Sushi Tacos and Shrimp Fried Rice: Is Foodees Fest Worth the Hype?
A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Vendors at Foodees Festival
Are you looking to enjoy a free, family festival with some amazing food options? I found out about Foodees Festival in the middle of the night and I decided to check it out and I’m glad I did. It was a great way to get some steps in and meet people. What I learned while chatting it up with some vendors is that it is an event that travels up and down the east coast.
Whenever I get to a food festival I walk a lap to assess all my options. I started the day with a Delta 9-infused fruit smoothie from D9 Mobile Store on Wheels which is a Black-owned business from Fayetteville, NC. Some of the options at the festival were lobster rolls, Bahn mi, Chinese food, Mexican, a Filipino-soul food vendor, Puerto Rican, BBQ and pizza. And for sweets they had cheesecake, licorice, funnel cakes, cotton candy and a place called Munchies and More who deep fried pretty much anything you could dream up. There were also vendors selling everything from shea butter to BBQ sauce and cutting boards. I grabbed a sushi taco just because the concept blew my mind. It tasted amazing but was way too messy to eat without a seat, napkins and silverware.
ACCESSIBILITY: The Pensacola Foodees Fest was held at Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds.The fairground was paved asphalt and smooth from the parking lot through the event space. There was a seating area to eat and to have time
HIGHLIGHT: Prices were pretty reasonable for a food festival. My shrimp fried rice was $18 and there was enough for two servings. The spicy tuna sushi taco was from a different vendor (I never saw a name) and cost $15.
LOWLIGHT: No low light. I really enjoyed this festival.
The owner of D9 told me to check out The Wok Lobster for the “best shrimp fried rice in the world.” I was surprised to find out it was Black-owned, but they know how to cook some fried rice. I made a video in my car when I first tried it and rated it as pretty good but swear, the way the meal was made, after I ate some later for dinner, the rice had dried out some and the flavor profile was better, like letting lasagna sit overnight. I haven’t tried shrimp fried rice all over the world but it was really, really good.
I enjoyed everything and this festival was a fun way to get some fresh air and for a few hours on the weekend. Check out the list of upcoming events for Foodees Fest below and hopefully y’all have a great time like I did.
Foodees Fest Upcoming Stops
CHARLOTTE, NC | MARCH 6-8
JENSEN BEACH, FL | MARCH 6-8
SHREVEPORT, LA | MARCH 13-15
GREENWOOD, SC | MARCH 13-15
ORANGEBURG, SC | MARCH 20-22
RALEIGH, NC | MAR. 27-29
PEARL, MS | APRIL 10-12
HILTON HEAD, SC | APRIL 10-12
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL | APR 17-APR 19
SPRINGFIELD, VA | APR 17-19
GADSDEN, AL | APR 24-26
AIKEN, SC | MAY 1-3
MONROE, OH | MAY 22-24
SAVANNAH, GA | MAY 29-31
GROVE CITY, PA | JUNE 5-7
PHILADELPHIA, PA | JUNE 5-7
PITTSBURGH, PA | JUNE 12-14
LANGHORNE, PA | JUNE 12-14
WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP, PA | JUNE 19-21
SPRINGFIELD, IL | JUNE 19-21
CHICAGO, IL | JUNE 26-28
GURNEE, IL | JUNE 26-28
WRENTHAM, MA | JULY 10-12
AUBURN, MA | JULY 17-19
KNOXVILLE, TN | SEPT 4-6
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD | SEPT 4-6
CHARLOTTE, NC | SEPT 11-13
INDIANAPOLIS, IN | SEPT 18-20
GAFFNEY, SC | SEPT 18-20
ASHEVILLE, NC | SEPT 25-27
REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE | SEPT 25-27
LOCUST GROVE, GEORGIA | OCT 2-4
LAWRENCE, NJ | OCT 9-11
ROCKAWAY, NJ | OCT 23-25
FLORENCE, SC | OCT 23-25
AUGUSTA, GA | NOV 6-8
GONZALES LOUISIANA | NOV 13-15
SAVANNAH, GA | NOV 13-15
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