Last weekend the Eat Real festival rocked Oakland’s Jack London square for two days of food democracy. Aided by incredible weather that felt more like you were strolling down a boardwalk in the south of France than the fog of a typical East Bay afternoon it drew crowds that managed to consume two days worth of beer provisions in one. All of this without a hint of rancor or dissonance from a huge crowd enjoying the best of what the Bay Area has to offer, incredible food and relaxed vibes.
What the festival really managed to accomplish to hit their objectives, to bring street food to a large crowd of people. By limiting vendors to a maximum price of $5.00 per item and charging no admission the crowd did not have the usual earmarks of the gourmet food world, dominated by those (me included) who can afford it. Indeed, the organizers had hosted last year’s Slow Food festival in the city and they set out to do it differently this time. They did.
I spent the weekend working with a friend and business associate, Arnon Oren of Oren’s Kitchen. Arnon has a great line of artisan hand roasted nuts. On Sunday Arnon brought along his camp stove and cooked. The crowd, drawn in by the smells of rosemary, almonds, olive oil, cashews, coconuts and chili peppers, were curious and hungry. Even the very small eaters had a great time.
What was most impressive about the crowd was its diverse nature, not just mixed in race and gender, but in age, social class and sexual preference. Babies to grandparents and everyone inbetween. Everyone with one purpose in mind, soak up some sun, enjoy yourselves and have some great food. And the street trucks provided incredible diversity,from Korean to BBQ, Paella to Falafel, Ginger Miso soup to the Fruitvale’s own helados.
It was a place to see and be seen.
My favorite customer of the day was a young black teenager. She came by to sample some of the cashews with her mom. She told her mom that she loved them but mom moved on. At the end of the day she came back and bought a cone with 8 quarters, it felt like it was her money. And as she ate those cashews her smile just lit up.
That is what being in the food business is really all about. That is food democracy.
It is a challenge that must be faced every day and a battle that must be one to support everyone in the food world, from grower to her mouth. I can’t wait until next year.
Food Is Forward 
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