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Blustery weather can’t stop food, fans at Rachael Ray’s Feedback
With temperatures in the low 40s and wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour, the weather didn’t exactly cooperate for Mr and Mrs T and Rachael Ray’s Feedback Festival at Stubb’s on Saturday, but a little thing like the weather couldn’t get the chirpy TV host down.
For the past three years, Ray — whose food empire now includes not only a magazine, a daytime talk show, a brand of cookware and a handful of shows on the Food Network but also a nonprofit to encourage kids to eat healthfully and a line of dog food — has thrown a big blow-out party on the Saturday of the South by Southwest Music Festival. (It was sunny and darn near hot at last year’s party at Maggie Mae’s.)
This year’s music line-up was considered one of the best of any of the big-name parties, featuring Jakob Dylan, Neko Case and indie darlings Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward together as She and Him. Ray’s husband’s band The Cringe and her Austin favorite Bob Schneider also played. (Here is a gallery of more photos from the party.)
But food earns a spot at the top of this bill. During an interview between sets, Ray told me that of all the menus she develops in a year, she puts the most thought and effort into this one. She knows Austin is full of foodies who won’t accept just any old Tex-Mex knock-off.
The albóndigas sub (recipe here) and Swiss cheese and chicken quesadillas were crowd favorites at this year’s party, even though guests had to wait in lines for up to an hour for food. (For some reason, there was no wait for free Bloody Marys, frozen daiquiris and piña coladas made with Mr and Mrs T drink mix, which meant people were drinking considerably more than they were eating.)
Students from the Texas Culinary Academy, dressed in white chef’s attire, didn’t seem frazzled by the cold or the crowds as they handed out the free food.
By noon, there was a line down Red River Street to get in, and even though the weather showed no signs of improving, people inside — including Matthew McConaughey and John Popper — seemed content to sip on free drinks, eat food (even if Ray herself didn’t make it) and listen to the music.
It seems most fans showed up for the music and free grub, but there were plenty who were there for Ray. One woman, who drove an hour and a half to Austin with her husband to be at the party, spent the past three weeks making a handful of colorful necklaces to give to Ray. Ray’s assistants passed along the jewelry, and Ray was so touched by the gesture that she sought out the woman, who was visibly overwhelmed upon meeting her.
When I talked to Ray a few minutes later, she said it’s the heartfelt exchange that’s important, no matter if she’s the one giving food to fans or getting gifts like handmade jewelry from them.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Celebs in the Kitchen, SXSW
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By Nannette Gundert
June 22, 2011 2:40 AM | Link to this
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