We’re deep in the throes of summer which means there are loads
of opportunities to wine and dine outside (or indoors for those that prefer
that sweet relief of air conditioning). For this week’s Chow Hound, we have
compiled a by no means comprehensive list of local food events happening around
town this summer. Check out our online calendar for more.
Bar Bantam
(1 South Clinton Avenue) will host Patio Picnics on Thursday nights all summer
long from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. with different specials each night. On the menu for
Thursday, July 12, will be Bantam burgers and $6 Fisher’s Island Spiked
Lemonade. Grab a taco and a $6 margarita from the taco bar on July 19. July 26
will feature empanadas and $6 Caipirinhas. Daniel King will be providing live
entertainment each night. Search “Patio Picnic Summer Dinner Series” on Facebook.
The
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Unter Biergarten have teamed up to host a
Pop-Up Cantina on Saturday, July 14, at The Wilder Room (120 East Avenue) from
4 to 7 p.m., just prior to a performance by the RPO from the “Star Wars
Concert Series” at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Star Wars-themed food and
beverage specials will be available and entry is free for those that have a
ticket for the performance. If you’re not going to the performance and still
want to check it out, admission is $5. Come dressed as your favorite Star Wars
character for a night at the Mos Eisley Spaceport. Live long and prosper. Oh,
wait, that’s Star Trek…damn! I tried. Facebook event page.
Midtown Eats will continue its takeover of the Midtown Pedestrian Walkway (280 East Broad
Street) on Thursdays, July 12 and 26, and August 9 and 23. Restaurants
participating in the July 12 event include Tavern at Gibbs, Eat Greek, Park Ave
Paninoteca, and a handful of other local eateries. Lunch hours are from 11:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and dinner hours are from 5 to 9 p.m. Parking is free in the
Midtown Garage.
The City of
Rochester’s Food Truck Rodeo at the Rochester Public Market (280 North Union
Street) will take place on Wednesday, July 25 and Wednesday, August 29. The
July 25 date will feature music from Something Else and hordes of local food
trucks to stuff your face from. There’s even a free shuttle that picks up at
the East End Garage and drops you at the market. The first shuttle leaves the
East End Garage at 5:30 p.m. and the last one leaves the Public Market at 9:30
p.m. More information at cityofrochester.gov/foodtruckrodeo.
The Monroe
County Farm Bureau has teamed up with the Monroe County Soil and Water
Conservation District and the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County to
present the annual “Farm to Table Dinner: Celebrate Agriculture,” taking place
on Sunday, August 12, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Clubhouse at Durand Eastman Park.
It’s a celebration of local produce prepared by local chefs, and proceeds from
the event will support the Monroe County Farm Bureau scholarship fund and
support the promotion and education of agriculture in the community. Tickets
are $25 per person in advance and $30 at the door and can be purchased at monroecountyfarmbureauny.org.
Chow Down Downtown will take place on Wednesday, August 22,
from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Church Street between State and Fitzhugh Streets.
This City of Rochester event encourages downtown workers to unchain themselves
from their desks and grab some lunch for a variety of local food trucks, or to patronize
a downtown restaurant. The Meatball Truck, Effortlessly Healthy, and Rob’s
Kabobs are just a few of the trucks that will be parked along Church Street,
which will be closed for traffic during the event. Visit cityofrochester.gov/chowdown for more
information.
Chow Hound is a food and restaurant news column. Do
you have a tip? Send it to food@rochester-citynews.com.
This article appears in Jul 11-17, 2018.
