34th annual Chester County Restaurant Festival this Sunday

WEST CHESTER – Thousands of hungry souls will be chomping their way through the borough streets this weekend as West Chester will once again play host to the annual Chester County Restaurant Festival.

Now in its 34th year, the festival will begin at noon on Sunday and continue through 5:30 p.m.

The festival is the biggest event of the year for the borough, drawing in crowds upward of 25,000.

Keith Kurowski, parks and recreation director for the borough, said the important thing to stress this year is the addition of Market Street as part of the festival, a configuration that debuted last year.

“It was absolutely beneficial to the event and overall alleviated some of the congestion,” Kurowski said.

Event locations will be on Gay Street between Matlack and Darlington streets; Market Street between High and Darlington streets; High Street between Chestnut and Market streets; and a beer garden on Church Street. These streets will be closed before, during and after the event.

“I hear stories on how someone would stand in line and end up at the wrong food stand,” Kurowski said jokingly.

Vendors are encouraged to offer some of their most unique and creative dishes that are still affordable.

Organizers say this is something they continue to push the past few years and has been a success with both the restaurants and guests.

Kurowski said they ask when the vendors apply for them to bring their most creative foods and put them into a smaller portion.

“Anyone can come into West Chester and get burgers and pizza, and those are good, but someone who is looking for something different, it’s good to try small things,” Kurowski said.

The event will feature more than 76 food vendors and about 110 crafters and information booths.

This year Kurowski said he is excited to have several food trucks from Philadelphia come out to the event. Specifically, Kurowski said Say Cheese, a gourmet grilled cheese vendor, and the Cow and the Curd will be stationed near Matlack Street on Gay Street.

“I love cheese, hopefully those lines won’t be too long,” he said.

In addition to 56 food vendors and caterers, the event will have more than 20 specialty food vendors, four to five ice cream vendors and a handful of cupcake creators.

“There are plenty of sweets for people who have a sweet tooth,” Kurowski said.

In the afternoon, the festival will begin the fifth annual Chester County Culinary Cook Off at 2 p.m. which consists of four local chefs competing in a series of cooking challenges to with the top spot.

Chefs will attempt to claim the title of “Best Chester County Chef.” The competition consists of three courses -- appetizer, entree and dessert -- which the chefs will prepare and which will then be scored by a panel of judges.

Jonathan Amann, winner of the past three events, and executive chef of Amani’s BYOB, is returning this year as a judge. Kurowski said Amann promised a surprise for this year’s winner.

Started 34 years ago, Kurowski said the original festival began with just three restaurants, gradually expanding until the borough took over operations 25 year ago where it has grown into the event it is today.

“We are running out of room to expand,” Kurowski said, adding he had a waiting list of two dozen vendors wanting a spot to join the festival.

The festival will also feature three stages with live music throughout the day and a beer and wine garden where visitors can quench their thirst with eight different drafts. Entry to the event is free though there is a $3 charge to enter the beer and wine garden which helps support the borough’s “Send a Kid to Camp” fund. Alcoholic beverages must remain within the garden, though, once the entry fee is paid; otherwise, guests are welcome to come and go as they please.

“It is going to be a beautiful, perfect fall day, and you will be able to smell the town from Malvern,” Kurowski said. “It’s the perfect opportunity to try something new and not break the bank.”

For parking, organizers suggest using one of the borough’s garages where it will cost $5 for the whole day.

Event goers are asked to leave their pets at home, considering the food-centered event. A rain date for the event is scheduled for the following Sunday, Sept. 22.

Staff photo by Tom Kelly IV Thousands of people took to the streets of West Chester two years ago to take part in the 32nd annual Chester County Restaurant Festival on Gay Street.