Food Festival - The Hungry Nomad

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience 2014, NOWFE

The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience takes place every year over the Memorial Day long weekend. In it’s 22nd year, the festival has become one of most incredible culinary events in the nation, attracting over 10,000 gourmands and connoisseurs as well as art and music lovers. Each year, hundreds of wineries and restaurants participate. Menus feature local flavor and innovative new creations inspired by diverse cuisines. Top chefs from around the city create culinary experiences like no other. Over two dozen restaurants feature special dining evenings throughout the New Orleans festival. The weekend also features over 1,000 wines from around the world, with special tasting events from wineries. The events this year included the Grand Tasting events at the Convention Center, the Royal Street stroll in the French Quarter, the Big Gateaux show and seminar series to hone your palate. It ended with a grand finale gala. The NOWFE is the perfect way to experience New Orleans Cuisine at it’s best. Chef’s from all the best and greatest NOLA restaurants showcase their talent on the plate.

The Hungry Nomad team was there in full force this year to experience NOWFE at its fullest and share with our readers. Hope you enjoy the photos!

The Royal Street Stroll:

Big Gateaux Show:

The Grand Tasting:

A recap of Manayunk’s StrEAT Food Festival (Philadelphia, USA)

On Saturday April 13th Manayunk held its biannual Street food festival on Main Street. The event drew out food trucks, foodies and crowds of people looking to taste what the city had to offer. From fried cheese curds to Mexican burritos there was a little bit of everything for everyone. The sun was shining, the music was pumping and the crowds were eating and drinking. It was the perfect way to spend a sunny Spring Saturday in Philadelphia. Some of the best food trucks in town were gathered on Main Street delivering their signature dishes with a strawberry twist to hungry crowds. Many food trucks even ran out of food (sadly a few were already closed by the time I got around to them). Among the most notables were Say Cheese, Cosmic Catering, sugary cupcakes from Sweet Box Cupcakes, Philly cheese steaks from Street Food Philly, cheesy mac and cheese from Mac Mart, gourmet Philly style sandwiches Lil Dan’s, the most amazing fried cheese from The Cow & The Curd, savory gourmet sandwiches from Farm Truck Philly, the Good Phellas, juicy burgers from Spot Burgers, Vernalicious, Italian style pizza from Nomad Pizza, the best sweet and savory crepes from Bonjour Creperie and Trinidadian food from Mini Trini.

The Cow & The Curd blew me away with those tiny pieces of cheesy delight. I mean, fried cheese: Enough said.

The crepes from Bonjour creperie were oh so sweet and fluffy: oooey, gooey marshmallow, mixed with chocolate and ground graham crackers. Their crepes were very original and had a mix of dynamic flavors like their bacon, chocolate and strawberry which surprisingly was sweet and salty and mouth watering good.

The guys at Farm Truck Philly definitely had the coolest truck on the block. Featured art work on the back of the truck are available for sale and the truck was covered in graffiti-like art.

Cosmic Catering had some interesting vegetarian flavors in a pretzel like bread cone. What a brilliant idea.

If you missed this year’s Manayunk Street festival, mark it on your calendar for next year but don’t fret, you still have the rest of the week to participate in their dining week.