St. Augustine, Fla. (March 27) – The annual Hastings Cabbage, Potato and Bacon Festival is back and better than ever! Held in the heart of downtown Hastings, Florida, the Festival celebrates the town’s agricultural roots through creativity and good, old-fashioned fun.
Experience the delicious flavors of Hastings with four distinct culinary events!
Embark on an exploration of cabbage, potato and bacon from a culinary perspective with host Chef Hari Pulapaka. Chef is a four-time James Beard Best Chef semi-finalist, co-founder of award-winning Deland restaurant, Cress, and owner of the Global Cooking School.
On Saturday, April 27, Chef Pulapaka will be joined by Chef Art Smith for a farm-to-table cooking demonstration. Chef Smith is a two-time James Beard Foundation award winner, a sixth-generation Floridian, and a regular on culinary food shows like the “Today” show, “BBQ Pitmasters,” and “Top Chef Masters.” He is the executive chef of six restaurants and runs two non-profits.
Then, St. Augustine Chef Michael Lugo of Viva Hospitality comes to the stage. Chef Lugo is the owner and executive chef of three lauded local restaurants: Michael’s, Pesca Vilano, and La Nouvelle.
Later in the day, Farm to Diner, an intimate look at the farm-to-table journey through conversations includes a panel of popular local chefs and the area’s farmers who grow and nurture the produce.
In the evening, festival-goers can sample an array of dishes prepared by popular the chefs, each will craft their own plate using cabbage, potatoes, and bacon. www.HastingsFL.org/meet-the-chefs.
Sunday features the prestigious American Culinary Federation (ACF) Sanctioned Cooking Competition, where three accomplished chefs will showcase their skill and artistry using any or all of the three main ingredients. With all the flash and sizzle of televised cooking competitions, these chefs will race against the clock and each other to impress the judges.
The Spud Run and Cabbage Crawl Fun Run will also take place on Saturday, along with the Great Hastings Mow Down Lawn Mower Races, followed by the Mow Down Parade.
The Festival also features the Miss Potato Queen Beauty Pageant as well as an impressive Artists Makers Market and fresh foods, from local vendors and plenty of live music for all to enjoy.
Don’t miss this hometown festival that celebrates the impactful contributions of the humble cabbage, potato, and bacon. Plan your trip to Florida’s Historic Coast with our helpful trip planner.
For more information, contact: Barbara Golden, Communications Manager, BGolden@FloridasHistoricCoast.com 904-669-8142 (cell)
Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. For advance travel information, call 1.800.653.2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com. Check us out on social media Instagram @FloridasHistoricCoast; @viajastaugustine; Facebook.com/OfficialStAugustine, and Facebook.com/ViajaStAugustine and Twitter @FlHistoricCoast
