Wine and Food are celebrated from the Mountains to the Crystal Blue Waters.

The NYC Food Film Festival got underway this week. It is a great event that brings the foods that are in the films being screened to the mouths of the attendees. Some screenings are sold out but there is still plenty to enjoy. Get your tickets at the door or learn more at, http://www.nycfoodfilmfestival.com/about.html

Kapalua, HI kicks off its annual Food and Wine Fest this week. This is a wonderful wine event that pairs cheeses, and regional cuisine with some of the country’s best wines. A four-day festival pass is $699.00. If you are on Maui looking for a unique Hawaiian experience this is it. Learn more at, http://www.kapalua.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137&Itemid=897/

The Telluride Wine Festival promises a great event in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The weekend will include food and wine events throughout Telluride and will feature Iron Chef Cat Cora. The casual attitude that is Telluride will present 2 nights of great music in Town Park. Not many wine festivals have a live musical line up. We applaud Telluride for this, as we love nothing better than to dine and dance. Get more information at, http://www.telluridewinefestival.com/

The Long Island Wine and Food Festival has its inaugural event this week on the North Fork of Long Island. You will get to experience the products from the local wine regions and chefs and restaurants. Learn more at, http://www.longislandwineandfoodfestival.com/

The Cleveland Wine Festival is also this weekend showcasing more than 200 wines from around the world. Wine seminars and cooking demonstrations are conducted by exhibiting wineries and local area chefs and restaurants. Check it out at, http://www.clevelandwinefestival.com/index.html

The taste of Chicago is so big it runs for a whole week. With celebrity chefs, Giada de Laurentis and Mario Batali joining many others and an incredible music line up including, Rob Thomas, Mat Kearney, Los Lobos and many others. This is a festival worth catching everyday of the week. As a matter of fact maybe we should skip the Fancy Food Show in New York and road trip it to Chicago! Check out the schedule at, http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/mose/taste_of_chicago.html

Speaking of Fancy Food Show. The Javits center in New York host the annual summer show beginning on the 27^th. This show is for the trade and we will be there (unless we can get a majority vote to hit the road west to Chicago). The show attracts producers from all over the world and we go twice annually to help source great items to include in our 3goodeggs.com offerings.

The Great American Food and Music Festival takes place in Foxborough, MA on Saturday. This is an event we hate to miss because our favorite wine critic, Gary Vaynerchuck will be presenting Wine Library Classes. There are a lot of other activities packed into this one-day event so check out the schedule here, http://www.greatamericanfoodandmusicfest.com/index.html

Saturday is also the date for the Slow Food Orange County Annual Barbeque in Bommer Canyon, Irvine, CA. Not to miss is the docent guided short loop hike through the canyon. It’s historical significance as a cattle camp creates a backdrop to the importance of the preservation of plants and wildlife that thrive in the area. Learn more at, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/112350

The Grand Festival of Pinot Days takes place on Sunday at San Francisco’s Fort Mason. This is an incredible event focused on the Pinot Noir grape’s production of wines. See the full remaining schedule at http://www.pinotdays.com/

Some local festivals to note: Strawberry Festivals are being held in London, OH, Long Grove, IL and South Berwick, ME. The websites are, http://www.londonstrawberryfestival.com/ http://www.longgroveonline.com/strawberry.html and http://southberwickstrawberryfestival.com/default.aspx

Watermelon Festivals are being held in Luling, TX, DeRidder, LA and Chipley, FL. Learn more at, http://www.watermelonthump.com/, http://www.beauregardwatermelonfestival.com/index.html and http://www.panhandlewatermelonfestival.com/

In Emerson, AR you must check out the PurpleHull Pea Festival. http://www.purplehull.com/

These local festivals are important as they celebrate the harvest of what so many in our communities do to provide sustainable communities through agriculture. Get out and celebrate the fruits of their labors.

One last thing we ask you to do. Please go to http://taste.strength.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TOTN_homepage and learn more about Share Our Strength’s mission. This is such an important cause and daunting task, to end childhood hunger in the US by 2015. If you are not able to attend one of the many events this group produces to raise funds and awareness, you are able to make donations online. If we create a partnership of growers, producers and consumers we can achieve this goal,

Have a great weekend and look for us at the Fancy Food Show or Taste of Chicago. We’re still awaiting the results of the three secret ballots

Ice Cream, Chicken, Pigs and Flying Pizza Dough try to compete with the Grand Daddy of Food Festivals.

