If you've always wanted to take a culinary tour around the world but couldn't make the time or raise the funds, you can do it at 2008 Holiday Folk Fair International, Nov. 21-23, held in the Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
You can eat your way around the world for $10 or less at the 64th annual Folk Fair, according to event organizers.
"A variety of diverse ethnic foods will be offered for only $1 each," boasts a press release. "The menu was designed so that ticket-holders for the area's premier cultural event will be able to eat their way around the world for $10 or less."
And if you look at the menu, it's hard to argue. This is a mere sampling of what's available:
- Arab: rolled grape leaves (with rice filling)
- Bavarian: Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage, one serving)
- Czech: Zelí (sauerkraut); Kos Orechy Baskets (bakery); Vlasské Orechy (filled walnuts)
- East Africa: navy beans
- Egyptian: Stuffed grape leaves; spinach cheese pie; Khak (cookies); Baklava; Pickles
- Filipino: Pansit (stir-fried noodle dish); Salabat (hot ginger tea); Cassava (plant root used in cassava cake dessert)
- German: assorted cookies
- Greek: Tiropita (cheese pie)
- Italian: Bambini Biscotti; pizzelle (waffled wafer cookies)
- Native American: potato soup
- Slovak: Halusky (small noodles with gravy)
- Taiwanese: fortune cookie chips; honey cake
- Thai Milwaukee: Wanton Delight (cream cheese appetizer)
- Turkish: Cig Borek (filled pastry); Fistik Ezme (tomato salad with pistachios)
Expect to see a lot more dishes featuring the potato, which is the feature food at this year's Holiday Folk Fair International.
"I've attended for the last five years and always enjoyed the event," says Petra Theurich, a member of Milwaukee's German community.
"It really allows one to leave the realm of Milwaukeeism and fly to other lands albeit only for a few hours. Being involved in the local German community, it allows me to think outside my box and enjoy the tastes of other lands and also see the various ethnic costumes and music. I attend for the complete package. I sample about five different lands of food and the watch the dancing program."
Since the theme of this year's evenbt is "Celebrate the Language of Culture" why not try to order some of the foods above in their native languages. Instead of asking for small noodles with gravy, ask for Halusky. If you get it right, everyone will laugh. If you get it wrong, you may start a conversation that can lead to learning a bit of another language!
"The food is a big part of it," says Christina Ziino, who often represents the local Italian-American community at the event. "The variety is immense. It ranges from American Indian, which you don't get everyday, to Greek, every kind of Asian , Arabic, Slovak and, of course, Italian desserts. It is a gastronomic trip around the world!"
The folk fair also includes dance and musical performances as well as displays and demonstrations of arts and crafts, ethnic cultural displays and educational exhibits. For the seventh year there will also be the Around the World 5K run/walk on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 9 a.m.
The fair is open 2-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8 in advance (at Pick ‘n Save stores) and $10 at the door. Military personnel and children 5 and under get in free. Kids 6-12 and seniors (62 and up) are $8 at the door.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
