Rockland Hosting Spice-Inspired Food Fest And Culinary Competition

The first-ever Smoke-N-Fire Food Fest will blend specialty foods from hot sauce and spice companies with dishes from local restaurants, produce from area farms, a culinary competition and spicy foods eating contests. A portion of ticket sales will benefit Baking Memories 4 Kids, a Valley Cottage based charity that allows terminally ill children a chance for a dream vacation. The event planned for foodies and families takes place at Provident Bank Park in Pomona on Saturday, Oct. 12

Smoke-N-Fire organizer Kendall Brenner said the event will include Rockland County’s first ever culinary competition with a $250 prize, The Best Spicy Dish in the Hudson Valley," open to high school and college culinary students who live in New York State and Hudson Valley chefs. The day’s events include live music, a fire juggler, face painting and children’s activities. Visitors can also test their spice tolerance in the “Take-the-Heat Pepper Eatin’ Contest” and “Ghost Pepper Cookie Eatin’ Contest.”

Brenner, a New City resident and local business owner, began planning the Smoke-N-Fire Food Fest in 2009 and hopes it will become an annual food festival offering smoked and fiery food samples, BBQ sauces, salsa rubs, artisanal chocolates, mustards, spices, and jams. 

“Food festivals that have a focus on hot and spicy are fun and exciting, and they have done very well in other areas,” said Brenner. “Next year the Smoke-N-Fire Food Fest will be a larger, two-day festival, with even more food, more entertainment and a BBQ competition.” 

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission costs $5 per person with free onsite parking. More information and updates on the Smoke-N-Fire Food Fest can be found online at www. facebook.com/NYSmokeNFire. Vendors can participate in hot sauce and sweet-n-spicy taste tests. Interested companies can download vendor registration materials at www.nyfoodfest.com.