If you want to get up close and personal to some of the best chefs in America you need just fork over $1,185. 00 to attend The Food and Wine Classic of Aspen. Beginning Friday morning with a program titled ‘Meet The Masters’ this event is attended by many of the up and coming culinary stars and those of us who appreciate the accomplishments of the artists creating great food and wine. You will learn about Food and Wine pairing, Wine production and of course taste some delicious foods. Any true gourmand will want to be here. Purchase tickets at, https://www.stayaspensnowmass.com/foodandwine/register

Aspen is not the only ski resort hosting a Wine and Food Classic. Stowe, Vermont hosts their own classic at the Trapp Family Lodge. Friday night’s opening Wine Tasting will take you through a comparison of Oregon and Burgundy’s wines from vintage 2005. Chef Brian Thomlinson and Owen Roe’s wines host Saturday’s Gala Dinner. Sunday is the Grand Tasting and silent auction. Learn more at, http://www.stowewine.com/

Another spectacular event is the Gettysburg Festival. This event celebrates all things art including the culinary arts. There are 11 culinary events in ten days. Don’t forget the other arts that are showcased in this grand event. You can get more information at, http://www.gettysburgfestival.org/roadblock.asp

Natick, MA celebrates the Visiting Nurses Association with ‘A Fresh Taste’. This event features local chefs and fresh ingredients paired with wines. This is a great cause and good food. You can learn a lot about paring wines. For more information, http://www.natickvna.org/content325.html

Salem, Oregon plays host to the Wine, Chocolate and More Benefit. Beginning Friday evening you are invited to enjoy decadent chocolate and wines from more than a dozen wineries. I am not sure what wines would be paired with the Mad Cupcake Love and Icing offerings but I am sure I could find a great pairing. Access more information at, http://www.winechocolateandmore.com/

Le Mars, Iowa is the Ice Cream Capital of the World and began its celebration of Ice Cream on Wednesday. We have a brother who lives here and whenever we visit we always get a few of our favorite scoops. So if you are near be sure to check out the festivities. On Saturday is the Grill and Chill Rib Rally. Barbecue and Ice Cream…is there a better combination?

In San Francisco celebrate Italy and have the pooch blessed at the North Beach Festival. The festival showcases a pizza throwing contest, Arte di Gesso (sidewalk chalk art), and the blessing of the animals. This is a great way to enjoy some of San Francisco’s best Italian foods. It is a free event on Saturday and Sunday.

Barbecue still holds the summer crowds at events in National Harbor, Maryland, Hillsborough, North Carolina and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Get the 411 at, http://www.beerandbourbon.com/national-harbor/show-info, http://www.hogdays.com/index.htm and http://www.bbqribfest.com/custom1.html

Chicken Festivals are being held in Crewe, Virginia and Dover, Delaware. More information at, http://www.virginiachickenfestival.org/ and http://www.dpichicken.org/

On Saturday Burgaw, North Carolina and Brewton, Alabama host their annual blueberry festivals. Did someone say ‘Blueberry Danish’? Yum. More info at, http://www.ncblueberryfestival.com/ and http://www.alabamablueberryfestival.com/

Have a delicious weekend. We are headed to another family campout with our eyes peeled for more local farm stands along the way.
 

World Cup is here!

What goes better with the greatness of the World Cup from South Africa than a food truck with a flat screen television on top? ESPN is sending food trucks, called the ESPN Match Truck, around Los Angeles and New York so that locals can cheer for their favorite national teams in the World Cup.

Kogi BBQ Chef Roy Choi, who was recently named "Best New Chef"  by Food & Wine magazine, designed an international menu inspired by local street foods of some the teams participating in the World Cup. This means you can order anything from South Africa's Bunny Chow to USA Silver Dollar Pancakes to South Korea's Yaki Mandoo Dumplings to Italy's Seared Rice Balls. The Greek Lamb Gyro is particularly tasty, as is Mexican Carne Asada Burrito. We have to imagine Greece and Mexico's national teams wish they had performed as well on the field.

