Festival Food Street serves up options

By McCalee Cain
Reader Intern

Festival-goers enjoy a picnic before the show. Photo by Ben Olson.

Half the magic of the Festival at Sandpoint lies not in the auditory stimulation, but the gustatory: The food and drink of Festival street add an essential dimension to one of Sandpoint’s very favorite celebrations of summer. And with a hand-picked collection of local businesses and nonprofits serving up a deliciously diverse array of eats, you can enjoy a food court run by the community, of the community, for the community. 

Mandala Pizza

This year’s new kid on the block can’t wait to make their mark on Festival Street with their outstanding wood-fired pizzas. “We know we have a great product and great crew and are as prepared as we can be, but still waking up in the middle of the night thinking about all the details,” said Elissa Rookey. 

Mandala Pizza.

Get ready for: Authentic, wood-fired six inch pizzas (cheese, margherita or pepperoni), salad and cannolis.

OPA!

Another newbie this year, OPA! is bringing some Mediterranean flair to Festival Street with their hand-crafted Greek eats. “We are very excited to share our love of Greek cuisine and to have this opportunity to be part of the traditions of Sandpoint,” said Jasmine Dandurand. 

Get ready for: Hummus plate with veggies, falafel or meat gyro, Greek salad, baklava and mango lassi.

Sandpoint Curry in a Hurry

Heading into their second year on Festival Street, Curry in a Hurry is excited to serve up some carefully-crafted Indian fare its fans have come to know and love. “On the first day of the Festival last year, we spent a half hour after the gates opened wondering if anyone would want curry.  When the line finally formed, it was 50 people deep for the next two hours,” remembered Peter Hicks. “When we served our last plate we all had a good relieved laugh that we made it through the Festival vendor baptism and survived.”

Get ready for: Coconut chicken curry, chicken tikka masala, saas aloo (potato and spinach curry), dal (lentil curry) – all with rice and chutney, plus mango lassi for dessert.

Curry in a Hurry.

Old Tin Can

As they enter their second year on Festival Street, Old Tin Can has already garnered some enthusiastic foodie fans, and after tasting their locally sourced burgers, it’s very apparent why. “I’m feeling very excited and fortunate to be a food vendor at the Festival again this year. Last year my girls, and I had a great time,” said Savannah Clark. “Sandpoint is a special place year round, but the two weeks of the Festival takes the love I have for our small town to the next level!”

Get ready for: Classic cheeseburger, quinoa veggie burger, bacon burger special, all served with chips, plus caramel apples with various toppings.

Angels Over Sandpoint / Forrest Bird Charter School

Another Festival Street favorite, Angels Over Sandpoint and Forrest Bird Charter School are again collaborating for their signature, winning combination of delectable food and giving back to the community. You really can’t beat it. 

Get ready for: Loaded baked potatoes with choice of butter, sour cream, chives, cheese, broccoli, bacon and chili, sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar, s’mores.

Edelwagen

As a newcomer last year, it didn’t take long for Edelwagen to come into their own. Now they’re back with their signature BBQ sandwiches to much acclaim for another season of scrumptious summer classics. 

Get ready for: Korean BBQ pork and kimchi sandwich, huckleberry BBQ pulled pork sandwich, homemade bratwurst, pesto ground chicken burger, Asian chicken salad, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, giant chocolate chip cookies and blueberry crumb bars.

Eichardt’s Pub

OPA!

Anyone who’s eaten at this local watering hole knows that Eichardt’s food speaks entirely for itself. This holds for their Festival fare, including mouth-watering tostadas that have kept foodies coming back year after year. You won’t want to miss it. 

Get ready for: Pulled pork or black bean tostadas, shrimp cocktail and, as always, something chocolate.

Evans Brothers Coffee

When you’re in need of some caffeine to help you power through the night, Sandpoint’s premier coffee roaster has your back with craft drinks made to taste. And if coffee isn’t your cup of tea, Evans Brothers serves a mean cup of tea, as well. 

Get ready for: Hot and cold gourmet coffee drinks, tea, hot chocolate, chai and cookies.

Joe’s Philly Cheesesteak

Fans of Joe’s Philly Cheesesteak’s downtown storefront will be delighted to see them in a Festival Street Booth again this year. With a variety of classic, decadent sandwiches, it’s safe to say Joe’s Philly Cheesesteak has the comfort food genre down pat. 

Get ready for: Philly cheesesteak sandwiches (steak, chicken or veggie), buffalo chicken Philly, sloppy fritos, gluten-free hoagie rolls, crème brulee cheesecake and gluten and dairy-free brownies.

Klondyke

When those summertime rib cravings strike (trust me, they will), Klondyke is the booth you’ll need to head to, stat. Boasting delicious grub from the grill and classic blueberry pie, Klondyke is practically serving up the American dream. 

Get ready for: Half-rack smoked baby back ribs or smoked half-chicken, coleslaw and blueberry pie.

May’s Catering

Old Tin Can.

If you’ve got a hankering for some satisfying spice, the Thai cuisine of May’s Catering is your one-stop-shop. Serving up a rotating collection of authentic dishes, May’s Catering is an absolute favorite among Thai food-lovers. 

Get ready for: Daily featured Thai entrees including cashew chicken, pad Thai, chow mein, basil beef, garlic pork, ginger pork chicken in peanut sauce and Thai curry with Rice.

North Idaho Fish & Chips

As the name suggests, North Idaho Fish and Chips specializes in a cult-classic summer delicacy — and they do it very well. Try your chips with an array of proteins from fish to chicken to prawns, and don’t forget to check out their delicious fry offerings. 

Get ready for: Fish and chips, chicken strips and chips, prawns and chips, corn dogs and chips, french fries, garlic, bleu cheese or chili cheese fries and a dessert.

Panida Theater

Finishing off a Festival evening with a heaping cone of deliciousness is an absolute tradition. For all of your ice cream cravings, you needn’t look any further than the beloved Panida Theater booth, which has benefited our downtown treasure for years on end. Be sure to try the “Standing Ovation” brownie sundae, too — it’s a staple of Festival Street. 

Get ready for: Ice cream sundaes, ice cream cones, pie a la mode and brownies.