Third Annual Grafton Food Festival Celebrates Local Taste of Place

    GRAFTON, VT, July 02, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Grafton Inn has cooked up a delicious day for the third annual Grafton Food Festival in historic Grafton Village. The festival, scheduled for July 11, will feature tastings of local products, cooking demonstrations, and children's activities, culminating with a five-course dinner prepared by celebrity guest Chef Mary Ann Esposito of the PBS series Ciao Italia. Featuring the unique cuisine of more than 20 local vendors, the festival and dinner will highlight the culinary traditions of southern Vermont.

"Over the past two years, this festival has grown into a spectacular event for food lovers and locavores to eat, drink, and celebrate," said Angela Comstock, Innkeeper of the Grafton Inn. "Having Chef Mary Ann Esposito here to design a delicious five-course dinner will make the festival a must-taste event."

Festival-goers will enjoy tastings of the local vegetables, meats, cheeses, and baked goods, plus a cooking demonstration with Jean Kerr, editor of Northeast Flavor magazine. At noon, kids will have a chance to showcase their talent in the free children's culinary competition. Chef Esposito, whose cooking show, Ciao Italia, will soon begin its 25th season, will also give a demonstration followed by a cookbook signing.

The five-course dinner, prepared by the Grafton Inn's Executive Chef Cal Hingston and Guest Chef Mary Ann Esposito, caps the festivities on Saturday evening. The specially crafted menu includes a mouth-watering selection of Italian and American classics, including Chef Esposito's signature Torchio Pasta with Uncooked Cherry Tomato Sauce & Garden Herbs. Two seating times will be held at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and reservations are required. Tickets for the dinner are sold separately from festival passes for $50 per person.

Tickets for the festival cost $10 and can be bought the day of at the festival, and kids under 12 are free. A portion of the proceeds from the festival will support culinary scholarships for Vermont high school students through The Windham Foundation.

Attendees are invited to extend the festival with The Grafton Inn's specially designed Food Festival lodging package. The package includes two nights lodging on July 10 and 11 with full country breakfasts, entry for two to the Grafton Food Festival, and a Grafton Food Festival sponsor goodie basket, priced at $399 for two people.

For more information about the food festival and lodging package visit http://graftonfoodfestival.com/ or call 802-234-8407. To reserve a seat at the dinner, call 802-843-2231.

About the Grafton Inn

The Grafton Inn, located in picturesque Grafton, Vermont, offers accommodations in guestrooms, suites and vacation homes in the historic Old Tavern building and other properties in Grafton. As part of The Windham Foundation, the Inn helps support the foundation's mission of promoting vitality in rural Vermont communities. http://www.graftoninnvermont.com/

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