Blue Moon Saloon is the fitting location for the first ever Bluesberry Festival on July 16.
Blue Moon Saloon is the fitting location for the first ever Bluesberry Festival on July 16.
Doors open at 5 p.m. that Saturday to celebrate the bluest of berries, the local farmers who grow them and the local restaurants that use them. The Bluesberry Festival is the brainchild of Emily Neustrom of Jubilee Farms and was created to encourage people to have a more "farm-to-table" attitude. Restaurants who already subscribe to that notion will be there participating in a blueberry cook-off and attendees can vote on the winner. Pamplona Tapas Bar, Jolie's Bistro, French Press and Saint Street Inn will all be competing for the first even Blueberry Crown of Louisiana, and I hope that crown is exactly what I'm thinking it is. From 6:30-8 p.m. you can taste each restaurants' creations and pick your favorite.
While you are munching, a front porch blues jam will be held so you can support local musicians, too. The king and/or queen of the blueberry cook-off will be announced at 9 p.m., just before blues greats Henry Gray and the Cats take the main stage.
A portion of the proceeds from Bluesberry Fest go to Acadiana Food Circle. This is a new organization that is mapping out all the local farms and food producers and creating a website for easy reference as well as maps to hand out to find them.
Be sure and wear blue this day, too. Emily says there will be a blue outfit competition and the winner will get something. Could it be another blueberry crown? Makes the whole expression "I'll eat my hat" that much more likely to happen.