Downtown West Chester will become a smörgåsbord of local cuisine Sept. 20
Anyone looking to take a break from the bland may want to visit downtown West Chester soon.
The West Chester Department of Recreation will hold its 30th annual Chester County Restaurant Festival Sept. 20. The event will likely showcase between 50 and 65 local, and some not-so-local, restaurants and food vendors.
It’s West Chester Recreation Director Keith Kurowski’s first year of running the event. The culinary showcase allows visitors a chance to taste some of the newest and most creative dishes from area restaurants. The portions are smaller and priced accordingly so visitors may sample all they want, without getting full, Kurowski said jokingly.
Almost all of the restaurants on Gay and Market streets will be participating, though Kurowski said he doesn’t have a complete list yet, as the deadline for restaurants to register was Sept. 4, adding that many restaurants are too busy to worry about signing up for the event, and wait until the last minute.
The festival is teaming up with the organization Buy Fresh Buy Local to bring in locally produced items like honey, wine and mushrooms.
In addition to showcasing borough restaurants, Kurowski said food vendors from as far away as Delaware and Harrisburg will be offering up the eats. Though many restaurants will be showcasing newer dishes, many of the standards, like burgers and ribs, will be available, and Kurowski said there’s usually a friendly competition between vendors to see who can cook up the best. Prizes will also be awarded to the best appetizer, entrée and dessert.
Though not likely to win any awards for culinary prowess, the event will offer up smoothies and funnel cake.
And new for this year is a culinary competition similar to The Food Network’s “Chopped.” Called “The Four Cs,” or the “Chester County Culinary Cook-off” the competition will pit two home cooks against two chefs in a cooking competition.
The entire event takes place outside, though restaurants will be open for business. To make things more festive, there will be nine bands that will perform on three stages throughout the event.
Kurowski said he has seen the festival grow in the past five years. However, since the event falls on a Sunday in September, the number of visitors depends heavily on the weather — and the NFL’s schedule.
“More and more people come each year,” Kurowski said. “Since it’s outside, it’s totally tied to the weather, and since it’s the fall, it’s usually the first or second week of football season. Before, the Eagles played on Sunday night, and Monday night the next — so everyone came out. This year, the Eagles play at 1 o’clock — we’re expecting there to be slightly less crowding between 1 and 4, and between 4 and 5:30, we’re going to be mobbed.”
The festival, which runs from noon to 5:30 p.m. in downtown West Chester, is sponsored by the recreation department. It’s free to wander the streets and listen to the bands, though restaurants charge what they want for their creations. And by the way, Kurowski said, leave your dogs at home.
“The combination of thousands of people food, children and dogs is not a good one,” he said.
The West Chester Department of Recreation will hold its 30th annual Chester County Restaurant Festival Sept. 20. The event will likely showcase between 50 and 65 local, and some not-so-local, restaurants and food vendors.
It’s West Chester Recreation Director Keith Kurowski’s first year of running the event. The culinary showcase allows visitors a chance to taste some of the newest and most creative dishes from area restaurants. The portions are smaller and priced accordingly so visitors may sample all they want, without getting full, Kurowski said jokingly.
Almost all of the restaurants on Gay and Market streets will be participating, though Kurowski said he doesn’t have a complete list yet, as the deadline for restaurants to register was Sept. 4, adding that many restaurants are too busy to worry about signing up for the event, and wait until the last minute.
The festival is teaming up with the organization Buy Fresh Buy Local to bring in locally produced items like honey, wine and mushrooms.
In addition to showcasing borough restaurants, Kurowski said food vendors from as far away as Delaware and Harrisburg will be offering up the eats. Though many restaurants will be showcasing newer dishes, many of the standards, like burgers and ribs, will be available, and Kurowski said there’s usually a friendly competition between vendors to see who can cook up the best. Prizes will also be awarded to the best appetizer, entrée and dessert.
Though not likely to win any awards for culinary prowess, the event will offer up smoothies and funnel cake.
And new for this year is a culinary competition similar to The Food Network’s “Chopped.” Called “The Four Cs,” or the “Chester County Culinary Cook-off” the competition will pit two home cooks against two chefs in a cooking competition.
The entire event takes place outside, though restaurants will be open for business. To make things more festive, there will be nine bands that will perform on three stages throughout the event.
Kurowski said he has seen the festival grow in the past five years. However, since the event falls on a Sunday in September, the number of visitors depends heavily on the weather — and the NFL’s schedule.
“More and more people come each year,” Kurowski said. “Since it’s outside, it’s totally tied to the weather, and since it’s the fall, it’s usually the first or second week of football season. Before, the Eagles played on Sunday night, and Monday night the next — so everyone came out. This year, the Eagles play at 1 o’clock — we’re expecting there to be slightly less crowding between 1 and 4, and between 4 and 5:30, we’re going to be mobbed.”
The festival, which runs from noon to 5:30 p.m. in downtown West Chester, is sponsored by the recreation department. It’s free to wander the streets and listen to the bands, though restaurants charge what they want for their creations. And by the way, Kurowski said, leave your dogs at home.
“The combination of thousands of people food, children and dogs is not a good one,” he said.
