Attendees sample products during 2015 Austin Fermentation Festival (Credit: Jo Ann Santangelo)
There’s no better place to hold a festival dedicated solely to the art of fermented foods than our festival-obsessed city known for its vibrant food scene. On Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., more than 40 vendors, brewers and artisans will converge on the grounds of Barr Mansion (10463 Sprinkle Road) with one thing in common: their love of fermentation. This will be the third annual Austin Fermentation Festival, presented by Texas Farmers’ Market with the support of sponsors Whole Foods Market and Barr Mansion.
Beyond tasting a variety of your favorite fermented foods from award-winning local vendors, while enjoying live music on an enchanting, historic property, you’ll be helping to secure the livelihood of Texas farmers. Event proceeds will benefit the Texas Farmers Market Farmer Emergency Fund, which offers financial assistance to farmers and ranchers in times of environmental, personal or other crises.
Austin Fermentation Festival Workshops
Workshop held during the 2015 Austin Fermentation Festival at Barr Mansion (Credit: Jo Ann Santangelo)
The educational event will offer 12 different workshops, covering topics such as the science behind sourdough, the sex appeal of sauerkraut, the role of probiotics in gut health and the process of turning honey into mead.
Kombucha lovers will have plenty of the fermented tea to sip while soaking up knowledge on how to make a “super alive” batch of kombucha from the folks at Buddha’s Brew. Hannah Crum of Kombucha Kamp will inform guests about a variety of nature’s healthy “sodas.”
Health enthusiasts will appreciate offerings that include the evolution of milk, using lacto-fermentation to make probiotic pickles and the medicinal properties of homemade yogurt.
Foodies will have the opportunity to learn tricks of the trade from some of Austin’s best chefs. David Norman of Easy Tiger will share secrets on crafting artisan bread, Charles Zhuo of Barley Swine will give an overview on how to make miso using local ingredients, and Kevin Fink of Emmer & Rye will demonstrate how to utilize cooking scraps for fermentation.
The Texas Wine Panel, moderated by Arianna Auber of Austin American-Statesman, will feature representatives from McPherson Cellars, William Chris Vineyards and Pedernales Cellars.
Austin Fermentation Festival Vendors
The family-friendly event appeals to all ages (Credit: Jo Ann Santangelo)
Vendor Tent
- Bernhardt’s Farm
- Boulanger Fermentations
- Chi’Lantro
- Dos Lunas Artisan Cheese
- Easy Tiger Bake Shop and Beer Garden
- Ferment’n
- Gray Gardens
- Hat Creek Provisions
- in.gredients
- Johnson’s Backyard Garden
- Kala’s Kuisine
- Kokonut Yogurt
- Kombucha Kamp & Culture Petting Zoo
- Kraut Source
- KTonic Kombucha
- Live Beverages
- Madge’s Food Company
- Métier Cook’s Supply
- Mother Culture
- Mudslide Stoneware
- Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts
- The Probiotic Jar
- SoCo Homebrew
- SRSLY chocolate
- Stellar Gourmet Foods, Inc
- Texas Hill Country Olive Co.
- Ultimate Pickle Jar
- The Vinegar Joint
- Yegua Creek Farms Pecan Orchard
Beer, Wine, Cider, Mead
- Texas Keeper Cider
- Meridian Hive Meadery
- William Chris Vineyards
- Pedernales Cellars
- McPherson Cellars
- Adelbert’s Brewery
- Hops & Grain Brewing
- Independence Brewing Co.
In addition to food and drink samples from a wide variety of local vendors, lunch will be available for purchase with a menu featuring local purveyors Bento + Picnic and Lick Honest Ice Creams.
Live Music
It wouldn’t be a proper Austin festival without live music! Festival-goers can enjoy the sounds of local bands, Mayeux and Broussard from 10-11 a.m. and The Muttonbusters from 1-2 p.m. on the Barr Mansion veranda.
Live music performance during the 2015 Austin Fermentation Festival (Credit: Jo Ann Santangelo)
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the event website.
@theAustinot wants to know:
Which event are you most excited about that’s taking place during the 2016 festival season?
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