SLIDESHOW: Broad Appetit

It rained on Richmond's newest parade yesterday. But that didn't stop thousands of people from enjoying an array of food that included something old -- barbecue -- and something new -- mealy worms.

That's right, worms, cooked in tempura batter and flavored with salt.

Author David George Gordon, who has written books about eating insects, enticed four adventurous tasters to step forward at downtown Richmond's first Broad Appétit food festival and sample the protein-rich worms. Their consensus: They tasted like french fries.

"It was good," said 16-year-old Jon Fuller.

Broad Street between Adams and Monroe streets was blocked off yesterday afternoon as about 25 local restaurants offered samples of their specialties for $3 a plate. The area has attracted new restaurants, art galleries and other businesses in recent years and is the center of the popular First Fridays Artwalk, when galleries are open for the evening.

The light rain didn't seem to ruin the day for the diverse crowd at Broad Appétit.

The event was so successful that most of the food vendors ran out of food about midway through the five-hour event. Some who operated restaurants nearby brought refills.

Kathy Emerson of the Downtown Neighborhood Association said the festival will return next year.

"It is a destination event," she said.

Each vendor was told to bring enough food for 500 people. Emerson estimated that more than 5,000 people attended.

Along with the food, local artisans and artists displayed their wares, with the unsigned art going for $50.

Kate Meacham, who had attended the Taste of Chicago and the Taste of St. Paul, said she had wondered when Richmond would have a similar food-sampling event.

"This is fabulous," she said.

Organizers hoped the event would showcase downtown restaurants and merchants during daylight hours.

Tracey Leverty, president of Echelon Event Management, which organized the festival, said Broad Appétit will return next year with some changes.

"This area of Broad Street is filled with great art and great restaurants," Leverty said. "This gets us to speak to both of them."

As for running out of food, "next year we'll have more chefs," she said.

The chefs were competing in a "To Die for Dish" contest. A panel of judges tasted the offerings and awarded first prize to Christine Wansleben, who runs a cooking school, Mise En Place. She had made braised beef sliders especially for Broad Appétit and won $2,000.

Wansleben recently gave birth to twins.

"The money is going into the baby fund," she said.
Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com.