I kicked a nicotine habit 14 months ago and, without delay, picked up another dependency that seemed to stem from my newly restored taste buds and an inability to fully abandon my persistent oral fixation. Yes, folks, I'm addicted to food, all kinds, most qualities, and lately, I've been having severe breakfast cravings. To me, it's a meal that's always satisfying, although it's never quite as good when I make it myself. That's why I'm looking forward to two festivals that pass the time, fill the tummy and fulfill my desire for morning-inspired foods.For over 25 years, 56 gallons of pancake batter and 95 gallons of maple syrup have equaled delicious family fun at Land O' Lakes' Annual Flapjack Festival. There is no entry fee and flapjacks are free from 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6 (each is topped with butter donated from the Land O' Lakes butter company). Other diversions include the Flapjack 5K Race, a flapjack-eating contest, the Flapjack Parade, the Little Mr. and Ms. Flapjack Pageant, carnival rides, non-breakfast foods, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and much more. Proceeds benefit the Land O' Lakes High School Athletic Booster Club, Central Pasco schools, local churches, and other charitable organizations. For more information, call 813-909-2722 or visit www.centralpascochamber.com. Festival hours are 7-11 p.m. Fri., 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat., and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., Nov. 5-7, at the Land O' Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lakes).
As a precursor to Farm-City Week, Hillsborough County presents the Farm-City Festival from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tue., Nov. 9. This free event offers visitors the opportunity to "milk" a mechanical cow, make butter and find out more about the county's $654 million agriculture industry. At noon, county commissioners designate Nov. 19-25 as Farm-City Week in Hillsborough County, and growers display the season's first flat of strawberries and first box of tomatoes. There's also an array of fresh produce, made-to-order omelets and fresh-squeezed orange juice available for residents to sample, all for free. The festivities occur at the Joe Chillura Courthouse Square, across the street from the County Center and Courthouse on the 600 block of Kennedy Boulevard in downtown Tampa. Please call 813-272-5506 for more information.
—Leilani Polk
This article appears in Nov 3-9, 2004.