FESTIVAL VITTLES TO DIE FOR
If you are longing for some old-timey Americana, take in the sights, smells, and sounds of Plant City’s 75th Strawberry Festival. Some of it is delightfully old-fashioned fun, but be prepared for some frightful modern encounters, too, if you are a people watcher (Is that real hair?) or a food Nazi (You serve double deep-fried what?).
I took the plunge this Thursday, March 10, even though the weather was occasionally a bit wet. Gloomy forecasts never keep me away from outdoor events, because since weather forecasters have been using super duper sophisticated equipment instead of checking the thickness of the caterpillar’s coat, you never really know what the weather will be. So 80 percent chance of rain meant that twice my husband and I had to duck into a food tent for 10 minutes and try some more festival vittles. The rest of the time we had no blistering sun to bake under while listening to the Guy Lombardo Band, which reminded me of silent-film music track, nor did we have pushy crowds to squeeze through while we poked around the rides, vendors, and cattle. (I like not having to use my umbrella for protection or prodding, and hope this right to carry a sharp pointy umbrella is never taken away from me or that I will never need a concealed weapon’s permit to carry one of those purse size weapons…I mean umbrellas.)
Death-defying can describe American festivals of today….and I’m not just talking about the super sonic, head-banging rides. Although the rides can raise your blood pressure and fun quotient, I’m talking about the food: death-defying festival vittles: festival goodies that bring you to your knees, asking God for her forgiveness, because you know you will be munching all the “”F” -food sins: fast, fake, and fried. Foods you have to make a confession about before you take communion. Foods that dumb animals would run in fear from. We Americans can’t get enough fat and sugar, especially if it is deep fried. And we are exporting this desire to the rest of the world. I think we could be called food terrorists by lowering the life-expectancy of our international foodie friends.
In celebration of the Plant City’s 75th Strawberry Festival, they prepare food In ways that didn’t exist 75 years ago…and probably shouldn’t today. The Scots started the deep fried Mars bar, but it took Americans to come up with deep fried just about anything: Twinkies, peanut butter cups, Oreo cookies, green beans, hotdogs, cheesecake, etc. Something sweet, beer battered, and deep fried, is the American holy trinity of food delicacies. Well, I am a convert, but only at festivals do I indulge in this delicious sinfulness… a little bit. My big disappointment was the strawberry shortcake. It is a serve-yourself bar, but the luscious strawberries deserve better than dollops of non-dairy topping. I would take a small dollop of real whipped cream any day. So buy the beautiful fresh-picked strawberries and take them home to enjoy with your own homemade warm biscuits and fresh whipped cream for a real old-timey great American dessert.
Wishing you good friends and an occasional sinful treat to share with them,
Foodie Adventurer
March 11, 2010
Many-a-time, while returning from Daytona we would stop for the festivities and Strawberries. Weather or not our two wheels would bring us there. Good crop year or bad there was always strawberries and happy faces. I’m amazed at the resiliency of this industry, and concerned that their need for water has placed such a burden on other businesses and residents…but that’s another story.
Good deep-fried this or that is dependant on the seletion of oil and temperature, plus or minus a few degrees seems to make all the difference. It’s hard to equate the oil-spill of deep frying and the refreshing fruit of the vine, but I’m probably looking to closely.
I’m delighted, that you were able to attend, with your umbrella, and share your joy and experiences. This article brings back memories.
I’m past the time of All-You-Can-Eat for the fun of it was the keystone event, but some of the festival’s finer tasty offerings, constructed around the delicate Berry still give me pause. Just the other day, while shopping for some wine, I happened upon a choice that had not crossed my path in 3 decades, Boones Farm Strawberry wine!! And although it to brought back memories, I was not tempted by its allure.
Eat Well!