I broke my 2012 festival cherry at Bacon Fest a couple of weeks ago. However, my real barometer for festival season is the Inman Park Festival. This is my favorite festival of the year. It’s still “neighborhoody” and relatively small. But those days may be over.
This year’s footprint was the largest I’ve seen. And I overheard many people saying the same thing. The parade alone was an hour-long. I spent a lot of time dodging golf carts driven by police, festival staff, coordinators, and the like. We’ll see how it is next year. But that’s not why we’re here.
I want to alert of two notable discoveries in the food department.
Pacific Rim Noodle House
As much as I love festivals, I normally don’t get into the festival food. Corn dogs, funnel cakes, gyros, kettle korn, etc., has never really excited me. I find it easy to pass it all by. But every so often there is something new along the food midway that catches my eye. This time it was a soba noodle veggie bowl. Hmmm. I think I’ll try one.
Pacific Rim Noodle House
It was the best eight bucks I’d spent in a long time. Cooked on the spot, the heaping paper bowl of noodles, broccoli, peppers, onions, mushrooms was deeply satisfying. Add a squirt of Sriracha and a dash or two of soy sauce and it turned into a meal in a cup… bowl… paper hat…whatever.
I will definitely look out for this booth at upcoming festivals, and I suggest you do the same. For you local folks, I’m not sure if it’s affiliated with Pacific Rim Bistro. I was too busy stuffing my face to ask.
Now for the BIG news (though I may be late with this)…
There is a King of Pops Truck! I had heard rumors and still couldn’t believe my eyes.
Tentatively dubbed "The Popmobile" of course.
At the time I was talking to someone and almost missed it! There it was, plodding along in the parade in its yellow-orange glory. I almost wept, even though they weren’t throwing out free pops.
Those two discoveries made my tired feet, sunburned nose and lighter wallet a little easier to accept. It was a good day.
Notable t-shirt slogans of the day (editor’s notes in parentheses):
I Dumped Adele (should I say thank you?)
Staph (someone’s clever take on staff…yuck, yuck, yuck)
I got out of bed for this?
Relax, we’re smokin’ (I just like the attitude)
I like my bourbon… with a side of bacon (should’ve seen that one at Bacon Fest)
I Love Bacon (I wore this one and made many friends during the day)
Popmobile? Oh yeah!