Today’s meal of choice at the Chew Chew Festival was lunch. It was a muggy, overcast day. A bank of rainclouds blocked the view of the Adirondacks across Lake Champlain, so I knew rain was on the way. I decided not to waste a lot of time dilly-dallying. I got there, grabbed some more chow, and left. Heard a little good music while I was there, caught up with a woman I used to work with, and chatted with a friend on my cell. Got sprinkled on during the walk back to my car. Left with a very satisfied stomach again.

First item on today’s menu was the Vietnamese BBQ pork (3 balls of meat on a skewer) dipped in sweet chili sauce at M-Saigon (for 4 tokens). They were quite tasty, but I can’t describe the flavors to you, since I pretty much inhaled them. I picked up a menu for M-Saigon which is actually a noodle house (it seems a little strange they didn’t offer any noodle dishes at the festival) and the prices are fantastic. No wonder I love ethnic food. It warms my cheap little heart. They have some fabulous-looking menu items featuring lemongrass (chicken, pork, beef and tofu), served with vermicelli noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumbers, and other cool things. I need to get myself there for dinner some night.

Next up was the item incorrectly named “crab cakes” at Tilley’s Cafe. I know what the “s” at the end of a word means–plural. And I know what a crab cake looks like. What I got was singular, not plural, and it was not a cake, it was a little round ball of Maryland crab about the size of one of the balls of BBQ pork that M-Saigon provided, with a tiny dab of tasty dipping sauce. It cost 4 tokens. Was it delicious? Absolutely. Was it worth 4 tokens? Absolutely not. In addition, it was a little tricky as finger food, since it was loosely held together and started to fall apart before I could finish it. However, that’s not to say I won’t give the restaurant a try one of these days. Their menu looks pretty good.

Moving right along, I returned to Bueno Y Sano (which is quickly becoming one of my favorite restaurants based solely on its showing of items at the Chew Chew Festival) for their 3rd menu item, the Thai chicken wrap, which consisted of chicken, rice and cabbage with a Thai peanut sauce wrapped up in a cute little tortilla. I’d have preferred if it had more vegetables and less rice, but overall, it was really good. The Thai peanut sauce was what really made it. That cost a very reasonable 3 tokens. Bueno Y Sano apparently means “good and healthy”, and I’d have to say the name fits.

I was down to my final 5 tokens. I didn’t want to purchase more tokens, but I was torn between 2 dessert items and more zucchini fries. I decided to heck with another round of zucchini fries. It was hot, and I needed something cool. I bought a soft, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth coconut gelato to die for from Leonardo’s Italian Gelato (for 3 tokens). Leonardo’s is available at many area restaurants and grocery stores (though I’ve never tried it until today–had I known what I was missing….). I gave up my last 2 tokens for an apple cider donut from Sam Mazza’s Farm Stand. I wrapped it up and took it with me, as it was starting to sprinkle and I wanted to get out of there before I got soaking wet. I ate it later, at home. I could really taste the apple cider. And as a bonus, it was rolled in sugar. Another solid menu item.

Sadly, I was unable to get a lemonade at the Dismas House stand this year. I just couldn’t stretch my tokens. I understand from a friend who worked the booth that the lemonade costs 4 tokens now, which seems quite high, until you learn the reason: a case of lemons went from $13 (or was it $30?) last year to $75 this year!!!! OUCH. And they must go through many, many cases of lemons to make the lemonade at the Chew Chew. I wonder if they’ll be able to keep up the tradition next year if prices continue like this. It also makes me feel guilty now because whenever I go out to eat, I drink water with lemon, which doesn’t cost me anything, but it obviously costs the restaurant something. Sigh. The cost of living in the U.S. these days.

So there you have it, my review of this year’s Chew Chew Festival. Those of you currently in Burlington still have tomorrow (Sunday) to enjoy it. And maybe those of you who aren’t will consider in the future that the last weekend in June is a great time to be in Burlington, Vermont. Cheers!