While Stamford residents, workers and visitors wound down their day, Hey Stamford! dropped some serious food news on June 28: Four-time James Beard Award winner, Chef Todd English and Food Network Star & Restaurateur Aaron May were announced to be part of the upcoming Hey Stamford! Food Festival.
The announcement was made at the Stamford Town Mall, where guests mingled, sampled food and enjoyed music—the essentials of good event. The Hey Stamford! Food Festival—the region’s largest food and music festival—known for indulging in good surprises for its fans, will return for its fifth year at Mill River Park for two weekends: August 11-14 and 18-21. Guest will enjoy more than fifty food vendors each weekend with live performances by Flo Rida, DJ Pauly D, I Love the 90’s Tour (featuring Vanilla Ice, Rob Base, All-4-One, Young MC, Kid N Play), Resurrection – A Journey Tribute and others.
The announcement revealed that Chefs Todd English and Aaron May will not just attend, but also host live cooking demonstrations on August 13 and 14. The announcement is timely and well placed: The English Hospitality Group (EHG), a partnership between Todd English and entrepreneur Keith Burkard, recently announced plans to open an 80,000-square-foot, two-story immersive Todd English Food Hall and global art exhibition in the Stamford Town Center Mall. It is expected to open in early 2024.
English, well-regarded in high-end culinary circles and well-known among the food-loving public, is a restaurateur, author and a TV show producer for PBS. May is the executive chef and culinary director at Bullseye Event Group, where he cooks at big sports and music events. He also oversees The Lodge and Goodwood Tavern in Arizona and is a judge on the Food Network.
“It is an honor to welcome such amazing culinary talent to our growing event this year!” said P.J. Kennedy, of Hey Stamford! and co-producer of the event. “With the Todd English Food Hall making its way to our city, we are thrilled to be able to show Todd and Aaron how great our Stamford community is!”
“Each year we work to enhance the onsite experience in as many ways as possible for our attendees,” said Ilario Altamura, president of Parachute Concerts and co-producer of the Hey Stamford! Food Festival. “With everything from the live-performance lineup to the growing number of food offerings, it’s a perfect fit for two amazing chefs such as Todd and Aaron to come on board and lend their culinary talents.”
Event Schedule:
August 11 & 18: Thursday Night Beer Garden with craft brews, wine and cocktails, plus live entertainment. Ages twenty-one and up.
August 12 & 19: TGIF x HSFF brings food, live music and family activities.
August 13-14 & 20-21: Food vendors and music performances.
See more at www.heystamfordfoodfest.com.