If it’s food you’re after, the 36th annual Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival practically overwhelms with options – from sausages to salads, chicken to calamari and pulled pork to pasta.
Attendees may sit outdoors and enjoy a meal from one of the festival food vendors or dine at one of the many downtown restaurants.
This year’s festival features more than two dozen food vendors from throughout the Bay Area and as far as Reno. Vendors will offer Thai dishes, smoothies, gyros, Philly steak sandwiches and more.
Several festival favorites return. The Los Altos Rotary Club will again host a booth featuring a local favorite – Chef Chu’s Chinese chicken salad. Other popular returnees include India Gourmet – offering vegan and vegetarian choices as well as lamb and veggie wraps and rice bowls – and the Tamale Factory, serving up traditional tamales, soft tacos, rice and beans.
This weekend’s event wouldn’t be a summer festival without barbecue and other traditional favorites. Locke- ford Meat & Sausage Services will grill its popular foot-long sausages on a roll. Based in the Central Valley town of Lockeford, the meat market is known throughout the region for its steaks, sausages and more. Lockeford’s stand at the festival is like its store on a typical day, drawing a long line of customers.
Willow Street Pizza is back, offering barbecued oysters, crab cakes, smoked turkey legs, hot dogs and barbecued sausages, fried calamari, garlic fries and deep-fried zucchini and artichokes. Blue Mango returns to serve barbecue chicken and pork on a stick, garlic edamame and chicken rice bowls and wraps.
There are also specialty foods to take home. Nan’s Gourmet Foods offers aged and infused balsamic vinegars, olive oils, grilling sauces and handcrafted pasta. Primo’s Gourmet Food Co. sells its dips, spices, olives, mustards and more.
Those looking to beat the heat can try hand-shaken lemonade, frozen yogurt, soft-serve ice cream and fruit smoothies from returning vendors Barrett’s Lemonade, Kurlander Soft Serve and Fruit Frizz.
Festivalgoers with a sweet tooth may be satiated by popcorn from Olde Tyme Kettle Korn, Frozen Delights’ Dippin’ Dots, a variety of homemade toffee by The Lady Who Kissed the Cow and Rocko’s Chocolate Tacos’ popular ice cream tacos.
The food vendors are located on Second and Third streets, between Main and State streets. They are slated to be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Several tables and chairs, many shaded by umbrellas, are available nearby in Plaza Central and next to the Main Stage for those who want to relax while they eat.
Downtown Los Altos’ many restaurants will be open for business as well during the festival. Look for eateries on Main, State and First streets, among others.
For more information, call the Los Altos Village Association at 949-5282 or visit downtownlosaltos.org.