So if you come across an ESPN Match Truck, stop by for a delicious bite... and of course, cheer loudly for your favorite team or blow your vuvuzelas!

Strawberry Season hits its stride in June

June is chock full of Strawberry Festivals across the country. The season will end soon for a lot of our local growers so now is the time to get out to these festivals and enjoy that ever-so summertime treat, The Strawberry Shortcake.

The Troy Strawberry Festival kicks off with a parade on Saturday morning. The Festival site will open at 10 am with lots of treats and fun for the whole family. Of course all summer food events need a little music. This festival is no exception. Learn more at http://www.troyohiostrawberryfestival.com.

Other Strawberry Festivals are taking place in Pittsburg, PA on June 4^th. In  Kimmswick, MO on June 5^th and 6^th. In Lebanon, OR on June 6^th. In Ashland, VA on June 5^th. In West Cape May, NJ on June 5^th. Enjoy the sweet and tart treats that your local strawberry growers bring to our tables.

The Gourmet Latino Festival kicks off today in New York’s Astor Center with an opening cocktail party. The party features Latin inspired cocktails and wines paired with antojitos from New York’s best Latin restaurants. The festival continues with exciting food and libations events through the weekend. Then enjoy Latin Dining Week at participating restaurants throughout the city. Learn more at http://www.gourmetlatinofestival.com.

What could be more fun than playing in the Colorado slopes in the late spring? We love that they just like to party. This weekend the folks in Snowmass are going to throw one in honor of the Chili Pepper and Brews. This annual event has competitions in both Chili cook-offs and a microbrew competition. But don’t forget your dancing shoes. Friday night the Kyle Hollingsworth Band headlines followed on Saturday by Brett Dennen and on Sunday George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic wraps it up. Now you know why we just love the Colorado Mountains all year round.

Here’s a twist. A 3-Day Louisiana and New Orleans style music, food and camping festival kicks off today in of all places…Augusta, NJ. This 3 day festival started as a small crawfish boil for transplants from the muddy south missing their national food. This is the 21^st annual celebration of Crawfish Fest. It is nice to have an event that honors the good people that are struggling with the disaster in the gulf.  Get out and enjoy some crawfish pie, red beans and rice and especially some alligator sausage. The headliners are Taj Mahal, Galactic and Marcia Ball joined by more than 20 other performers. Campgrounds open today at Sussex County Fairgrounds. Learn more and purchase tickets at http://www.crawfishfest.com/index.html.

California is celebrating the fruit of the vine. The LA Wine Fest takes place this weekend featuring wine and spirits from around the globe. This annual event draws people from across the country.  This event is about learning and tasting with seminars daily. Check it out at the Raleigh Studios on Melrose in Hollywood. Tickets and seminar reservations can be made through their website, http://www.lawinefest.com/.

Other wine events in California include the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival. This is a great event that fills the morning sky with colorful hot air balloons. Temecula Valley is a prolific wine producing region and you will get to taste some of the best. Entertainment includes Jimmy Wayne, Gin Blossoms, Paul Rodgers and Spyro Gyra. We have always come away from wine tasting tours in this region with cases of wine and a lilt in our step. We didn’t even need the hot air balloons for the lilt! Check out their website for more information, http://www.tvbwf.com/.

Newport Beach and Foster City also have food and wine festivals this weekend. I guess we will need helicopters and jets to get to all of these.

The Great Chowder Cook-Off takes place at the Newport Yachting Center in Newport, RI on Saturday. There is stiff competition to become known as the Top Clam. The whole family is sure to enjoy the live entertainment.

Monday kicks off Dr. Pepper’s 119^th Birthday Bash in Dublin, TX. This is a weeklong celebration so important to the region that Dublin changes its name to Dr. Pepper. If you have never had a Dublin Dr Pepper you need to get here. This takes you back to the days of natural flavorings to savor on a hot summer day.

Please make sure you send your comments, tweets and pics with us if you attend any of the events. If you spot one of us 3 Good Eggs you’ll see a delicious smile on our face!