Strathmore Holds Its First Food Festival on Friday and Saturday


The folks at Strathmore in North Bethesda are always forging ahead, doing new things.

First, it was free outdoor music concerts on the lawn. Then, it was tribute concerts, celebrating rock and pop legends. Then came the now annual ukulele festival.

Now, it’s all about food.

“Appetite—a Gastronomic Experience,” a two-day celebration of all things food on Friday and Saturday will mark Strathmore’s first culinary and epicurean arts festival, with world-class chefs, live music, trendy food trucks, demonstrations with local chefs and food purveyors, tasting, a craft beer garden, wine pairings, spread out over the Strathmore grounds, the Music Center and the Mansion.

Headlining the food festival will be top chefs Giada De Laurentiis and Andrew Zimmern.

De Laurentiis, the Emmy-award-winning Food Network star, will give a presentation during happy hour events, beginning 5 p.m. De Laurentiis will appear at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, it’s food-food-food everywhere, beginning at 11 a.m., with live music and demonstrations by restaurant chefs from all over the regions.

At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, it’s time for Zimmern, a noted bizarre food aficionado and star of the Travel Channel with food demonstrations and stories about his globetrotting adventures.

Throughout the day there will be wine and food samplings and pairings with a huge array of chefs and restaurants participating. Just to name a few, the dozens and dozens of participants include Rocklands Farm Winery, Robert Wiedemaier of Mussel Bar & Grille, Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff of Equinox, Morton’s Steakhouse, Scott Drewno of the Source, Jane Morris of J. Chocolatier, Tastes from Jaleo by Jose Andres, Ridegewells Catering, Swing’s Coffee, Ed Hardy of Quench, Colci Gelati, Pub Dog, Magnet Earth Gourmet, Reyka Vodka, Susan and Alan James of Stonyman Gourmet, and many more.

Live music will originate from the Strathmore Backyard Theater stage by such groups as the 19th Street Band, Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band, Howlin’ at the Moon with Jay Summerour, Israel and Morris and Victoria Vox.

For information on tickets and ticket package, call 301-581-5100 or go to www.strathmore.org/appetite.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *