Sunday, August 30, 2009

Summer Stock 14 - Festival Food

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Our 14th
Summer Stock Sunday. So. Here we are. Wasn't it just a few days ago that we were gearing up for our very first edition, and now here it is the end of August already. I figure we'll have two more Summer Stock posts after this one, ending the weekend after Labor Day (which is 7 September this year for those of you out of the US and Canada), since that heralds the traditional end of the summer for most of you, and after that it's time to pack it in until next year. (I'd suggest continuing with some kind of Winter Wonderland theme or something, but I suspect many of you would be tempted to send out the cyber hit men if I posted shot after shot of green fields and bright blooming flowers all winter long. Probably safer for me to avoid that ;-). There's no sense in a Fall Follies theme for me either, since we have no fall colors to speak of, and it's only the falling temperatures and approaching rain that delineates fall in any meaningful photographic way, unless of course I photograph things like the hysteria you find in the supermarket the day before Jewish New Year.)
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For this week's Summer Stock post I'm focusing on food - festival food in particular. A few weeks ago we headed over to
Gunstock, one of New Hampshire's (smaller) ski areas, for the Rockin' Ribfest. The Rockin' part was a bit mediocre (though a face-painted, airbrush tattooed Maya danced her little feet off on the dance floor) but the Ribfest part was top quality all the way. We had a great time digging into those amazing ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, side dishes, and of course the sweet potato fries. After eating ourselves silly we spent the next few hours visiting all the various booths and attractions (many of which were free(!), something this city kid definitely did not expect and a really nice treat for parents not to have to limit their kids to just this or that because this or that is astronomically expensive at a festival), and then took the chairlift up to the top of the mountain for fabulous views of Lake Winnipesaukee in all its glory.
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I've said it before, but it bears repeating (mainly to myself) - if New England winters weren't so awful it would be very hard to tear myself away at the end of the summer...

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Ok, enough blather, it's the photos you're all here to see, so without further ado (click to enlarge any photo):

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Tell me you're not starving now. I know I sure am. I'm sorry I can't offer you actual food, but I can at least offer this food for the soul instead:
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I can't wait to see what you've all been up to this week - now that I'm back home in Israel I'll finally have time for some proper bloghopping again!
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You know the drill, here's the linkie, please leave your permalink, link to Around the Island, yadda yadda, you're all old pros at this by now so let's just skip right to the fun part and share those great Summer Stock photos:
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19 comments:

Ellie said...

I am on my way to empty the fridge! Love the shot of basket with yummy fries! There is something poetic in depiction of all that fat! If is so yummy - it can't be that bad :)

Mojo said...

Well given that I just dispatched the better part of a large pizza and a dozen wings, it's gonna take more than a few photos to make me hungry right now. Maybe later. But these would definitely do it.

We used to have an annual Ribfest at the local amphitheater here. Rib masters from all over the country would descend on Walnut Creek and set up all around the concourse outside the amphitheater proper. The smell alone would put 5 pounds on ya. The bands were usually what I lovingly call "Has Bands", which is to say that they had already seen their heyday and were heading for the pasture. Usually. But I did see Joe Walsh and Glen Frey there the year before The Eagles put their first reunion tour/album together. And I could have taken a family of 5 to that show for what one seat cost me the following summer to see them together with Henley, Schmitt and Felder. Then again, I was in the front row for that show (albeit off to one side of the stage) so $100 a head wasn't totally unreasonable. Okay, yes it was, but still. The next year or the year before (I forget which) REO Speedwagon was the headliner, and another year it was Little Feat with .38 Special. But it was the local/regional acts that really made things interesting. It was at the Ribfest that I discovered Bonepony who remains one of my favorite lesser-known bands to this day.

Anyway, I stuck to what I know for this week. Sand, surf and sunset.

kayerj said...

I'm running between events today, so I thought I'd just do double duty again, Photo hunt and Summer stock. Your food looks absolutely delicious

Julia Phillips Smith said...

I can sense my husband drooling at the sight of those ribs...

Your trip sounds like it was fuel for the soul. Glad to know you're back home safe and sound.

I'll miss Summer Stock Sunday. It's been a lot of fun. I already can't wait for it to start up again next year.

Anonymous said...

lovely captures!

Bim said...

Looks yummie! I've just complained about the passage of summer in my post :)

Jientje said...

I can't believe Summer is almost over again, and I sure as hell am going to miss Summer Stock Sunday. Thanks for linking me in Robin,so thoughtful of you! It was not up yet when I went to bed yesterday evening!
I had fun doing it, did not want to miss it, but playing on a Saturday makes it easier for me! Anyway, it looks like you had a great time, and the food looks delicious! You did make me hungry! Aperitif time overhere in Belgium! Have a wonderful Sunday Robin!

Leora said...

if New England winters weren't so awful
I was tempted to write a whole post correcting you on this matter. I miss New England winters! New Jersey is feh in the winter. In NH, you take out your cross-country skis and you enjoy even the coldest days in your warm clothes. Oh, does a cup of hot tea, coffee, cocoa or soup taste good after one of those ski hikes, which I haven't done in years.

It's OK in the summer, too, as long as you are near a lake or a stream.

Dina said...

Look at that food!
Something to remember.

I have just a scene of ice cream today.

Baila said...

Yum! New England is beautiful any time of the year. But freezing in the winter.

Melli said...

Oh my goodness! If those ribs tasted as good as they look then they were divine! I would indeed like some - right now - for breakfast! LOL! And that view! Oh, you are just convincing me MORE that I need to head north for a tour!

Joyce said...

I am such a big cooking and baking foodie so I enjoyed your post today. Go back a few posts and see my cooking school post. So much fun. I want to thank you for taking me on your beautiful vacation this summer. I had so much fun. We are trying to hold onto summer a bit longer so we are doing another trip down to Hilton Head island next weekend. I am glad that you are home safe and sound with your family now in Israel.
Joyce

Daryl said...

Fun to see that like marketplaces, festival food is the same in Israel as it is here in NewYawk

I am picturing ere of Roshashanah is like the day before a predicted snow or rain storm is expected here .. insanity at the grocery store ...

Robin said...

You definitely should Melli, it's simply gorgeous up there.

Daryl, this festival was in New England - festival food in Israel is actually very different. Definitely no pulled pork on the menu for starters :). The supermarket is probably even crazier than before a snowstorm, since not only are people grabbing necessities they're also preparing to cook multiple holiday meals for huge crowds. It's more like Black Friday I'm afraid, or the afternoon of Christmas Eve, in terms of overall chaos level.

Glennis said...

All that delicious looking food does make one hungry. Yum Yum.

Shannon said...

Yummy! I just ate dinner but I could eat again after those shots. Looks like so much fun!!

Patty Reiser said...

I know that I personally will have many Sunday's of Summer like weather well after summer has offically ended.
Perhaps before we celebrate summer, we could fall in love with fall. Perhaps title it, "Sunday's this Fall"
Just a thought. Wishing you a scent-sational day!
Patty

Kelley @ magnetoboldtoo said...

ommmm nommmmmm nommmmm

My hand just doesn't taste the same.

Those pics are delicious.

*licks screen*

imom said...

Great summer feasting photos! I LOVE sweet potato fries. I also love New England in the summer. I keep saying I need to visit in the the fall and/or winter, but never had.

I posted a summer stock photo and totally forgot to put my link.