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Titanic Tomato Fight Takes Over Valencia, Spain

YumSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:00:58 -0700

For many, corn boils and clambakes are the highlights of the season. But others look forward to very different Summer festivities - like the La Tomatina in Valencia, Spain. Yesterday, the town of Buñol, Spain (population: 9,000), held its annual world-famous tomato food fight. The event, which is on the last Wednesday in August, is an all-out escapade that involves more than 100 tons of overripe tomatoes, draws over 40,000 visitors from around the world, and spares absolutely no one.

To learn more about it and check out a gallery of images, read more.

It's part of a weeklong festival that includes music, parades, dancing, fireworks, and a massive paella cooking contest. The hourlong exchange, which takes place in Buñol's Plaza del Pueblo, dates back to the mid-1940s. Legend has it that the fight either began as a spat between local merchants, or when disgruntled citizens started throwing tomatoes at politicians. Après-argument, participants hose one another off and jump in the Buñol River, while fire trucks hose down the plaza.

This looks disgusting yet fun, so I'm adding it to my bucket list of things to do. Can you imagine how much tomato pulp the photographer must've been covered in?! Would you participate in La Tomatina?

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Food and Drink Factoids From Slow Food Nation

YumSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:30:12 -0700

I learned a great deal during my experience at Slow Food Nation - not just about sustainable eating, but also all about gourmet food in general, from rice to coffee. To share all my foodie facts with you, I've put together a fun quiz. How much might you learn? There's only one way to find out!

Take the quiz

Slow Food Nation Highlights: Marketplace

YumSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:30:25 -0700

One of the main events of last weekend's Slow Food Nation was the Marketplace, a farmers market where the public could buy produce directly from producers. Farmers from 30 different counties in California were on-hand to sell everything from mushrooms to vinegar. Check out some of my favorite moments here.

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Fast Facts From Slow Food Nation, Part Two

YumSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:00:59 -0700

I had a full serving of education on my proverbial plate at Slow Food Nation this past weekend. Yesterday I tested your knowledge about the festival itself, and now I've got some more questions about what I learned. How much do you know about Slow Food? Take my quiz to find out.

Take the quiz

Fast Facts From Slow Food Nation

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:30:39 -0700

I had a full serving of education on my proverbial plate at Slow Food Nation this past weekend, where I listened to panelists, watched live cooking demonstrations, and toured taste pavilions galore. Are you curious to learn more about slow food? Take my quiz to see how much you know!

Take the quiz

Slow Food Nation Highlights: Street Food

YumSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:00:49 -0700

One of my favorite attractions at this weekend's Slow Food Nation was Slow on the Go, the tented market where vendors sold gourmet, ready-to-eat food. Like street food, the offerings were served out of carts and stands, but unlike typical fare, signs explained exactly where each ingredient was from. Here are a few of my favorite moments.

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Noteworthy Nibbles - June 19 to 25, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:00:07 -0700

This Saturday is the Summer solstice, and if you're looking for a way to enjoy the longest day of the year, there are still oodles of food festivals happening all over the country. Strawberry season is in full force, peaches are popping up in Alabama, and a massive barbecue competition is going down in our nation's capital. Take a look at some of the best fests happening in the next week.

Costa Mesa, CA: Summer Food & Wine Festival - June 19
Cincinnati, OH: National Homebrewers Conference - June 19-21
Brooklyn Park, MN: Tater Days - June 19-22
Fort Wayne, IN: BBQ Ribfest - June 19-22
Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Cranberry Blossom Festival - June 19-22
Norfolk, VA: Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Food Festival - June 19-22
Burgaw, NC: North Carolina Blueberry Festival - June 20-21
Glenwood Springs, CO: Strawberry Days - June 20-22
Clayton, NY: Great New York State Food and Wine Festival - June 20-22
Champaign, IL: Taste of Champaign-Urbana - June 20-22
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Strawberry Festival - June 20-22
Clanton, AL : Chilton County Peach Festival - June 20-28
Washington, DC: Safeway 16th Annual National Capital Barbecue Battle - June 21-22

More local food events, so read more.

Tuckerton, NJ: Bayman's Seafood and Music Festival - June 21
Cockeysville, MD: Great Grapes Wine, Art, and Food Festival - June 21-22
Huron, OH: Mulberry Creek Herb Fair - June 21-22
Litchfield, CT: A Taste of the Litchfield Hills - June 21-22
New York, NY: The Bar Show - June 22-23

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Noteworthy Nibbles - May 15 to 21, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:30:52 -0700

The weather has warmed up and the festivals are in full swing! From coast to coast there are amazing things to check out. Whether it's cheese in Seattle or BBQ in New Jersey, there's a lot of food waiting to be gobbled up. So if you're wondering what to do this weekend, then look no further. There's something for every region this weekend.

