The calendar is so jammed with film festivals, I seriously think that the week between Christmas and New years is likely the only one in which a festival doesn’t occur. Then again, there are probably a few on that week, too. The point is, what makes these festivals special? How are filmmakers and attendees to choose? Well, one way is by looking into how the various fests differ and no, this has not suddenly become a film blog. It’s just that the Florida Film Festival has figured out a way to single itself out. Can you guess how? That’s right…food!
The opening weekend of the Florida Film Festival (FFF) held at the Enzian Theater in Winter Park (a suburb of Orlando) is dedicated to film, food & wine and this year’s theme was Flavors of the South: Grits, Grace & Gravy. I was honored to have been asked to help organize the food part of the weekend and host a luncheon panel chock-a-block with James Beard Foundation award winners. In fact, I was the only one on the panel not in possession of one of those wonderful little medals.
As you can see from the above-linked main food, film, wine main page, there were loads of events to attend. Opening night included more pork and Maker’s Mark than you could shake a stick at, something the three people in this pic didn’t mind one bit.
L to R: IFC's Alison Willmore, your author and Chef John Currence enjoy the copious pork and bourbon on offer at the FFF opening night party.
The next day’s panel included the above-pictured chef Currence (City Grocery-Oxford, Mississippi-Best Chef South, 2009) & Martha Foose (best American Cookbook 2009 for Screen Doors and Sweet Tea) and authors Matt & Ted Lee (double winners in 2007: Cookbook of the Year and Food of the Americas for The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook). The luncheon was prepared by Enzian Theater executive chef Josh Oakley (Oh, you didn’t know they had a restaurant? More on that later and in subsequent posts) using recipes from the Lee Brothers’ most recent book and 2010 Beard award nominee, Simple Fresh Southern.
Ted Lee, Martha Foose and Matt Lee prepare for our Saturday luncheon panel!
I think the panel went well, and while I don’t have the whole panel on video, you can just for yourself, at least in part, with this edited selection on Enzian’s You Tube channel.
My pre-panel libation of choice.
Saturday night saw the ambitious and perfectly executed Tennessee Williams’ Southern Gothic “Family Reunion.” I can almost hear you ask “What the….” Yup. This was the event that, I believe, made Chef Currence aka @bigbadchef tweet: “Florida Film Festival…these folks know how to throw a shindig. Scared of NOTHING. An event to be modeled after…take notes people.”
Seriously, this was a fantastic party with dishes cooked by the afore mentioned chefs Currence & Foose, as well as dig it, 2 more James Beard award-winners: Robert Stehling (Hominy Grill-Charleston, SC-Best Chef, Southeast, 2008) and Michel Nischan (owner/founder The Dressing Room, Westport, CT and JBFA winner for Healthy Focus & Vegetarian Cookbook: Taste Pure and Simple, 2004 and Television Food Segment, National or Local for PBS’ The Victory Garden, 2008) and the Enzian’s Oakley. Stehling and Currence are both mentioned in my post: My 2009 Year In Food or How I Discovered the South.
All the chefs brought their A games and there were a big “first” for me on the menu. Pig Ears. Try telling someone outside of a certain area of the country that you’ve just eaten a pig ear and 99 times out of 100 your answer will be something like “Ummm, my dog eats those.” he menu? Dig it:
Josh Oakley: Fresh Shucked Oysters on the Half-Shell and Pig Head Tourchons with Carolina BBQ Sauce
Alas, I wasn’t able to try the tourchons. I don’t know why, actually. One minute they weren’t ready and the next…. Well, it’s my fault. I heard they were fantastic, though! The oysters were impeccable. I’m generally not partial to Southern oysters on the half shell. In my experience they tend to be larger and softer than I like. Fried, perfect. Raw? Not so much. That said, maybe I’ve not has the right ones or maybe I hadn’t had them at the right time of the year. These were fantastic.
Apalachicola Oysters on the half shell.
Michel Nischan: Shrimp & Grits with Andouille Sausage
I’m a sucker for shrimp and grits, really. When they’re fresh, head-on shrimp, perfectly creamy grits AND Andouille sausage well, you’ve got me hooked, brother!
That's one tasty lookin' arthropod!
John Currence: Crispy Fried Pig Ear Lettuce Wrap w/Spicy Peanut Cole Slaw & Sweet Corn Chow Chow
Five years ago, had someone told me that during the 2nd week of April, 2010 I will eat a pig’s ear, I would have told them that they were insane. Stark raving bonkers, in fact. That was before a) I saw Joe York’s short doc Smokes & Ears about the Big Apple Inn in Jackson, Mississippi and b) before I met John Currence. Seriously, they were crispy, tender, porky and not at all what you think. Your dog should only hope to eat this well!
John Currence's Pig Ears!
Robert Stehling: Shrimp Cakes w/ Mango Almond Cole Slaw and Green Chili Tartar Sauce
Here’s where I turn into a writer who didn’t do his job. I forgot to take a picture of Robert’s fantastic shrimp cakes. I know. I’m a schmuck. I even had two of them. I’m a bad bad blogger.
Martha Foose: Blanc du Bois Ice Box Pie
Om nom nom nom nom nom!
I want more!
Charles Hamilton (Sous Chef, Enzian & Eden Bar): Bourbon Bread Pudding
By this time I was way too much in my cups to remember to take photos. Please forgive the lapse….
Some more pictures from the first 2 nights of the Florida Film Festival’s Film, Food & Wine celebration:
Lord Byron from "Camino Real" brings the noise!
Anyone call for a sponsor shot?
I even got into the pix! What a night. Photo ©Michael Kilayko, Florida Film Festival
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