by Deb Wojcicki

Welcome to Food Talk, a periodic column here at DestinationFood.com covering fun and interesting happenings in the food and festival world.  In this issue, we share the Strolling of the Heifers held June 5 - 7, 2009 in Brattleboro, Vermont.

For the eighth year, downtown Brattleboro was turned into a three-day celebration of Vermont agriculture with the Strolling of the Heifers Weekend.  Playing off Pamplona, Spain’s “Running of the Bulls”, the Strolling of the Heifers is designated a Top 10 2009 Summer Event by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.  Now El and I know why; they truly offer something fun for everyone. 

Some of the foodie highlights included:

• The Great Vermont Grilled Cheese Cookoff
• Strolling of the Heifers Parade
• Dairy Fest & Marketplace
  • Vermont Cheese Pavilion
  • Future Chefs of Vermont Tent
  • Vermont-made Food Vendors
• Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market (not specifically associated with the festival, but a must-stop if you are in the Brattleboro area on a Saturday morning)

The Great Vermont Grilled Cheese Cookoff

The Great Vermont Grilled Cheese Cookoff challenged twenty-four amateur and professional grillers to prepare their version of the most perfect food, the grilled cheese sandwich.  We spoke with grand prize winner Jamie Baribeau of Vermont Seasons Fine Catering about his winning sandwich Taste of Vermont’s Seasons Goodness, a savory, sweet and salty creation made from delicious local ingredients.  Jamie’s plan going into the contest was to use great bread, flavorful melty cheeses, and complimentary ingredients that would support a winning sandwich – and it worked.  More on Jamie’s recipe…

Strolling of the Heifers Parade

El and I joined the fun on Saturday for the Strolling of the Heifers Parade featuring dozens of cows from farms across Vermont, as well as marching bands, youth groups and others celebrating agriculture, cows, and the great State of Vermont.  Pre-parade festivities included musicians and the indefatigable Dairy Godmother and Dairy Princess, entertaining the crowd and sprinkling “dairy dust” along the route.  The event drew an estimated 50,000 people from all over New England and beyond. 

Dairy Fest & Marketplace

The Dairy Fest & Marketplace was a showcase of Vermont’s finest delicacies, from cheese to maple syrup.  The Cheese Pavilion offered visitors cheese samples from different Vermont cheese makers, including Green Onion Cheddar, fresh Mozzarella, and Sage Cheddar.  Other vendors were smoking or grilling meats, selling Vermont maple products, and Ben & Jerry’s had plenty of ice cream.  There was also ample entertainment to amuse both children and adults, including live music, cooking demonstrations, a rock-climbing wall, and performers from the New England Center for Circus Arts.

One thing that struck us as we enjoyed the local foodstuff was that you really could spend an enjoyable and inexpensive day at the Strolling of the Heifers festival: parking was free; shuttle buses were free; most of the events and entertainment were free; the cheese tasting, bottled water and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream were also free.   What you chose to spend money on was purely optional.

On the Way Home

On our way home, we stopped at the Brattleboro Farmers’ Market and picked up some fresh veggies, a loaf of amazing olive bread, a bottle of local rhubarb wine, and a lunch plate of chicken and rice from a West African food kiosk.  It was a perfect end to a perfect foodie day.  If you are anywhere near Brattleboro this time next year, Strolling of the Heifers Weekend is a remarkable event that should not be missed.

Enjoy!

-         Deb

Published June 10, 2009 by DestinationFood.com.