To me, not having an admission fee might be a key part of the festival’s success. Since I didn’t shell out $50 or $75 to attend (like for the Slow Food Taste Pavillions), I wasn’t stressed by a relentless push to “get my money’s worth”, and therefore a long line at this cart or that cart wasn’t a big deal. If I didn’t get enough food or it became too crowded, I could split, losing only some time and the limited expense of getting to Jack London Square (which, for me, happened to be on my errand list anyway). Of course, not having an admission fee makes the finances more challenging, and as we saw at the SF festival, is no guarantee of success.

There was a great mozzarella dish with big slices and hunks of tomatoes from jonsstreeteats, corn empanadas from el porteno, corn on the cob from at least two vendors, sea beans from the foragesf folks, a veggie pie from the pie truck, spinach and cheese pupusas from Estrellitas (which they ran out of before we got any, but the bean and cheese were delicious anyway), Pizza politano had veggie pizzas, the soup cart had tomato miso soup, the whole foods truck had gazpacho, and I’m pretty sure Amanda’s had their veggie burgers.

And they were more vegetarian options that weren’t necessarily vegetables.

Thanks again for the pleasant review of this wonderful event. :)