Connoisseurs’ Marketplace Celebrates Culinary Classics
From Onion Rings to Vegan Sorbets, Menlo Festival Offers Food for Every Palate
Festivalgoers will find spacious seating areas with umbrella tables and chairs located throughout the festival.  |
When Menlo Park hosts its 27th Annual Connoisseurs Marketplace July 20-21, Santa Cruz Avenue will become a veritable feast for the senses. Grills smoking, fryers sizzling, tandoor oven glowing, blenders whirring—the sights, sounds and smells of foods from around the globe prepared passionately by more than a dozen vendors.
The garlic-ginger aroma wafting from the grilled chicken teriyaki skewers at Sonoma Teriyaki always entices a steady crowd, as do their fried artichoke hearts topped with crab or shrimp. They also offer soul-satisfying chow mein noodles and fried rice with vegetables.
Teriyaki is on the grill at California Gourmet as well, with its succulent super chicken and pork kebobs. Other options are chicken atop steaming jasmine rice or noodles, or in a sandwich.
Expanding on the festival’s Asian fare is a new vendor, Thai Kebab Barbecue, whose tantalizing specialty is barbecue-honey chicken, pork and beef. Chicken also comes fried up crispy or in a traditional Thai curry over rice.
For some good old American fare, drop by Ear-Good Corn Roast for some buttery, sweet, fresh roasted corn-on-the-cob or one of their to-die-for baked potatoes with all the trimmings.
A clay tandoor oven is the cooking vessel of choice at India Gourmet, where freshly made white and whole wheat naan are cooked to puffy perfection. Curry comes in many forms, including tandoori chicken and lamb or a vegan alternative combining eggplant, spinach, mixed vegetables and garbanzo beans. The menu also features savory samosas stuffed with vegetables, mango lassis and chai tea.
The gyro spit takes center stage at B Food International, where slices of slow-cooked spiced lamb are accompanied by sautéed onions and tzatziki inside a warm pita. A side dish of Greek salad delivers just the right balance of greens, feta cheese and olives. Those seeking a purely American option can dig into a plump Philly steak.
And of course the humble deep-fryer delivers some of the tastiest street fare. At Sweet Delights, it’s all about the Parmesan cheese batter encasing the fried zucchini, artichokes, asparagus and onion rings. And why not make a meal of the hand-dipped foot-long corndog followed by a gourmet funnel cake? Then again, you could opt for the lighter side and choose the crab-avocado-mango stack, topped with remoulade sauce and baby lettuces.
The fryer also cooks up super crisp fish tacos and fish ‘n’ chips at Main Street Food Concessions. Or if you’re looking for something a little more exotic yet rib-sticking, check out their pupusas—El Salvador’s classic street food. They’re like thick handmade corn tortillas stuffed with cheese and green onions. The addictive spicy cabbage slaw and tomato salsa are perfect complements.
In Mexico, it’s all about the complimentary flavors of spiced meats and corn. The Tamale Factory brings it out perfectly with their pork and chicken tamales and tacos served alongside classic rice and beans.
Aroma Concessions pays homage to down-south cookin’ with barbecued oysters, crab cakes, fried calamari, smoked turkey legs, tri-tip sandwich and portobello mushroom sandwich.
Fans of gourmet dogs will appreciate Lockeford Meat & Sausage, whose plump German-style bratwurst blend of smoked pork and-beef comes piled with onions and sauerkraut in a hoagie roll.
Suitcase Ron keeps the everyone happy with freshly-popped Kettle Korn. Grab a big bag and stroll the festival while you munch away!
Wet your whistle at the Jamba Juice booth where they’ll be whipping up some of their most popular smoothies, including Peach Pleasure, Mango A Go-Go, Razzmatazz and Caribbean Passion or stop by Barrett’s for the world’s best hand-shaken lemonade.
Garden Creamery joins the festival this year with a dreamy selection of frozen dessert delights, produced in small batches with organic, local cream and farmers’ market produce. The creamy pops come in creative flavors like Mandarin Creamsicle, Dark Chocolate Crunch and Strawberry Pretzel. Decadently textured vegan sorbets sweetened with raw agave nectar showcase everything from coconut and Thai iced tea to organic dark chocolate and French-pressed coffee. And for those who love crunch there’s the dessert sandwich made with vanilla bean ice cream between two oatmeal cookies, half dipped in dark chocolate.
For frozen yogurt devotees, Kurlander Soft Serve offers swirled frozen yogurt in nine flavors, including mint, mocha java, butter pecan and piña colada.
Festivalgoers will find spacious seating areas with umbrella tables and chairs located throughout the festival. |
