PORT TOWNSEND — Food enthusiasts can partake of artisan foods and beverages Saturday and Sunday during the second annual Port Townsend Artisan Food Festival.
Tastings, classes, demonstrations and an all-day food tour are planned.
“Eat, Drink, Learn, Make” is the theme of the festival, which will take food festival participants to creameries, wineries, farms and restaurants in search of the best artisan meal ingredients and sources in East Jefferson County.
The area has a few surprises for those who routinely shop at the big Seattle farmers markets, said Will O’Donnell, director of Jefferson County Farmers Markets.
“We have one of the greatest concentrations of artisan food producers in the state,” O’Donnell said.
At the source
Many of those producers sell their goods at the big markets, he said, but those who appreciate good food can do even better at the source.
“Jefferson County is like Washington state’s own little Vermont; we have more cheese makers and cider makers than we know what to do with,” he said.
Farmers market
The Port Townsend Farmers Market, now in its 23rd year, is hosting the festival in partnership with Seattle-based Sasquatch Books and Cedar Root Folk School.
The market, which is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday on Tyler Street between Lawrence and Clay streets, will offer an extra location in front of the Port Townsend Community Center at 620 Tyler St. for special guest vendors, including a brand-new cheese maker, Chimacum Valley Dairy.
Jennifer Adler, a nutritionist, whole foods advocate and author of Passionate Nutrition, will sign books at the market while she talks about how to work more foraged foods into a healthy diet.
Cedar Root Folk School will host experiential, food-related classes all day Saturday at the Port Townsend Community Center.
All classes are $20 per person
Preregistration is preferred at www.cedarrootfolkschool.org, but if space permits, last-minute registrations will be accepted at the door.
Classes lacking sufficient preregistrations may be canceled, O’Donnell said.
■ 9:30 a.m. — “Hard Cider Demo” by Finnriver Farm & Cidery.
■ 10:45 a.m. — “The Art of Pickling” by Mama’s Harvest’s Kayla Boyd.
■ Noon — “Cheese and Yogurt Basics” by Rachael Van Laanen, co-owner of Mystery Bay Farm.
■ 1:15 p.m. — “Kimchi and Fermented Foods” by Marko Colby of Midori Farm.
■ 3:45 p.m. — “Culinary Herbology” by chef Arran Stark.
Sunday tours
On Sunday, the free, self-guided Artisan Food Tour will feature 10 food, cider and wine producers.
Maps to the tour locations will be available at Saturday’s festival locations.
Tour locations are:
■ Port Townsend Food Co-op, 414 Kearney St., Port Townsend; opens at 8 a.m.
■ Mt. Townsend Creamery, 338 Sherman St.; tours on the hour between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
■ Lullaby Winery, 274 Otto St., Suite S, Port Townsend; tasting room open from noon to 5 p.m.
■ Alpenfire Cider, 220 Pocket Lane, Port Townsend; tasting room open from noon to 5 p.m.
■ SpringRain Farm and Orchards, 187 Covington Drive, Chimacum; tours on the hour between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
■ Chimacum Corner Farmstand, 9122 Rhody Drive, Chimacum; open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
■ Finnriver Farm and Cidery, 142 Barn Swallow Road, Chimacum; live music and tasting room from noon to 5 p.m.
■ Marrowstone Vineyards, 423 Meade Road, Nordland; tasting room open from noon to 5 p.m.
■ Eaglemount Wine and Cider, 2350 Eaglemount Road, Port Townsend; tasting room open from noon to 5 p.m.
■ Hama Hama Seafood, U.S. Highway 101 in Lilliwaup; fresh shellfish and tastings.
More information on the festival can be found at www.porttownsendartisanfoodfest.com.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
