Grape stomping, Italians romping at relocated fest
A little piece of Arkansas’ capital city will be transformed into an Italian wonderland of food, drinks and games as the Arkansas Italian Food & Culture Festival returns for its second year, raising money for the Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas.
The inaugural year was in North Little Rock; this year’s festival is packing up its bocce balls and gnocchi and moving south of the river to a new “home” at the Clinton Presidential Center.
When many people hear “Italian,” they tend to think about the food. And the festival will be happy to oblige with a wide array of foods from all over.
“The thing we’re probably more proud of than anything this year is the array of vendors we have,” says organizer Patrick Presley. “There’s a healthy mix of northern Italian and southern Italian foods. I think people will get a fantastic taste of Italy itself and the different regions.”
Just a few of this year’s foods for sale: spaghetti and meatballs from Raduno, zeppole and gelato from Ristorante Capeo (which is also hosting a sold-out, pre-festival VIP dinner), calzones and frozen lambrusco from Vino’s and gnocchi and chicken saltimbocca on a stick from Sauce(d). Chef Margie Raimondo, the head of the food committee, is preparing Italian sausage and cannoli — not, of course, on the same plate.
Central Distributors will supply many of the beverages with wines from Banfi, Stella Rosa and Delicato and Italian beer Menabrea, which Presley says is making its Arkansas debut.
Tournaments are a big part of the festival, with competitions in soccer, bocce and Baggo. Foodwise, there’s a Best Sauce competition Saturday.
“We’re really looking forward to building that up over the years,” Presley says.
The biggest show-stealer, according to Presley, is the Grape Stomp Challenge. It takes place throughout all three days but the highlights will be the celebrity radio challenge at 6:15 p.m. Friday and the celebrity TV challenge at 6:15 p.m. Saturday.
One new addition organizers predict will be a crowd-pleaser is the 2 p.m. Sunday Waiters Race, in which waiters and waitresses from around central Arkansas sprint through a 75-yard obstacle course while balancing a loaded tray. Whoever finishes with the most still on his or her tray wins.
“It’s one of the more challenging things you’ll ever see,” Presley says. “It takes a lot to compete and win this.”
There will be a long list demonstrations, on topics including pasta making, focaccia bread, wine tasting and “The Clothing of the Italian Gentleman.” Films by documentary filmmaker Matteo Zengaro will screen in the Demonstration Tent. Kevin and Sue McCarthy of the Travel Planners radio network will broadcast from the festival.
Musicians including the Big Dam Horns and Nerd Eye Blind will play in the evenings while DJ Nick Hud spins tunes during the day.
Sponsored by Relyance Bank, the festival is a cultural outreach and a fundraiser supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas and its many programs.
“If you come out for this weekend, you will be an honorary Italian,” Presley says. “You will feel like you’ve been transported to Italy for the weekend without ever leaving central Arkansas.
“We think you’re going to have a wonderful time with your family. Great food. Great wine. And most importantly benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas.”