The Rochester Lilac Festival has also become a food festival where you can enjoy a plethora of festival fare including Kettle Korn, blooming onions, corn dogs, fried turkey legs, snow cones, candy apples and so much more.
And among the 60 or so food locations will be Rochester-based food trucks and vendors serving up their own fresh, creative dishes. Sadly, a couple of fan favorites from years past have called it quits: the Petit Poutinerie and The Meatball Truck will no longer be making the rounds.
But there are plenty of other options worth trying. Here are my recommendations for some of the delicious local foods to check out at the festival.
Fish tacos, Neno’s Gourmet Mexican Street Food
The best bites I had at last year’s Lilac Festival were the fresh and delicious Baja fish tacos from Neno’s Gourmet Mexican Street Food, which will again be serving in the large foot tent at the festival. The tacos are made with beer-battered haddock, crema, cabbage, pickled red onions, salsa verde, guacamole and cilantro.
Another good option is the birria tacos: soft corn tortillas filled with spicy braised beef, salsa verde, onions and two kinds of cheese, and sizzled on the flat top with crispy cheddar cheese on the outside. They are served with a smoky, chunky consommé for dipping.
Chicken mole tacos, El Kapitan
My favorite on the bright red El Kapitan food truck is the chicken mole tacos, filled with shredded chicken in a mole sauce, a smear of beans, cotija cheese, crispy Romaine lettuce and a sesame seed garnish. The mole sauce is from Chinantla, a village in Puebla, Mexico that’s hometown to owner Eden Rita. Other possibilities: Cajun chicken fried chicken, elotes (a corn dish) and churros. It will be near Highland Avenue behind the VIP area.
Beef K-bowl, KO-BQ food truck
KO-BQ makes bowls filled with all kinds of delicious Korean-inspired flavors. My favorite is the Beef K-Bowl: sliced steak marinated in bulgogi Korean barbecue sauce, served with rice, sautéed peppers and onions, shredded cabbage, mozzarella cheese, toasted sesame seeds, and kimchi remoulade. It’s also available in spicy pork and chicken versions. It will serve in the international food tent next to the main stage.
Chicken and waffles, 546 Chicken & Waffles
The 546 Chicken & Waffles truck is in its second year at the Rochester Lilac Festival. Its namesake dish is two Belgian waffles dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar and drizzled with maple syrup, served alongside chicken finger bites smothered in your choice of sauce. And if you’re missing the poutine truck, it is filling the gap with its maple bacon poutine − a classic poutine topped with maple bacon.
Homemade ice cream, Countertop Creamery
New to the Lilac Festival this year will be Countertop Creamery, which offers inventive ice cream flavors made in small batches, many of them incorporating ingredients from other Rochester-area businesses.
Owner Travis Briggs will be at the festival on the first weekend only for Art in the Park, which takes place up the hill from the main festival site, on Reservoir Avenue. Countertop Creamery will be stationed near the playground.
Briggs serves seven or so flavors at a time, some of them dairy-free. His flavors will vary, but he made an extra-large batch of birthday cake ice cream to satisfy the kiddos on the playground.
My favorite flavor thus far: Campfire Vibes, consisting of graham cracker ice cream studded with homemade graham cracker pieces, chocolate chunks and marshmallow fluff that’s been toasted and scorched. It’s topped with a marshmallow set afire with a culinary torch.
I’m also intrigued to try his lilac and honey ice cream, which will be available in regular and dairy-free versions. It’s infused with more than 8 gallons of lilac flowers and incorporates honey from Flower City Bee Works.
But if you don’t make it to the festival in time to catch Countertop Creamery, there are a couple other great spots for ice cream: Abbott’s Frozen Custard, of course, as well as a new vendor called The Boozy Moo that makes homemade ice cream infused with booze. I haven’t tried it yet, but how bad could that be?
All 10 days of the festival
These stands and trucks are scheduled to vend throughout the festival. This list was provided by the festival; changes can take place up to the last minute.
- 546 Chicken & Waffles
- Abbott’s Frozen Custard
- American Amusement Rentals/ Oberst Concessions
- Big Kahuna’s
- Bloomin Onion
- Cinnamon Saloon
- CinnaRoast
- Crepes/Coffee
- Dave’s Fine Food
- Edgemere Coffee
- Effortlessly Healthy
- El Kapitan
- Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
- Frozen Dreams
- Gorilla Street Hibachi
- Heidi Jo Jerky
- Henry’s Kettle Korn
- Ice Cream & Chill
- Jungle Juice Smoothies
- KO-BQ Korean Food Truck
- LemonLove
- Little Debbie’s Concession Wagon
- Macarollin Food Truck
- Mary’s Foods
- Melt Food Truck
- Neno’s Gourmet Mexican Street Food
- Pickle Pirate
- Rob’s Kabobs
- Rudy’s Bubble Tea
- Sonny’s Landing
- Steve and Al’s Steakout
- Tasty Toms Turkey Legs
- The Big Cheese
- Tuscan Woodfired Pizza
- Wraps on Wheels
Art in the Park Food Vendors
These food vendors will be at Art in the Park on Reservoir Avenue on weekends:
- CinnaRoast
- Countertop Creamery
- Firefly Studios & Nectar
- KO-BQ Korean Food Truck
- Mr. Squeeze Lemonade and Beverages
- Rob’s Kabobs
- Roc Dilla
- Tony’s Popcorn
- Tuscan Woodfired Pizza
- Vasko’s On Wheels
Photos of opening day of the Lilac Festival
Photos from Lilac Festivals past
Lilacs in bloom: Phots of Highland Park
Tracy Schuhmacher covers Rochester’s food and drink scene. You’ll likely find her at the Lilac Festival on weekdays, when crowds are smaller. Send story tips to tracys@gannett.com.
