIVAL
Gilroy, CA, July 27-29
Garlic fries, garlic-infused wild boar, garlicky fried green tomatoes, even garlic ice cream – every summer, more than 100,000 people descend annually on this small town about 30 miles south of San Jose to sample garlic-infused delicacies prepared by both professional chefs and amateurs. At the Garlic Cook-off Theater, audiences can watch local chefs, master chefs and celebrity chefs like Andrew Sosa (“Top Chef”) vie for championship titles. Along with food, there are entertainment stages with live music and children’s activity area. Gilroy native Sam Bozzo, who’s been cooking at the festival since its launch 34 years ago, says that one of the biggest draws is the enthusiasm of the people taking part, from the volunteers to the chefs: “There’s just an amazing amount of energy here.” (Daily admission $8 for kids, $17 adults; gilroygarlicfestival.com)
TASTE OF BUFFALO
Buffalo, NY, July 7-8
If you thought the only food Buffalo produces is wings, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the worldly fare — Asian, Greek, Caribbean, Polish, Indian and Italian among them — at this 29-year-old festival. And with the addition of food trucks this year, there promises to be even more variety to satisfy the 450,000 people who head to downtown Nickel City each summer for the country’s largest two-day food festival. On the culinary stage, local chefs will offer cooking demos and compete for awards like Best Taco, along with the first Summertime Sizzle Firehouse Cook-off, featuring the best dish from Buffalo firefighters. And it’s not just about the eats; wineries from Niagara, the Finger Lakes and Chautauqua-Lake Erie will be pouring award-winning vino. (Admission is free, tastings are $1-$4, 10 tastes are $20.; tasteofbuffalo.com)
ASHEVILLE WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
Asheville, NC, Aug. 23-26
Perhaps the best thing to happen in the four years since this festival launched is that it’s now set downtown — making it easier to sample local specialties like Troy & Sons moonshine and French Broad Chocolate Lounge’s liquid bourbon caramels while soaking up Asheville’s cool architecture and arty scene. The city’s long been known for its farm-to-table culture, with 12 farmers markets, nine breweries and 250-odd independently owned restaurants (among a population of just 83,000). There are also a surprising number of (good!) wineries in the region, and at the festival’s Grand Tasting you can sip to your heart’s content, while tasting dishes crafted from wild-foraged, seasonal ingredients. Other events include a Chef’s Challenge Final (this year’s judge, William Dissen of the Marketplace Restaurant, is working on a dish of smoked trout with a ginger and heirloom tomato relish) and Sweet, a dessert and cocktail party held in the historic Grove Arcade. Work off those extra calories by hiking in the gorgeous surrounding Appalachians. (Tickets from $45, ashevillewineandfood.com)
CULINARIA
San Antonio, TX, May 16-20
Like the city, this festival offers a heavenly mix of Texan and Mexican cuisine — everything from burgers to bistec tacos, barbecued ribs to grasshopper-and-agave tacos. The setting is ideal, too, with events along the famed Riverwalk, at the historic Pearl Brewery and in the surrounding Hill Country. The popular Best of Mexico event is back, showcasing chefs, recipes and spirits from south of the border, as is Burger, BBQ & Beer, where neighborhood joints and upscale eateries turn out their versions of backyard classics. New this year: a food truck event, an authentic barbacoa brunch, a tequila competition and a high-end Master Sommelier seminar. (Tickets from $25; culinariasa.org).
BRIGHTON & HOVE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
Brighton, England, March 30-April 9
The seaside resort of Brighton and Hove, in Sussex County, is just 70 miles from London, but feels worlds away, especially during this 10-day spring celebration of local food and drink. There’s no corporate sponsors and no public funding: In the decade since the fest began, it’s been supported and promoted by area businesses and residents. Which means an emphasis on regional growers and producers, especially at the perennially popular Big Sussex Market and on the Sussex Gourmet Bus Tour, where visitors can sample cheese, beer, rapeseed oil and more at the source. A favorite event of Philip Lewis of Brighton’s Hotel du Vin is the Sussex Beer Festival, with 30 local beers, ciders and perrys (made from fermented pears) on tap. And despite its proximity to the sea, this year is the first for the Brighton Fish Festival (on Easter Monday), with food demos, workshops and the chance to chat with local trawlers. (Many events are free; others start at around $40; brightonfoodfestival.com)
FEAST PORTLAND
Portland, OR, Sept. 20-23
This Pacific Northwest city has long been known as a culinary mecca, with excellent wine, beer and coffee to boot. But, according to Feast organizer Carrie Welch, it didn’t have a “multi-day, region-defining festival” — until now. This inaugural event will celebrate local ingredients — cheese, produce, seafood — and local chefs — Naomi Pomeroy (Beast) Jason French (Ned Ludd) — as well host national talent like NYC’s own Seamus Mullen. Planned is a night market, which will showcase street food (including Andy Ricker of Pok Pok fame); a central marketplace with artisanal products, chef demos and craft beers; classes where you can learn to make cheese, blend wine and roast coffee under the tutelage of area experts; and an all-star Sandwich Invitational, with Tommy Habetz of PDX’s own Bunk Sandwiches and Vinny Dotolo of Animal in Los Angeles. Events will take place in downtown, in Director Park, as well as in the hip Northwest District. (Tickets $10-$200; feastportland.com)
WELLFLEET OYSTERFEST
Wellfleet, MA. Oct. 13-14
This Cape Cod town is rightfully famous for its succulent oysters (and the clams aren’t too shabby either!). So to celebrate its shell-fishing history, each fall the town tosses a street party, with plenty of food — raw bars, chowders, clams and oysters prepared every which way — New England beers and ales, as well as art and live music. A big draw is the Oyster Shuck-Off — round one is on Saturday; the final is on Sunday — where Wellfleet’s fastest shuckers can go on to compete nationally. On Shucky’s Day, you can visit a grant, dig for oysters then meet at a local eatery to learn to shuck, slurp and enjoy bivalves with selected wines. And you can’t beat the quaint, historic setting. (Most events are free; wellfleetoysterfest.org)