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Festival provides visitors with culinary treasures

By John Boyce

News-Sentinel Food Columnist

When the annual Grape Festival and Harvest Fair opens Sept. 18, festival goers will again experience an overwhelming array of fine food concessions.

Most venders at the festival are local businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Pete Peterson, of Lockeford Meat and Sausage Co., said this year will be his first time at the Grape Festival, but he and his crew are regularly at the Farmers Market in Downtown Lodi and the Flea Market in Galt.

Lockeford Meat and Sausage will be serving wonderful sausages, including bratwurst, hot links, franks and corn dogs, along with french fries and beverages.

Now we go from the newest vender to the oldest — Lodi Eagles Lodge No. 848. The Lodi Eagles Lodge has been selling foods at the Lodi Grape Festival for more than 20 years and put out a very good rib eye steak. The Eagles Lodge is a fine nonprofit organization. At the end of the year, profits, less operational costs, are used for many local charities and programs.

Other foods at the festival range from garlic fries to cobblers to barbecued meats of all kinds and roasted corn on the cob. Those with a hearty appetite will find it hard to choose from a multitude of sandwiches and a large variety of meats.

There will also be traditional Mexican and Oriental foods.

The snacker will find many tempting items and for those with a sweet tooth there are cinnamon rolls, funnel cakes, ice creams and other delectable treats.

A wide variety of beverages includes water, beer, lemonade, lemon slush, sun tea, soft drinks, milk, hot chocolate, coffee and, of course, many fine wines from our local wineries.

Because of health laws, the concessions must have special equipment to be able to serve you and they must have self-contained facilities, both for clean up and serving. Even the cooking equipment, stoves and barbecues have certain requirements for your safety and health so you see, to bring this food to you takes both a lot of hard work and expense.

There is something for everyone at the festival so make it a point to attend. I hope you have a good time and will try some of the good foods that are available.

John Boyce is specialty chef at Wimpy’s Marina, Thornton, on the California Delta. He can be contacted at (209) 794-2165 or by e-mail at boycejhn@softcom.net.