Festival of Food

Great time

This was 1^st year at this event and really it just made me think — What have I been missing?! $ 50pp Tickets at Wegmans prior to the event. Get there early (30 minutes) so that you can easily find parking in surrounding lots and then there is a line to get in at each entrance. You can look at their web-​site prior to the event for the map for vendors/​locations. Registration was very organized — team members went down the line and checked tickets, stamped your hand and handed out a Festival of Food reusable bag which included water bottle. You then receive a firm but disposable plate and glass souvenir wine glass as you walk in. There are many seating and water stations to fill up water bottle up, which I thought was such a great idea. Initially it was very crowded and lines were long — it evened/​settled out some and became much more enjoyable. Several vendors seemed to get there late and weren’t Set up and ready at 6p. Doesn’t appear Jines was there at all — although I may have missed it.
Pace yourself with food and definitely with alcohol samples if you are driving. I would recommend a DD — there was so much wonderful wine, liquor and hard cider there!
Faves:
— James Brown Place — Cheesy Grits
— Everything at Cheesy Eddy’s — Just perfect cheesecakes and carrot cake
— Java’s — Espresso and Tea Samples — Fresh and wonderful
— Moonlight Creamery — Cutest homemade mini waffles cones with homemade ice cream choices.
— Apple County Spirits and Blue Toad — Hard Ciders
— Amore — Sunday sauce with Braised short rib
— Black Button Distilling — New Bourbon Cream
— Burgundy Basin — Amazingly perfect chocolate dipped strawberries
— Dorado — Chorizo con queso dip — super flavorful
— Florida Nut House — Warm Cinnamon glazed pecans — YUM!
— Fulkerson Winery — Wonderful semi-​sweet and sweet wine
— Get Caked — Super moist and flavorful chocolate/​apple spice mini cupcakes
— Naked Dove — Loved the Oktoberfest — So Smooth
— Peppa Pot — Jerk chicken was perfect — I need to get some more soon
— Sapori — Flavorful corn chowder
— Warfield’s — Salted caramel truffle — was SO good
Not so much:
— Butapub — Cold, tasteless curry chicken dish
— Effortlessly Healthy — Fresh Pico on a completely tasteless/​dry chicken and beef base.
— Hose 22 — Oily Macaroni & Cheese — Flavorless, minimal cheesiness.
— Livie’s Jamaican Restaurant — Jerk Pork was nice and spicy, juicy but poorly served without silverware or plate at all — difficult to eat.
— Napa Wood fired pizza — Totally dried out meatball but a tasty olive salad and sauce on top
— Ouzon soda — The sweet, anise flavor — it’s not for me.
One of the best events of the year — Highly recommended and a great cause. They sell raffles tickets — you must be present to win the prize packages.

Like most things I discover, I felt like I’ve lived under a rock. This is by far one of the best events I’ve attended in Rochester, NY. I am so grateful to all the businesses involved for such an amazing cause.
My favorite stops were Roc Brewing Co, Naked Dove, Alpina, Cheesy Eddies, Sapori Café, and most of all Freshwise, a «social enterprise» of FoodLink! I am sure I missed a few, but I am over all impressed with all the dedication these businesses put in.
And remember! Orange is the new black! I totally got me self a t-​shirt which I will sport on casual Fridays through the month with my new shiny hunger action month button.

Wow, what an amazing event for a wonderful cause! I’ve been living under a ROC, no pun intended, because I did not know about this event. Oy vey, I’m an uninformed Rochestarian. There’s over 100 local restaurants, bakeries, wineries, etc. very well organized at the public market. All proceeds from the event are donated to Foodlink. Thanks, Unilocal for posting the event and for the tickets!!!
It was a great opportunity to check out some vendors I’ve been wanting to try and some whom I’ve never heard of! Some of the vendors were Cheesy Eddie’s, Sapori, James Brown’s Place, Avvino, Amaya Indian, Anthony Road Wine, Effortlessly Healthy, and Six-​50 just to name a few. Along with the food vendors, there was some light entertainment like a photo booth, a band, and various raffles.
They also provide seating in various spots throughout the market and tables with complimentary water bottles. Also, when we entered we were given a Festival of Food tote, a custom wine glass, and a custom plate. How cute!
So far this is the best ROC food event I’ve ever been to and I highly recommend it! I’m excited to go next year!

Loved it!!!
Had a great time walking around the public market, sampling all the deliciousness that Rochester has to offer. I had a hard time pacing myself through all the amazing food, and was sooo full by the end of the night.
The weather was cooler but I enjoyed it. It seemed like a perfect fall day to be gaining lots of extra pounds.
It was a little crowded but not hard to get through, and I never had to wait too long to get some more grub.
I really enjoyed the experience, and would say that it was definitely worth the price! Plus it was all for charity so that’s awesome! Can’t wait to check out some of the new restaurants I sampled there out in the real world.

This is one of my favorite food events in Rochester.
There is a LOT to choose from, from «meh», to «OMG THAT WAS AWESOME!» I love the fact that you get to taste products from places that you may have not visited yet.
Sometimes, a place you thought you knew brings something mind-​blowingly awesome (Zeppa), sometimes a place you wanted to try disappoints you (not going to name that place!). But that’s the beauty of this event, try a little sample of everything, and have a good time.
It does get crowded and it’s critical that you come in early, also it can be cold (this is Rochester!)
After yesterday, I have a few new places I want to visit, and few places to get off my list.
Also, I was in good company, so that makes almost any event better
One more thing, I do think the price is a bit steep. I won my tickets, and before I’ve gotten discounted ones. I don’t think I would go to this festival if I had to pay full price. But if you get a chance to get discounted tickets, and like to eat, a lot, go for it!

Is it bad to gloat? Well, if you missed it you’ll have to wait until next year. An awesomely fun and tasty extravaganza enjoyed by throngs of folks and it all happened to benefit Foodlink.
There were too many tasty samples to detail in a single review, both edibles and drink-​ables, as the scores of vendors put out great apps to promo their businesses.
Despite the cooler weather all the folks were in a collectively friendly and polite mood, gotta love the Market’s groove and the vibe of people enjoying an event to benefit a great charity.
It is events like this one that showcases some of the best aspects of the Rochester community. If you haven’t gone plan for next year, and certainly consider supporting Foodlink in any way you can.