Nantucket, MA: Nantucket Wine Festival - May 14-18
Buckhannon, WV: Strawberry Visions - May 14-18
Alpharetta, GA: Taste of Alpharetta - May 15
Memphis, TN: World Championship BBQ Contest - May 15-17

Monterey, CA: Cooking for Solutions - May 16-17
Intercourse, PA: Rhubarb Festival - May 16-17
Washington, DC: Savor - American Craft Beer & Food Experience - May 16-17
Magnolia, AR: Magnolia Blossom Festival and World Championship Steak Cookoff - May 16-17
Dermott, AR: Crawfish Festival - May 16-17
Fruita, CO: Mike the Headless Chicken Festival - May 16-17
Seattle, WA: Seattle Cheese Festival - May 16-18
Little Rock, AR: International Greek Food Festival - May 16-18
Lodi, CA: ZinFest - May 16-18
Taylorsville, KY: Gourd Festival - May 16-18
Pasadena, TX: Strawberry Festival - May 16-18
Paso Robles, CA: Paso Robles Wine Festival - May 17
San Francisco, CA: Uncorked! Wine Festival - May 17
New York, NY: Taste of Tribeca - May 17
Norfolk, VA: Annual Beer Festival - May 17

There's a ton of other events - including homebrew and oysters! - so be sure to read more.

Albany, OR: Oregon Homebrew Competition - May 17
Toms River, NJ: Chili & Salsa Cook Off - May 17
Nashville, TN: Toast to Tennessee Wine Festival - May 17
Hico, TX: Texas Steak Cookoff - May 17
Sacramento, CA: West Coast Brew Festival - May 17
San Francisco, CA: Oysterfest 2008 - May 17-18
Castroville, CA: Artichoke Festival - May 17-18
Muscoda, WI: Annual Morel Mushroom Festival - May 17-18
National Harbor, MD: Food & Wine Festival -May 17-18
Grand Prairie, TX: Annual Cajun Festival - May 17-18
Plant City, FL: Blueberry Festival - May 17-18
Mountain View, CA: A La Carte and Art - May 17-18
Richmond, VA: Broad Appétit - May 18
Tuckerton, NJ: Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival - May 18
Astoria, NY: Cuisine of Queens & Beyond/Burger Battle of the Boroughs - May 20
New Orleans, LA: Wine & Food Experience - May 20-24

If there's something not listed, let us know in the comments below!

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - May 1-7, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:32:55 -0700

Spring is food-festival season, and there's no shortage of events to attend this weekend. From shrimp to strawberries, there's food for everyone to enjoy. If something is missing from this list, let us all know about it in the comments below!

Fort Lauderdale, FL: Las Olas Wine and Food Festival - May 1
Fernandina Beach, FL: Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival - May 1-4
Mountain View, AR: Heritage Herb Spring Extravaganza - May 2-3
Arab, AL: Poke Salat Festival - May 2-3
Dover, OR: Dandelion Fest and Cook-off - May 2-3
Huntsville, AL: WhistleStop Festival and Rocket City BBQ - May 2-3
Pensacola, FL: Pensacola Crawfish Festival -May 2-4
Breaux Bridge, LA: Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival - May 2-4
Portland, OR: Portland Indie Wine Festival - May 2-4
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Chocolate Festival - May 2-4

Orange Beach, AL: Wine & Culinary Festival - May 2-4
Hamburg, AR: Armadillo Festival - May 2-4
Waikiki, HI: Spam Jam - May 3
Somers, CT: New England Regional Chili Cook-off - May 3
Atlanta, GA: Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show - May 3-4
Lahaska, PA: Strawberry Festival - May 3-4
Ruskin, FL: Ruskin Tomato & Heritage Festival - May 3-4
Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh Wine Festival - May 3-8
Cosby, TN: Cosby Ramp Festival - May 4
Humboldt, TN: West Tennessee Strawberry Festival - May 4-10
San Francisco, CA: Obama Rama hosted by our very own CasaSugar! - May 6

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Noteworthy Nibbles - April 17-23, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:37:31 -0700

Washington, DC: Rhone Renaissance - April 17
Biloxi, MS: Crawfish Festival - April 17-20 and 24-27
Dallas, TX: Côtes du Coeur International Fine Wine Auction and Celebrity Chef Dinner - April 18
Harrisonburg, VA: Virginia Beef Expo - April 18-20
Springfield, MO: 9th Annual Rock'n Ribs BBQ Festival - April 18-19
Faunsdale, AL: 2008 Alabama Crawfish Festival - April 18-19
Salisbury, MD: Pork in the Park BBQ Festival - April 18-20
Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara County Vintners' Festival - April 18-21
Alma, AR: Spinach Festival - April 19
Cary, NC: Uncork The Fun - April 19
West Memphis, TN: Gumbo Fest - April 19
Mundelein, IL: Spring Wine & Food Festival - April 19
Jackson, MS: Sante' South Wine Festival - April 19
Celebration, FL: Great American Pie Festival - April 19-20
St. Augustine, FL: Food, Flowers & Fun - April 19-20
Lancaster, CA: California Poppy Festival - April 19-20
Sugar Land, TX: Grand Wine & Food Affair - April 23-27