Family Food Adventure
Families need a break from the daily grind for some relaxing fun together, so trying new dishes of food during Flavor Fest can be a memorable experience. My kids say it's, "sneaking off" to go and grab an early morning breakfast treat, which they love to do or the times we drive for dessert, post dinner.
Most families also love pizza, including the featured Flavor Fest pizzas below:
- CJ's Pizza: Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pizza includes house-made creamy garlic parmesan sauce, topped with cheese, diced chicken, tomatoes, red onion and bacon and topped with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Theo's Italian: Pesto Chicken Pizza - parmesan cream, oil-cured tomato, mozzarella, parmesan, & red onion.
- Rockstar Pizza - 'Primetime Pepperoni' - Comes in large (14 inches) with special char & cup pepperoni & comes with an 8-ounce bottle of ranch.
Food Tastes Better with Friends
Flavor Fest is a fun reason to get together with your friends, so take this as your encouragement to make your plans soon. Speaking of friends, my friend and I love to meet at Best Friends Coffee & Bagels, which features a chicken Caesar salad bagel, that we knew we had to try!
It was worth the trip for the food (& coffee!), which was delicious, and time well spent together!
Create-Your-Own Food Tour
Visit a few participating restaurants until March 17 and rate your favorites. Snap photos, share your finds and celebrate the creativity of our local chefs on your social media channels and don't forget to tag #HCForReal.
My sister and I have texted one another the food we've enjoyed and are now planning our next stops before these features are off the menu. Remember, some dishes are exclusively for Flavor Fest.
Go on a Self-Created Restaurant Crawl
Planning a day with someone special or a group of friends? Adding in multiple locations and dishes to your outing, for any meal of the day, will curate memories and a long-lasting time together while enjoying a variety of local cuisine.
Try restaurants and cafes that are in close walking distance, though short drives are not out of the question. Your custom crawl could begin slowly with appetizers, moving on to the next restaurant for the main course and finally completing the night with change of scenery for dessert.
Breakfast or Brunch
If you're an early bird, here are a couple breakfast items you won't forget:
- Al's Donuts is offering "The Nenes sandwich" with two eggs, cheese, two slices of ham and sausage patties. Al's is open most days starting at 3 a.m.
- The Bread Basket Cafe & Bakery pulled out a show stopper with their creation of a Bread Pudding Board Sampler flight of three different bread puddings, made from their homemade breads and cinnamon rolls.
Lunch
Meeting coworkers for lunch during Flavor Fest can make a regular or routine lunch meeting into something with more energy. Ms. B's Teas is offering an entire tea party with many choices including savories, scones, sweets and sips.
Tlahcos Mexican Cuisine is a delicious escape during the hustle and bustle of the day. Stop in to savor the flavor of their meatless dish, a chile relleno served with a creamy red sauce over black beans.
Dinner
Flavor Fest wouldn't be complete without experiencing some hearty dinners to transform our taste buds, like at the Thai District. I really want to try their spicy dumplings & khao soi or their slow-braised short ribs. If pasta is more your speed, you will want to head to Charbonos to try their tortelloni carbonara, made with five cheeses, bacon, peas and parmesan.
Concluding our kids' soccer practice, my family will make a convenient stop for dinner at the Rusted Silo Southern BBQ & Brew House to taste their catfish & gumbo, a Cajun-seasoned catfish over a bowl of andouille smoked sausage and okra gumbo. All dinner options are sure to leave you craving your next bite.
Sweet-Tooth Approved
Sending Flavor Fest over the edge of greatness are the sweet treats! Try a classic loaded, warm brownie at The Frigid Frog and then inside the same building you can also sample Momma Shell's Cookies and their Flavor Fest special, a strawberry crunch cookie.
Other Flavor Fest desserts to easily take on the go:
- Sweet Minis Cakes & Bakes - Cheesecake Cake Cups - layers of cake, cheesecake and pudding in a variety of flavors
- Mandy's Ice Cream - S'more to Love Sundae
- Schakolad Chocolate Factory - Dubai Strawberry Cup - milk/white/dark chocolate layers. Tip: add bananas.
- Two Chicks Whisky Business Business - Lunch Lady peanut butter bars
- Danville Dips - Sweet & Savory Candied Bacon Pecan Sundae & Salted Caramel Pretzel Sundae
- Brie and Bartlett - Gilded Matcha Cheesecake
