Heritage Center Debuts Food Festival

 WELLSVILLE, UTAH- When one thinks of the Old West, food is not often a topic that comes to mind. However, the 19th century, even in the “Wild West,” was a time of great and innovative cooking. Having just presented its popular and beloved Baby Animal Days, the American West Heritage Center seeks to explore and celebrate cookery and food ways from 1820 – 1920 and beyond at “A Taste of the Past Food Festival,” its next major event in the 2006 Festivals of the American West series. “Playing with food” will certainly have a new meaning after this festival, which takes place May 12-13 from 10 am to 8 pm at the Heritage Center site in Wellsville. Specific times for individual events vary, especially in the evening. For more information, contact the Heritage Center at 435/245-6050, or find a detailed festival schedule at www.awhc.org. The food festival will present food and cooking workshops for adults and kids all day long on each of its two days. Local hand-made food artisans, food related crafts, and “make n’ takes” will also be featured. “It will be like Food TV–except it’s all live,” explains David Sidwell, program director for the Heritage Center. “There are so many different kinds of foods and cooking techniques from the period that are now considered gourmet. Many gourmet recipes and methods were invented during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It will be fun to see these in action.” Workshops include sourdough bread making, sausage making, the five “mother sauces,” Dutch oven cookery, open fire cooking, cookie baking, tortilla making, and more. There will also be special food workshops and crafts for kids, and of course the ever popular pony rides all day long. Other events that will take place during A Taste of the Past Food Festival are the International Cheese Tasting party, in which cheeses from all over the world will be available to for sample, and an honest-to-goodness, organized Food Fight for kids. The festival also boasts two contests, both open to amateurs and professionals of any age. The Wild West Cookie Bake-Off will pit baker against baker in the quest for the perfect cookie. Amateurs and professionals can also compete side by side in the Wild West Grilling Championship. Emphasis has been put on making sure that the average grilling enthusiast can have fun playing with fire and food. “We want the backyard barbequer to have fun and to be able to rub elbows with the pros,” maintains Carey Dufner, special events coordinator. “Win or lose, in the end we’ll all have a good time.” Prizes will be given for these contests, but the real focus, maintains Dufner, is the celebration and discovery that will take place. Indeed, a major judging criterion a category for the grilling competition is how well the cooks interact and pass on their grilling knowledge to festival visitors who as they watch on. The festival will also host several local artisan food vendors, so visitors can snack their way through the day. From gourmet bread to chocolate to jerky and more, there should be treats for every taste. Lunch will also be available for those who have the willpower to avoid the snacks. On Saturday evening, visitors should be prepared for the Feast o’ the Fest Food Sampling Party. Some of the finest caterers and restaurants in the area will flaunt their foods at this event. Visitors will pay a general admission to this all-you-can-eat event and sample the varied flavors of Cache Valley all in one place. The American West Heritage Center is a living history museum that explores the period from 1820-1920. “This takes us through the industrial revolution, through westward expansion, and to the coming of many immigrants from around the world,” suggests Sidwell. “These elements added up to one of the most exciting periods in culinary history.” From mountain men to pioneers to the highbrow Edwardians of the early 1900s, food was not only eaten, it was improved upon. New and amazing recipes and cooking techniques were developed. As science and technology rapidly advanced, new machinery and methods made it possible to prepare and package foods for later consumption. This food festival not only uncovers these old food preparation techniques, but also explores the legacy of hand made and artisan foods in general. A Taste of the Past Food Festival is the second of seven family-friendly Festivals of the American West. Other festival events include An Old Time Music Jubilee (June 16-17), Historic Weaponry Days (Aug. 4-5), How the West Was Worn: a clothing, leatherwork and textiles festival (Sept. 22-23), the ever-popular Fall Harvest Festival (Oct. 20-21), and A Winter Frolic (Dec. 8-9). For more information, call (435) 245-6050 or visit the American West Heritage Center website at www.awhc.org.