The Indian River County Fairgrounds was bursting with flavor last Saturday during an inaugural Flavors of Indian River event, which offered tasty selections for even the pickiest of eaters.
The scent of ethnic foods from around the world filled the air as Jamaican, Latin, Greek and American foods were prepared on-site and attendees enjoyed their choices at tents and pub tables set up for al fresco dining.
“I loved the festival,” said Jennifer Borg, there with husband Jack. The couple is relatively new to the area and said they were excited to try something different. “We had shrimp and fish and chips from Larry’s Landing. It was fantastic.”
Under the pavilion, local restaurants and chefs presented samples of customer favorites and had full-size portions for purchase. Osceola Bistro was on hand plating up their signature shrimp and grits or dirty oysters, while Cuisine Machine served empanadas and plantains.
Food trucks from South Florida vendors faced off on the midway, tempting the taste buds of hungry patrons with options from chicken wings and ribs to gyros and Philly cheesesteaks.
After perusing various booths hawking purses, jewelry and natural-beauty products, families followed their noses to finish off their meals with fried Oreos, funnel cakes and ice cream. And later, while mom and dad enjoyed live music, the kids burned off their sugary energy in the bounce house and had their faces painted.
Inside the Expo Center guests enjoyed the V.I.P. treatment with wine and beer tastings. Top-tier guests sampled foods from a new vendor every 30 minutes and sipped cocktails from the open bar.
The Gamer’s Realm, a new gaming room coming to Vero Beach this summer, took attendees on virtual adventures with roller-coaster rides and underwater tours.
“We wanted to bring a family-oriented event for the whole community,” said promoter Luis Somoza, who introduced the festival to Vero Beach. “The format spotlights local businesses and gives chefs and restaurant owners the chance to showcase their talents.”
Somoza indicated that a portion of the proceeds from the weekend will benefit Keep Indian River Beautiful and the Little Birthday Angels.
Keep Indian River Beautiful seeks to empower individuals to take responsibility for the environment through litter prevention, beautification, recycling and conservation education. To keep unnecessary waste out of landfills, KIRB collects reusable items for resale at its Upcycle It Store in the Indian River Mall, where it also provides a platform for upcycle artists to showcase their work.
Little Birthday Angels provides birthday celebrations for homeless children on the Treasure Coast, making a difference “one birthday at a time.” The nonprofit brings birthday parties to local homeless shelters for children whose parents don’t have the means to throw one for them. They take care of everything including decorations, games, a piñata, cake, goody bags and birthday presents.
