Fest Fest in the Tristate
From ethnic to exotic, we're jammed with festive, flavorful food fests

The chowhounds at CityBeat, if you haven't guessed by now, enjoy a tasty tidbit now and then. And what better way to sample a wide variety of delicious delicacies than at a food festival?

Southwest Ohio, as it happens, boasts more food festivals per capita than just about any other portion of the state. Yes, there are the events you know about: The Taste of Cincinnati, Gold Star Chili Fest, Panegyri Greek Festival and the like. But here are the lesser known smorgasbords and harvest fairs in this part of the state, most free and all well worth a nibble:

A True Big Pig Gig: Preble County Pork Festival
If your name is Porky, Arnold or Babe, you're advised to steer far and clear of Preble County in mid-September. Everyone else is invited to go absolutely hog wild at the 32nd annual Preble County Pork Festival, a colossal tribute to the role of ham, bacon and other pork products in the national diet.

"We'll have some of the best pork you'll ever taste," swears festival coordinator Paul Ray. "Sausage, chops, we have it all. The smorgasbord is all you can eat for $10. It's a bargain."

There are multiple opportunities to make a you-know-what of yourself: At the Barbecued Pork Chop Smorgasbord, adults can consume everything in sight for $10; children ages 5 to 12 pay $5. The Sausage & Pancake Breakfast also serves up during the weekend, as does the Barbecued Rib Dinner Carryout.

No admission charge. Preble County Pork Festival, Preble County Fairgrounds, 722 S. Franklin St., Eaton. 937-456-7273.

This Spud's for You: Spring Valley Potato Festival

You could call this particular festival half-baked, but don't. Organizers of the 24th annual Spring Valley Potato Festival, held in early October, have heard every possible spud pun before.

"It's a wonderful small-town festival, actually," maintains festival chair Judy Madden. "It has those kinds of qualities, with a bake sale, games for the kids, and more. And I think it's always unique when a festival can be on the main street of a village."

Visitors are invited to stroll the downtown area while indulging in all the edibles they can make room for: potato cookies, potato pancakes, sweet potato fries, sweet potato pie, potato candy, potato chips, baked potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, and more. Madden's favorite? "Potato soup, no question."

No admission charge. Spring Valley Potato Festival, U.S. Route 42 at Spring Valley (near the Waynesville, next to the Little Miami River Scenic Trail). 937-862-5250 or www.springvalleyoh.com.

We're Not Reubening You: The Ohio Sauerkraut Festival

Eleven thousand pounds. That's how much sauerkraut organizers are ordering for this October's 32nd annual Ohio Sauerkraut Festival in Waynesville. So if you come with a craving for cabbage, suffice it to say, it will be satisfied.

"Sauerkraut brownies, sauerkraut cookies, sauerkraut cream pie, sauerkraut fudge, sauerkraut pizza, sauerkraut doughnuts, you name it," reels off chair Robyn Lane of the offerings patrons can expect to sample at what might well be the hemisphere's largest single salute to all things sauer.

"People think you have to like sauerkraut to like the festival, but keep in mind that just because a lot of stuff is made with sauerkraut doesn't mean it tastes like it," clarifies Lane. A case in point would no doubt be one of the fest's top-sellers every year: the German Sundae.

Of course, there are lots more traditional edibles that don't stretch the palate or the imagination: Polish cabbage soup, Reuben sandwiches, pork chops and sauerkraut, brats and metts, hot dogs with sauerkraut - or, dare we suggest it, without - cabbage rolls, and more. Each year, awards go out to the "Largest Cabbage," "Greenest Cabbage," "Most Magnificent Cabbage" and "Most Congenial Cabbage." (Well, we might be joshing on that last one.)

No admission charge. Ohio Sauerkraut Festival, intersection of State Routes 73 and 42, Waynesville. 513-897-8855 or www.waynesvilleohio.com.

Munching With the Monks: A Taste of Tibet

If you've ever wanted to sample exotic foodstuffs and teas directly from Tibet, then head to this monthly food festival, held at various locations, such as Old St. George's in Clifton Heights or the campus of Xavier University.

"We serve such traditional foods as 'momo,' which is kind of a meat dumpling," notes Jam Yang, one of a group of monks from Gaden Samdup-Ling Tibetan Monastery who've moved here to serve the city. And we do mean serve. "There's all sorts of food: Teas, bean threads, and a potato and cheese round with traditional spices."

In addition to foodstuffs, the monks create a Sand Mandala, a ritualistic artwork designed to represent the celestial mansion of a particular deity. The next Taste of Tibet will take place in late April. "I have no idea where yet. It's coming soon, though, and people can call us."

Donation requested. A Taste of Tibet, 541 Howell Ave., Clifton. 513-961-7110 or www.ganden.org.

Bock Around the Clock: Over-the-Rhine's BockFest

You might think BockFest is all about beer, but it's also about the food - such as bockwurst - that celebrates the coming of spring. A dozen restaurants in the heart of the Main Street entertainment district take on a Renaissance flair each March for the annual celebration. A parade and blessing of the beer is followed by a chance to try the various concoctions whipped up by the city's brewpubs.

Among the restaurants serving the bock sausages and brews are Arnold's, Jump Cafe & Bar, BarrelHouse Brewing Co., Courtyard Cafe and Jefferson Hall.

No admission charge. BockFest, various venues along the Main Street entertainment district, Over-the-Rhine. 513-421-2337.

You Gotta Be Nuts: Black Walnut Festival

And now let us sing praises to the black walnut. In a region revered for its odd collection of food festivals - sauerkraut, pork and potatoes - Camden's Black Walnut Festival must stand above them all. About 20 feet above, that is.

As this town's huge black walnut trees finish dropping their nuts in late autumn, the folks in Camden get mighty excited. "A lot of our stuff is made from black walnut meat," says festival chairperson Karen Feix. "Most (of the vendors) use it in cooking and baking. But there are black walnut wood crafts, too."

Food concessions at the 14th annual fest include baked goods - nutty cakes, pies, tarts, rolls, candies, fudge and breads - as well as hand-churned ice cream (black walnut-flavored, of course). Bags of the hardy walnuts are available to take home. Crates, in fact.

No admission charge. Black Walnut Festival, Main Street, Village of Camden. 937-452-1684.

American As Apple Pie: Applefest

Applefest in downtown Lebanon is one of the granddaddies of the harvest fairs. "It's big," confirms organizer Kathy Stine, who says you'll enjoy, big surprise, apple delicacies of every possible kind at this mid-September event: caramel apples, candied apples, apple fritters, apple butter, cider and more.

There's also a farmer's market, crafts, entertainment, live music and a chance to shop the historic downtown district's many antique and specialty shops. Clowns and Johnny Appleseed roam the festival along with other street entertainers.

No admission charge. Applefest, downtown Lebanon. 513-934-5252.

Taste of South America: Festival Hispano

Festival Hispano is the most authentic of ethnic food festivals, produced each summer by the Hispanic Ministry of the St. Charles Borromeo Church. "XXXXXXX," says Rev. Joe Nelson of the fare, which represents dozens of Central and South America countries.

Don't think tacos or the mundane Americanized dishes you might find at the average Mexican restaurant. Held in the church lot, booths offer up spinach souffle from Uruguay, tamales from Costa Rica and foodstuffs from Panama, Ecuador, Peru and more.

When you call for information, don't be discouraged that the answering machine answers in Spanish; an English language message follows.

No admission charge. Festival Hispano, St. Charles Borromeo Church Hispanic Ministry, 115 W. Seymour Ave., Carthage. 513-761-1588.

The Great American Gyro: Middfest

Let's talk about the biggest, baddest Greek food festival this region has ever seen. And no, we're not talking the Panegyri Greek Festival put on by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Finneytown every year, swell as that is.

This September, Middletown assumes the title as the largest outpost of the country of Greece in the Western world, all thanks to the annual Middfest International celebration. Every autumn, the cultural and food festival focuses on one nation of the globe, and this year organizers are turning their considerable attentions to Greece.

What makes this event unique is that nearly 100 chefs, artisans, performers and others are flown in from the designated country, just to ensure authenticity. "We prefer the guest country to tell its own story from the perspective of the people who live there, rather than our own interpretation," says organizer Kathryn Wood.

Look for lots of authentic Grecian food, crafts, dancing, costumes and a world bazaar that features dozens of vendors who've flown to the U.S. precisely for this event. There will be lots of souvlaki (marinated meat grilled on skewers), spanakopitas (cheese and spinach filo pastries), roasted leg of lamb, Mediterranean pizza and baklava, in the most sizable tribute to Greek culture this side of Anthony Quinn.

$5 donation requested. Middfest International 2001, Donham Plaza, One City Centre Plaza, Middletown. 513-425-7707 or www.middletown.com/middfest

On the Dole: Wilmington Banana Split Festival

Each June, the whipped cream and hot fudge flies, as participants in the Wilmington Banana Split Festival try to outdo each other in their gigantic ice cream creations. Organizers actually call Wilmington the birthplace of the Banana Split.

Hazard's Restaurant lays claim to creating the famous ice cream dish in 1907. "The story is there was a dreadful winter storm that came through and trapped everybody in Wilmington," recalls festival organizer Sherri Krazl. "The owner, Ernest Hazard, was looking for a way to draw everybody to his drug store, so he came up with (the dish). He didn't care for the name 'banana split' at first, but it stuck." Along with the banana splits comes a pretty good lineup of 1950s Rock bands still on the circuit.

No admission charge. Downtown Wilmington. 937-382-1965.