2011 U.S. Cellular® World Food Festival Begins Friday!

Posted: Tuesday, October 04, 2011

2011 U.S. Cellular World Food Festival begins this Friday. The hours for the Festival are: Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7 & 8, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Don’t miss out on all the great offerings at this year’s Festival.

Guests are invited to taste samples for $1 at every Cultural Café vendor, or go for the full-plate options for $5 or less. The Cultural Café includes 30 vendors showcasing food from America, Bosnia, the Caribbean, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Greece, Hawaii, India, Mesopotamia, Mexico, Morocco, Russia, Salvador and Turkey.

Alongside the food, the Festival will be featuring 16 imported beers, 3 Iowa craft beers, 4 imported wines and a handful of domestic products to serve everyone. This is the first year imported wine will be offered and from Italy and Chile. The craft beers will be available for purchase as well as at the Tasting Pavilion on East Fifth Street north of East Locust Street.

For the first time, the Festival will be bringing the Buy Fresh, Buy Local Cooking Challenge. Starting at 10 a.m. at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market, guests can watch four teams of four shop through the Market to gather their ingredients. The teams will then race over to the U.S. Cellular® World Food Festival to whip up some delicious fresh dishes for judges to enjoy. The cooking portion of the challenge will take place in front of the Corona Stage starting at 11 a.m. Each team will have one hour to complete their meal and the winner will be announced from the stage at 12:45 p.m. The Buy Fresh, Buy Local Cooking Challenge is a partnership with Drake Agricultural Law Center, Kitchen Collage, Downtown Farmers’ Market and Buy Fresh, Buy Local.

Live cooking demonstrations will also be taking place at the Meredith Culinary Discovery Pavilion. Stop by the Pavilion at the corner of East Locust and East Fourth to learn new techniques and sample the ethnic creations the local chefs will be preparing. Don’t miss out on the cooking secrets from local chefs like Chef Sean Wilson of Kirkwood Lounge, Chef Neil Stone of Court Ave. Restaurant & Brewing Co., Andrew Meek of Sbrocco and Chef Jesus Ojeda of El Chisme.

The Corona Stage lineup has been expanded in its hours and its diversity. The Corona Stage will host live entertainment every hour of the Festival and will include acts like Mr. Baber’s Neighbors, Hot Club of Des Moines, Tubabu, World Port, Bright Giant, Sevdah, Preston Duncan, Toque All Stars, Celtic Dance Society, and Gateway Dance Theatre. 

Throughout the Festival site guests will also be entertained with street entertainment from Jonathan May the magician and balloon artist, The Floor Spiders breakdancing crew, and the Valley Dragon and Lion Dance Team. 

The Marketplace features merchants and artisans selling a unique selection of wearables, food, gifts, trinkets and more. The Marketplace with feature Two Chicks from the Sticks, who grew up in a rural Southern Iowa town and now have their own cookbook entitled, Back Home Baking. Local non-profit organizations offer interactive, educational activities for guests while also promoting their organization’s goals and events. 

For a full schedule of events and details please visit www.WorldFoodFestival.org.