One of the Triangle’s top food festivals will return this fall

TerraVita, one of the Triangle’s top food festivals, will return for a ninth year this fall.

Organizers announced that the festival, which typically features all-star chefs from throughout the region, will be Oct. 17-20.

The festival is a mix of tastings, dinners and panels at venues in Chapel Hill and Carrboro and is the creation of Colleen Minton, who founded it as a zero-waste event.

The full lineup of chefs, brewers and other participants will be announced before tickets go on sale Aug. 10. Previous festivals have included award-winning chefs Vivian Howard, Ashley Christensen, Scott Crawford, Phoebe Lawless, Bill Smith and other culinary luminaries from the Triangle and Southern food.

This year’s TerraVita will honor the memory of iconic Southern author and chef Edna Lewis with a tribute dinner. The meal aims to celebrate her influence on Southern food and look back on her time locally as the chef at Pittsboro’s Fearrington House. Last year, Crook’s Corner chef Bill Smith was the honoree.

TerraVita’s main event is the “Fall Fete,” which previously has been called the “Grand Tasting,” an afternoon smorgasbord of more than 30 chefs and 50 brewers and drink makers serving bites, beers and cocktails under one big tent. This year’s event is Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Green at Southern Village.

The festival also includes:

▪ The East Meets West dinner Oct. 17, where seven North Carolina chefs from the mountains to the sea serve a single meal at the Carolina Inn

▪ The Hill Fire dinner on Oct. 18, which is cooked entirely over an open flame at Carrboro Town Commons;

▪ The sustainable classroom on Oct. 19, a day of panels and conversations centered around food and culture along with a walking tour and tastings.

“Our goal is to create an amazing experience — while working with participants, volunteers, partners, and attendees — who care about how that experience affects the earth,” Minton said in a release. “We are also committed to developing content that challenges those participating on both sides of the table. Ultimately, we want to produce four thought-provoking, unforgettable days that touch our community and provide many delicious bites, as well.”

There also will be a service element this year with a partnership between the TerraVita Educational Foundation, Hungry Harvest and TABLE. They will pack 750 boxes of food (both nonperishable and fresh fruits and vegetables) for area children and families.

For more on the festival, go to terravitafest.com.

This story was originally published July 18, 2018 at 1:30 PM with the headline "One of the Triangle’s top food festivals will return this fall."