GastroFest 2015

Are you hungry? It's the festival you've been waiting for! March 21, in Hemming Park, Downtown, GastroJax brings you Gastrofest 2015, an all-day celebration of the culinary world of Northeast Florida. Enjoy FREE entry with Tasting Tickets and all-inclusive Tasting Passes available for purchase. *Experience Jax Culinary Culture* Tastings from local restaurants • Pairings with local beer and spirits • Food, cocktail, and home brew contests • Local foods marketplace • Chef demos • Cookbook authors • Expert speakers • Local musicians • Kids activities We'll update you as we add events and vendors. For more information or details and the full vendor list, please visit our website: http://www.gastrofest.com We, at GastroJax, have curated some truly great culinary experiences, here are the details so far: • A GastroFest 2015 Kick-Off Porch Party at Sweet Pete's Candy, the night before on Friday, March 20th. • 2 Grand Tasting Tents featuring dishes from local restaurants and pairings with local beer and spirits • A local food goods marketplace throughout Hemming Park • Chef demos on the Sea Best Seafood Cooking Stage • GastroFest 2015 Craft Cocktail Contest at The Candy Apple Cafe & Cocktails • Local cookbooks & author signings at Chamblin's Uptown • Informative talks, films, and more at MOCA Jacksonville *Special Events Tent* • 2:45-3:45 p.m. & 6:45-7:45 p.m. The Beer:30 Homebrew Contest: The BeerApostle hosts this homebrew competition. It's first come, first serve! Taste what locals have been brewing and vote for your favorite beer. A People's Choice and Judges Choice Award will be announced on the Mainstage at 8:15 p.m. • 5:30 p.m. GastroFest Vegan Cheese & Wine Flight with SunRAWise! (ticketed $17, limited available on eventbrite) Taste vegan certified wines and locally crafted local cheese from Sunrawise. • 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Florida Wines from San Sebastian Winery Try our local wines and get to know San Sebastian Winery. *Workshops at Down The Rabbit Hole on Monroe Street* • 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. The Gospel of Brew: The Beer Apostle, Brian Little, and James Moriarty of Veterans United Craft Brewery talk beer, so you too can get your start as a proud home brewer. • 3:30 p.m. Real Bread Workshop: Community Loaves presents a workshop on the mysteries of sourdough bread-making, and why sometimes, the old ways are the most delicious ways! *Local Musicians on the Music Stage* • Cougar Barrel • Dr Sirbrother • East China Sea • JacksonVegas • Tambor • Tough Junkie • Tomboi • Tropic Of Cancer *Kids Activities* • A kids's area will be in and around Visit Jacksonville from 11am-4:30 p.m on Laura Street. Inside Visit Jacksonville we have bees under glass from the Jacksonville Beekeepers Association and fun “food” art stations from Melrose Avenue Preschool. Outside, near Visit Jacksonville on Laura street we'll also have the Duval County Extension Office on-site, with materials to make radish necklaces, start seedlings in toilet paper rolls and information on growing herbs in North Florida. Kids will see the chickens from urban chicken farmers, River City Chicks. You can also take the kids inside the MOCA theater, from 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. We're featuring a free showing of educational shorts from TedEd on topics such as the science of spicy, the chemistry of cookies, and why oil and water don't mix. We don't want to give it all away, but here's a taste of the vendors who will be bringing your taste-buds joy on March 21st! M Shack Bistro Aix 29 South Fresh Jax Folk & Food Corner Taco Blue Bamboo Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails ...and many more! GastroFest is presented by GastroJax Inc., a non-profit organization created to foster and preserve local cuisine by educating the public about local food and beverage sources, local restaurants, and North Florida dishes.