I grew up in Hilo, Hawaii… a place far removed from the region of the country where okra thrives. Yet, I love the fuzzy green veggie. All thanks to my Texas-born best friend. My pal Erika was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas, but moved to Hawaii when she was 12 and her professor parents accepted jobs teaching at our local university. Erika’s family moved in down the street from me and we became fast friends. Which means I shared many meals at her home. Hence, my introduction to okra.
The slimy green pod vegetable was a staple in Erika’s home. Her mom incorporated the often misunderstood veggie in a variety of dishes—-including omelets. It wasn’t long before Erika had transformed me into an okra lover—-to the point where each day we’d return from school and down dozens of pickled okra before we got started on our homework.
My childhood memories of okra eating came flooding back this week when I saw video of Irmo, South Carolina’s Okra Festival. The annual event is more than 30 years old and has grown substantially since it debuted in 1973 at a local Irmo park. These days the family-friendly festival attracts more than 50,000 visitors and if you’ve never had the chance to devour the unusual vegetable this is the place to get your first (and second, and third) taste.
For those of you unfamiliar with okra, the green veggie (typically about 3 inches long) grows in slender pods and is covered with light fuzz on the outside. On the inside, it has a mushy inner membrane. That gooey center is an important thickening agent in stews and gumbo. Eat it by itself and okra has a taste similar to eggplant (though pickled okra tastes very much like a traditional cucumber pickle, albeit a bit more woodsy).
But, the preferred method of preparing okra at Irmo’s Okra Festival is to deep-fry it. You can buy fried okra by the pound at the festival. When you are done eating the fried veggie you can stroll through the arts and crafts area. The weekend festival also boasts an “Okryland” for kids, pony rides, a petting zoo, and face painting. There’s also live music and street dancing along with a fun run, and the annual okra parade, which cruises down Irmo’s main drag.
This year’s festivities are set for September 28-29; just get there early so you can pick up a few extra jars of pickled okra to take home.
Not a fan of okra? Then consider visiting these other food festivals:
“Taste of Chicago”-The Ultimate Food Festival
Strawberry Festivals (Expect the Unexpected)
Watermelon Festivals (Coming To A City Near You)
FRIED COKE… At The State Fair Of Texas
Don’t Hold The Mustard At This Summer Festival
Visiting the Home of the Hamburger
The Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival (Not Just For Cheeseheads)