Off We Go!

Saturday, we were very excited to attend the first ever vegetarian food festival in Arizona. It was a little pricey, $20 ahead of time/$25 at the entrance, but we wanted to support the event so that it would return. It was made more palatable when we ran across a Groupon for $12. Once in, it was nice to see a rather large crowd.

There was a tent with food-making demonstrations. There was also another tent for general speakers. Then there was one produce stand, Crooked Sky Farms, with some really nice looking veggies. It actually smelled good to stand outside their display.

The rest of the vendors were sort of a mishmash. We were a little disappointed in the amount of food vendors there and who they were, but could understand it - it's the first year for Pete's sake. But we were really disappointed with the long, slow moving lines. Just for samples! At every single tent. Who the heck stands in line for samples? Come out from behind the tents and hand stuff out! Get more people to cook/divvy out the food. Then we'll stand in line to buy the darn stuff.  Or if you're going to have it be a food tasting, then set out lots and lots of samples and let people graze throughout the whole festival (Key West did a pretty good version of this - and a higher entry fee would then be warranted).

You're pretty much looking at lines here:

Look at this line for pretzels. I love me a soft pretzel and I didn't want to stand in this line. Michael felt that way about the nondairy "sorbetto."

This line (below) was for some Indian food. The food looked really good, but we figured we could drive to the restaurant and eat there in the time it would take to get to the front of the line here (and we will). Plus, there was no guarantee that what you wanted would still be available. The taco truck had several interesting food items x'd out by 1pm. The one thing we did stand in line for had run out of stuff in their 1st half hour! And the tiny sample we got wasn't great.

I think they have some kinks to work out, but there were a lot of patient (and hungry) people who participated. Hopefully it was profitable for the sponsors and vendors so they'll come back and get others to join next time. You have to start somewhere. Eliminate the endless lines and you've got a winner.

We ended up at Chipotles. We were hungry and didn't want to stand in line. Now, we've never been to a Chipotle. We very rarely go to fast food restaurants, but over the years, I've heard a lot of good things about that restaurant chain and the philosophy behind it. More recently, I read about some shredded tofu that even meat eaters were eating from their menu. So that's what we got.

It was good. Very, very filling. Burp. It's nice to know it's an option if we ever end up on a road trip and get hungry. I'd rather support a locally-owned vegetarian restaurant, but if a lot of people order these types of things from the bigger players, which are sometimes more convenient, then restaurants/fast food places will put similar creative options on their menus. That's a win in my mind. Note to McDonalds and Burger King (etc.) - your veggie burgers are failures, not because there isn't a market for them but because they taste bad. If you want that market share (and it's fine if you don't), then step it up! Otherwise, don't bother. We won't starve without you.

Speaking of road trips - we do have a trip coming up. Only it's not via road. It's via 2 planes and 2 ferries. Michael got the job! We will be moving to the British Virgin Islands. Yippee! Yahoo!

Yes I do want you to pay me to go to the BVIs! Where do I sign?

Things now get complicated. It will take a couple of months to deal with work permit issues, and I will lag behind as we confirm it's all a good fit. That'll give me time to tie up things with my long-time and very understanding client (or grab work to take with me). It's all very exciting! We really wanted to get back to the Caribbean, so yay to our friends who alerted us to this opportunity. Living in the islands is not for everyone (I'm hoping to complete my second book that gives the low-down on what it is like), but for us, it feels like home. There are still some hiking days in Arizona left though! Assuming it doesn't snow again...