#4 Horseradish Festival, Collinsville, IL, June 7, 2009

Horseradish Festival - Collinsville, IL - June 7, 2009



A giant floating horseradish welcomes everyone to the festival.






















I entered the Horseradish Festival amateur recipe contest. On the right is my entry, a horseradish infused cold shrimp with a honey/horseradish sauce (The recipe is posted on the left side of the web page). The judging was intense.



I somehow managed to win 1st place, and the blue ribbon. I received a medal and even a $100 savings bond (valued at $50). I am now the reigning 2009 International Horseradish Festival Recipe Contest winner and no one can ever take that away. I guess it could be compared to winning the World Series.







Surprisingly there weren't many horseradish themed food items at the fair, but I was able to find some horseradish ice cream. I think it could have been better, but it tasted like someone dumped a jar of prepared horseradish into vanilla ice cream. For it essentially being spicy ice cream, it was more than palpable and strangely addictive








Video of the week. If "Under the Boardwalk" by the Drifters doesn't make you want to go out to a festival yourself, then I don't know what will.

The International Horseradish Festival is exactly what a food festival should be. If you're wondering why there is a horseradish festival in Collinsville, IL, apparently 80% of the horseradish consumed in the nation is grown in Collinsville, IL! At least that is what the emcee said in between band sets. (Edit: According to the in-ter-net that number is closer to 67%, but still strange and impressive).

Although the recipe contest was definitely the highlight for me (I am now 1-0 in recipe contests), there was also a horseradish root toss, root golf, root sacking, and of course Little Ms. Horseradish. I was surprised there weren't more horseradish related food items, but that didn't matter after I had my gyro (Sadly, I did put this in their suggestion box).

In fact, I might set up a booth next year and sell my now award winning horseradish shrimp. This recipe was a classic example of my ability to over-think things. I made at least 6 different versions, submitted 3 different recipes (including 1 day of), and went through a pound of shrimp in trials (not a horrible problem). There were four other entries in the recipe contest, and they shared their recipes with me including: 1) Horseradish Deviled Eggs, 2) Horseradish infused Dill Pickles, 3) Horseradish and Shrimp Gazpacho, and 4) Horseradish salad (described as all types of salad combined). Deviled eggs came in second and the dill pickles took 3rd. The application called for 10 portions for 10 judges, but there were only 3 judges so I had plenty to share with the crowd (yes there was a crowd gathered to watch). In fact all 3 judges came back for seconds after the awards ceremony, even though one told me that she didn't care for shrimp. I will try to post the blue ribbon recipe here on Wednesday, and maybe make it a weekly addition.

I also competed in the root toss and threw a horseradish root (underhanded only) 42 feet, but found out the leader was well over 60. I was also disappointed to find out that the root sacking competition (to see who can stuff more horseradish root into a burlap sack) was restricted for kids 12 and under. I also had video of an interpretive dance from Heavenly Rhythms Dance Team, but felt too creepy to post it.

I am so glad to have gone to this festival after yesterday's debacle. It's just so refreshing to have some good old-fashioned wholesome fun outdoors and away from home. It's something I really need right now, and am truly enjoying. I'm also finding that I'm doing things I've never done before at these festivals, and that may be the best part of all. Now all that's left today is to figure out whether to hang my framed medal at home or in the office.

(UPDATE: Here is the official press release in the St. Louis Post Dispatch of the winners)

#3 Testicle Festival, Olean,MO, June 6, 2009

Testicle Festival in Olean, MO June 6, 2009












As I quickly realized, this was more of a biker rally than a true food fest. In the picture on the right you can make out the small white trailer they were selling the Turkey Fries from. The rest is the line.













After an hour and ten minutes I approached what is affectionately referred to as the "Nut Hut". On the right the star of the show, Turkey Fries. Which were actually better with Dijon Mustard?



I was skeptical at best.











Video of the week. This band sort of sums up the crowd and feel of this festival. This is a cover of Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried". "Turned 21 in prison doing life without parole. No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried. Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied. That leaves only me to blame 'cause Mama tried".


I would like to start by thanking my 12 loyal readers for voting, and a special thanks to Anne for suggesting this fest. An extra special thanks to the 6 that had complete disregard for my well-being. I don't get scared easily but I truly wondered just what the heck I had gotten myself into with this one.

Not everyone was too bad, as I did speak to someone who called himself "Slim Shady" (he had a tattoo of himself with that nickname on his arm). He told me about how just 15 years ago all of the motorcycle gangs there wouldn't have been able to get together like this without "someone taking issue". After that I spoke with the local 2 man police department. Apparently the town of Olean only has about 200 residents (a fact the policeman said he had to verify by reading the city sign next time he leaves town).

If you actually read last week's write-up on Strawberry Festival, Testicle Fest was quite the opposite. They only had a few food trailers and people selling garage sale type wares. There was even a person selling hot dogs from their crock pot. All the warning signs were there: no email when I talked to the organizer on the phone, no website for the event, and the ever increasing number of bikers leaving as I was arriving. In fact I had to stop for directions at a gas station, and a patron's response was, "go down this road, take a right at the blinking yellow light and you'll find the crazies". Apparently there is also an advantage of having one road into town, as they stopped every car before town in order to charge a $5 admission charge for the event.

I have never eaten testicles before, and I guess I can check that off. They were crispy and pleasant at first, then they took on a chewy texture, then it was a little irony and gamey. Sorry. As I received my order, they announced there were only 50 orders left and there were hundreds of people behind me in the 2 block long line. I checked out the band, ate a funnel cake, and tried not to make too much eye contact (hence the lack of true crowd pictures). I got out of there like a bat out of hell, as the policeman told me there usually wasn't any trouble 'til after sundown. I can't wait until tomorrow for a family friendly horseradish festival; wish me luck in the recipe contest. You live, you learn, and you don't go back to Testicle Festival next year.