Thunderstorms move Summer Food Fest indoors

The Summer Food Fest was moved indoors for the first time in its six-year history, but thunderstorms did not deter many people who wanted to sample local cuisines while supporting the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce and Toys for Joy.

Bonnie Brubakken, who was at the Summer Food Fest with several other fellow members of the Blaine Festival Committee, gets a slice of Jet's Pizza from Sebastian Wilson. Photos by Eric Hagen

"I'm glad they didn't cancel it. There's still good food," said Becky Harrison, of Coon Rapids.

Lori Higgins, president of the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce, said her office was closely watching the weather forecast in the days leading up to June 14. Because this event takes about eight months to plan, she did not think they could have just moved it to another date since many people had already bought tickets in advance and restaurants had employees and food ready to go.

Luckily for the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce, Sticks and Stones Restaurant at the Icehouse had just completed renovation of the old Gabe's Rinkside space in Fogerty Arena over Memorial Day weekend. And this arena is in Aquatore Park where the Summer Food Fest has always been held, so guests did not have to travel any farther.

So on the day of the event, Higgins made the call that the event would be held indoors.

"We've been blessed the last five years to have good weather," Higgins said. "This year just wasn't our year for weather."

Some of the food vendors were in the concourse next to the Fogerty Arena hockey rink, but most were in Sticks and Stones Restaurant overlooking the curling rinks that Olympic athletes train on, sitting around the bar or in the banquet rooms.

John Benton, director of curling operations for the Four Seasons Curling Club at Fogerty Arena, said Sticks and Stones was happy to help. This non-profit restaurant funds operational costs of the arena and it was already slated to be one of the two dozen vendors at this year's Summer Food Fest.

"The chamber (of commerce) has been good to us ever since we've opened," Benton said. "It won't hurt with our grand opening being next week, but that's not why we did it."

[email protected]

Thankfully for the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce, Fogerty Arena and the new Sticks and Stones Restaurant at the Icehouse were able to host the sixth annual Summer Food Fest on June 14 when strong thunderstorms popped up.
Source: Thunderstorms move Summer Food Fest indoors