Local lovers of food and drink have more than a few events to be excited about in the earlier part of the fall season. Read on to find out about the appetizing happenings scheduled for September and October in Tampa.
The food truck craze has finally made its way to the Tampa Bay area, bringing a variety of cuisines served via mobile eateries. To share their tasty fare with local dining scene, a flock of food trucks from Tampa (and a few guest trucks from Orlando) are gathering together for the first-ever Tampa Food Truck Rally on Sat., Sept. 24th, in the parking lot of the Hyde Park Presbyterian Church in South Tampa. Expect a variety of flavors, like Wicked 'Wiches' awesome sandwiches, 3 Ballers Traveling Bistro's gourmet fare, Michelle Faedo's famous Deviled Crab & Cubans, and many more. In addition to the food, there will be live music as well as free parking and childcare. More information is available at the event's Facebook page: facebook.com/TampaFoodTruckRally. (And keep an eye out for the second TFTR event in October.) 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; 1309 W. Swann Ave., Tampa (at the intersection of Swann and Willow); tastingtampa.com.
No need to wait until next spring for another food and wine blowout, as the Tampa Bay Food & Wine Experience is coming to Downtown Tampa from Thurs., Sept. 29 through Sun., Oct. 2 — a palate-pleasing, four-day weekend event chock-full of renowned wine and spirits producers, local and national chefs, and culinary personalities. Held in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the TBFWE will offer various culinary events, demos and tastings, like the Jazz & Winemaker Brunch and the Grand Experience Tasting. Hardcore foodies and wine-lovers alike will find plenty to keep them sated and entertained during this weekend. For more information and to purchase event tickets, visit unleashyourpalate.com. 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa.
Part silent auction, part village marketplace, part open house, the first-ever Tampa Food Swap on Sat., Oct. 1, will allow local cooks and bakers to connect over a shared passion — food! The event will showcase homemade, homegrown and foraged creations that will act as personal currency to swap with other participants. The concept: Each "swapper" will display his or her homemade wares on tables along with swap offer sheets. Participants will then walk around sampling items from other swappers and write down what they'd like to trade on the swap sheets, the food negotiations ensuing afterward. This is a free event, but all swappers and attendees must pre-register at tampafoodswap.com to be able to participate. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Kate Jackson Community Center at Anderson Park: 821 S. Rome Ave., Tampa.
Get out your lederhosen and dust off that giant boot-shaped glass because Oktoberfest Tampa is coming back to The Heights in South Tampa, Fri., Oct. 14 through Sun., Oct. 16. This three-day beer fest will offer an array of German and domestic craft brews, plenty of brats and jumbo pretzels, "Beer School" for homebrewers and some rather interesting drinking competitions, like stein holding, keg tossing, "Carry the Wench" and plenty more. General admission is $10 for drinkers and $5 for designated drivers (food and drink not included); purchase tickets and get more information at oktoberfesttampa.com. 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa.
In honor of World Farm Animals Day, the Tampa Bay Veg Fest is coming back to Downtown Tampa on Sat., Oct. 15, to educate and entertain attendees through exhibits and activities about local food producers, healthy eating and humane animal treatment education. Local vendors will offer an array of delicious animal-free fare, there'll be healthy living and eco-friendly exhibitors, live music, activities for the kids, animal adoption groups and nationally known and local guest speakers — like comedian and former writer for Saturday Night Live and Seinfeld, Carol Leifer. Whether a longtime vegetarian, vegan, food or animal lover, this free event will have something to please all interests and walks of life. Bring along leashed pets to enjoy the event, too! Visit tampabayvegfest.org for more information. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park: 601 Old Water St., Tampa.
This article appears in Sep 1-7, 2011.