Meandering among the quaint and inviting booths of the annual “Taste of Bethesda” food festival this past Saturday, visitors were struck by the vibrancy of the local culinary community.
Each year, restaurants from the local area set up booths in Woodmont Triangle — within a stone’s throw of the Bethesda Metro stop — to try to seduce passersby with their mouth-watering array of foodstuffs. For $20, one was able to purchase 16 tickets; food dishes cost one to four tickets each. In the end, one could eat what would amount to $10 to $15 worth of food at a regular restaurant, but the atmosphere and variety more than made up for the cost.
Upon entering the Triangle, a myriad of delectable aromas wafted toward the visitors. Every conceivable variety of delicious food was well represented within a few square blocks. Music also played a part in the festival, as there was a live band for every block. The Texas Chainsaw Horns laid down some funk, blasting a sassy southern groove, while The Village Jazz Band, whose drummer, at about 50, looked half as old as the next-youngest member, wowed the crowd with some classic Dixie jazz riffs. Meanwhile, amongst all of the good-natured hullabaloo, patrons indulged their lust for sustenance, trying samples and small meals from every vendor. The festival’s organizers had undergone a conspicuous effort to make the affair family-friendly. Strollers were everywhere, and there were almost as many dogs as there were little children. It was a crowded affair, with lines from the most popular booths snaking far into the beautiful blue horizon.
There was also much eating to command attention, as those in attendance were there to sample (and most seemed not to be wasting any time). One of the fine cuisines available to be sampled was from Devino’s. Their steak sandwich was red and juicy, rare and tender; it was just the way steak should be. It bested the decent but unconvincing and unexceptional sandwich from South Street Steaks. In the category of Japanese food, Hanaro stood out with their crispy dumplings and sashimi, complimented beautifully by a spritz or two of potent Yuzu sauce.
A number of Mexican restaurants had also set up shop, though there were none that were particularly exceptional (meaning no better than what you can get at Chipotle). California Tortilla — one of the bunch — was cheap and gimmicky, but not unsatisfying. There wasn’t much pizza at the festival, but one could manage to snag a monster slice from Mama Lucia’s, whose owners stood chatting with regulars and newfound fans alike. It was one of the better pizzas in the local area, almost sweet from the fresh tomatoes and heartily improved with a few vigorous shakes of hot red pepper.
Vegetarian options abounded at the Bethesda festival as well. Indian food was represented perhaps more than any other type of cuisine, and the best item in that category was the vegetable samosa from the restaurant Passage to India. It came with chickpeas in a sweet sauce with a tangy aftertaste that warmed the mouth. There was even an establishment called Flaxella serving “oat drinks” and other such vegan-friendly nibblings. How a restaurant could comprise an entire menu of dishes (much less drinks) made out of flaxseed seemed pretty mystifying, but in such affairs it’s usually best not to ask many questions. It was just one of the enchanting surprises present that afternoon.
You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
