Downtown Des Moines Deserves Better
by Jo Hill
I’m wondering how other people liked the Fest? We went early in the day and there were not many people there and the music had not started just. Maybe, if we had gone later, we would have had a better time. As I told you, we wanted to try a lot of different kinds of BBQ. We would have loved to be able to buy one or two ribs at a time, or half a sandwich or tiny sandwich. Had we tried the prize winner first we would have walked along and been happier. My grandkids went to the Wilmington type (that’s NC BBQ) and loved it. We were sorry, we hadn’t followed them.
We sat with a couple of men, who chose the same place we did, and their remarks were, “it’s ok, but not great.” Surprisingly, we did really enjoy the snowcones that were being given away. On a hot day, they hit the spot. I had not eaten one in years. Also many people were enjoying the cooling fans. They were blowing cool moist air at everyone.
If the Fest returns next years, we will go, but maybe we will go in a larger group. Purchase several plates of food, and share, so we can actually sample and see what
was there.
Oh, a group from Eagle Grove was handing out samples as we went in and yes, I will
look for it in the store. It was delicious.
Now we know how it works we will do it differently. But we are glad it came. I
heard the music in my apartment all weekend, and because it ended early–I enjoyed
it.
Nate Says:
Yeah i thought it was a rip. You go to the fair to try all kinds of food, and its a little pricey and thats ok.
Well this bbq fest made you buy tickets $10 for 7 tickets. Then all the food was priced at 6-18 tickets…
I dont know about you but when i got a pulled pork sandwhich with no sides for 6 tickets, i felt ripped off. ($8.52 for a sandwhich) Then drinks were 2-5 tickets each, and the best part, by the time you spend 20 bucks you have only been able to hit one bbq joint.
So whats the point of calling it a BBQ Fest if you can only try 1 place for around 20 bucks? I have to drop 100 bucks to try 5 places?
I wont go back, and i hate using tickets, and they were nice and had very little seating so that way you can stand up and eat your food.
Best deal was the corn 3 tickets for 1 ear of corn. ($4.26)
-Nate
Posted on July 17th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
julie Says:
I brought my kids and quickly figured out that to feed a family of 6 which costs me around 30 dollars at famous daves would have cost over $100 at the fest and the best part is, you have to pay to get in! lol
Posted on July 17th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
sophia K Says:
It was a joke of an event!!! But its the first (maybe last lol) year it will be around.
Posted on July 17th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
sophia K Says:
I might be crazy but bbq is not considered a high end food. So why do they have prices that I would pay if I go to a steakhouse? BBQ is the art of cooking cheap meat for a long time until it tastes good. So why such a high end price?
I wish they could have just charged a flat rate and let you try a little of everything.
Posted on July 17th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
G-Ma Says:
I am so pleased we weren’t the only ones who were not thrilled with the Fest.
Don’t tell anyone, but Josh does a mean BBQ.
Posted on July 17th, 2007 at 1:15 pm