What more could you want? Here’s an activity this week that involves food and doesn’t have anything to do with the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
Hordes of folks are expected to descend Thursday on Hardesty Park for the 11th annual Taste of Akron food and wine fest. It will run from 6 to 10 p.m., with food tickets going on sale at 5:30 (cash, Visa and MasterCard will be accepted). The event precedes the Akron Arts Expo weekend, also at the park.
For the first time, Taste of Akron ticket sales will be in the park’s pavilion. Attendance has been growing and last year’s event attracted an estimated crowd of 13,000 people. Organizers hope moving the ticket sale location will cut down on crowds around the tents.
Thirteen food trucks will join local restaurants at the fest, for a total of about 35 food vendors — a record number. Admission is free and food tickets still cost $2 each, with samples going for one, two or three tickets.
“We have a great crowd of restaurants, considering a few had to pass because of the RNC in Cleveland,” said Julie Pryseski, the city’s Taste of Akron coordinator.
Restaurants such as Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse in Copley Township opted not to participate because they wanted to ensure they had enough staff on hand to handle convention-related customers, she explained.
On the lineup are longtime participants Acme Fresh Market Catering and DiFeo’s Catering (related to the DiFeo & Sons poultry and food store in Akron). Locally owned Akron restaurants include Arnie’s Public House, Crave, D’Agnese’s at White Pond, Frank’s Place on Market, Ido Bar & Grill, Kevin O’Bryan’s Irish Pub, Ms. Julie’s Kitchen and Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar.
The event, while Akron-centric, also features food from outside the city, such as Moe’s and Bombay Grill from Cuyahoga Falls, and the Bistro on Main in Kent. Food trucks include Southern Thangs, Square Scullery, Stray Dog Carts, Tikiz Shaved Ice and Ye Olde School Treats N Eats.
Entertainment will be provided by area reggae band Umojah Nation.
From 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, the park will be the site of the Summer Uncorked wine tasting, which includes appetizers and a silent auction. Tickets are $45. Purchase at www.akronartsexpo.org or 330-375-2836.
Then on Saturday, dozens of artists move in for the Akron Arts Expo. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, and parking is available on the grounds or at Firestone High School (shuttle provided).
Go to www.akronartsexpo.org for information, including the entertainment schedule. Hardesty Park is at 1615 W. Market St.
Lebanese Food Fair
This year’s Lebanese Food Fair at Our Lady of the Cedars in Fairlawn will offer an expanded food and entertainment lineup.
New menu items include roasted leg of lamb as well as mujadara — the wonderful Lebanese dish featuring lentils, rice and caramelized onions. You can also get hummus, shawarma, falafel and various pastries, including baklawa, similar to baklava.
Fares Jasser, owner of The Boulevard eatery in Cuyahoga Falls and an Our Lady of the Cedars parishioner, is overseeing the food. Mary Beth Abraham is in charge of the pastry making.
Also new this year is a silent auction and Auntie’s Attic rummage sale.
Leo Michael, who heads the advertising committee, reports that the festival will offer more live Lebanese music, as well as dancing, kids games and raffles.
The event runs 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6. Food for pickup between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. can be ordered online at www.lebanesefoodfair.com. For more information, see that website or the Our Lady of Cedars Food Fest Facebook page.
The Our Lady of the Cedars of Mount Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church is at 507 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road.
Sweet corn festival
Boiled sweet corn, along with hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, peaches and peach pie … must be the Kent Lions Sweet Corn Festival.
This year’s festival will run from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 6 and 7 at Beckwith Orchards, which supplies the peaches, in Franklin Township, near Kent.
Proceeds benefit the Lions’ sight preservation projects. Go to www.kentohiolions.org.
Along with the food, the event will feature games for children, pony rides, face painting and trolley rides for a minimal cost.
Rio Neon opens the festival at noon, followed by Box of Squirrels at 2:30 p.m. Kerry Kean & The Hot Potatoes will play at noon Aug. 7, and Celtic Clan of Kent at 2:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
Beckwith Orchards is at 1617 Lake Rockwell Road, off the Portage County Hike & Bike Trail.
Menu at Gridiron
Thanks to friend and Beacon Journal colleague Stephanie Warsmith, readers of our favorite newspaper got the scoop on the name change at Buffalo Wild Wings across from the University of Akron.
The restaurant’s owners — local residents — have changed the name to Gridiron Sports Bar & Grille on Exchange because of a legal tussle with the corporate Buffalo Wild Wings. Along with the name change, the place, at 456 E. Exchange St., got about $100,000 in renovations.
I spoke with Amanda Kish, the Gridiron’s general manager, who said not much has changed food-wise. The menu still boasts wings, along with fare such as burgers and salads. The biggest change, Kish said, is that the restaurant now buys its sauces from a food distributor, instead of through Buffalo Wild Wings. It now offers 10 sauces for its wings, not 30, although she said manager Steve Henderson plans to expand the offerings.
Sauces include those similar to those offered before: For example, roasted garlic sauce is offered instead of garlic parmesan. New appetizers include macaroni and cheese wedges, fried zucchini and pretzel bites.
The Gridiron phone is 330-535-9464 and it has a Facebook page, though on Tuesday it didn’t include a link to a menu.
Send local food news to Katie Byard at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com.