Tasting At The Chew Chew Festival In Burlington

[Henry]

Well, I just watched Ben Kennedy from Fox 44 News tasting all of these goodies down at the Chew Chew Festival in Burlington.  This is the last year they are having it since it loses money every year.  He tried a bunch of different foods and rated them 1 to 5 - Heck!!  I could do that.

[Henry]

Friday evening's summer storm forced an evacuation of the Chew Chew Festival.

Burlington Firefighters asked everyone at the city's Chew Chew festival to leave and get inside when the storm became severe. Evacuating during a severe storm isn't only the policy for the Chew Chew festival but firefighters say they have a plan in place for any outdoor event.

For more, click on the following link:

http://www.fox44.net/global/story.asp?s=10604413

[mirjo]

I wonder when the chew chew fest begn losing $$? Why continue for nearly 25 years if it's a bust??? Is it me or does that seem stupid? Is it the same theory as: It hurts to hit my head against the wall, but I don't notice the pain in my back as much?! Good grief.

[edakrupp]

I can see why they loose money. The year, the one and only year i went, they served everything you could get at any decent fair- fried, fried fried. It was a chew Spew event. I'm sorry but if you bill your self as a culinary event, it should at least have foods that are adventuresome, creative, and inspiring. Don't get me wrong I love a great burger and fries and corn dogs are my secret favorite and don't even get me started on french fies, onion rings and pretzels!, but as a culinary fete,  I would expect something , oh I don't know.. different.

[Loctavious]

I agree - I haven't been to the Chew Chew Fest in at least 6-7 years.  The last time i went, was when it appeared as though they started just offering 1 or 2 items per vendor - and like edakrupp said, they weren't culinary explorations - more like caterign to the fast-food niche.  Same thing with the brewer's fest.  They change stuff around and charge more money it seems every year.  In years past, they would give you a pint glass with your admission price, and it was reasonable.  Suddenly they strted charging more and giving less ( as in tokens and the size of the free glass - i believe it got down to an 8 oz joke of a glass.

There's an old saying, " don't mess with perfection"  or even better " if ain't broke, don't fix it."

[trussell]

Actually Loctavious, I believe it's about a 2 or 3 oz glass at the Brewer's Festival now.  And last time I checked, you got 10 tokens (but could always buy more!).  Thankfully, I don't go for volume, but rather just to sample the offerings.

[Loctavious]

I believe that is WHY they reduced the glass size and cracked down on vendors fillign them up too much.  That's even worse - 2-3 oz glass - i do beleive they tried other sizes - maybe the vendors couldn't be trusted?  whatever the reason - whether poor attendance or safety concerns ( probably due to a few idiots who went to just imbibe) the good thing i remembered goign to way back when is pretty much gone.  All that hassel just to taste test........... better to sign-up for one of the local tour companies who take folks on tours of selected breweries aroudn the state.  I think i saw it adveritsed that they could do 7-8 a day depending on which ones.  Apparently there was 14 micro breweries as of the end of last year and i hear there's even more that were in the start-up phase.  Vt has the most breweries per capita in the US.  We love out beer i guess.

[Sue W.]

My kids ( daughter & son-in-law) love the Chew Chew Fest & the Brewfest. They often invited friends from their college days up to attend with them. I think the are nice events for folks to attend, if they chews ( choose)!  It sounded like there was a nice variety of ethnic offerings this year.