Westport's Italian Festival -- still fun? (New Haven, Stamford: high school, price, club)

Acipenser · 06-29-2009, 01:49 PM

Has anyone been to the Italian Festival in Westport in recent years? It's been 15 or 16 years since I had a chance to go, but growing up it was always an event I looked forward to (not sure the Metro North commuters were to happy to give up their parking lot though!). Many of my friends were from old Westport Italian-American families, and it really felt like a big family party at times. I feel like a lot of those blue collar families have dwindled and been priced out of the area, so I was wondering if the Festival is still a big deal? Should I go and take the kids, or will it just depress me? Man, I've been searching for something as good as a fresh pizza frite since I left the state.

StarlaJane · 06-29-2009, 06:29 PM

Oh, goodness-does that take me back! We never called it "frite," though, just "fried dough" (if that's what you're talking about.)
I am from the New Haven area and, like yourself, haven't been to an Italian Festival in many, many years. We used to always go when we were teenagers, and it was always the highlight of our adolescent years. The only thing that I can say is that I did go a few years back as an adult and it wasn't the same. Definitely still fun, but not as exciting or fun as when I was a teen. But if I were back in the area and had a chance to go to one, I would be the first in line for fried dough with red sauce.

njguy · 06-29-2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarlaJane

Oh, goodness-does that take me back! We never called it "frite," though, just "fried dough" (if that's what you're talking about.)
I am from the New Haven area and, like yourself, haven't been to an Italian Festival in many, many years. We used to always go when we were teenagers, and it was always the highlight of our adolescent years. The only thing that I can say is that I did go a few years back as an adult and it wasn't the same. Definitely still fun, but not as exciting or fun as when I was a teen. But if I were back in the area and had a chance to go to one, I would be the first in line for fried dough with red sauce.

Are you speaking about the fried dough with mozzarella and sauce in it?

YUMMMMY!!!!!!

Acipenser · 06-29-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarlaJane

We never called it "frite," though, just "fried dough" (if that's what you're talking about.)

Oh yeah, that's the stuff. I've discovered you can get versions of fried dough at festivals across the US and each one has slight variations (indian fry bread, funnel cake, and on and on...), though it's usually only offered with some sort of sugary topping. Up here at the VT/MA border, you can get it with maple cream, which is pretty close to heaven. It's all good (c'mon... fried dough!) but nothing has matched up to pizza frite in my book. We used to have one with red sauce and parmesan and then one with sugar and call it dinner. And then we'd go try to cadge some beers off someone's older relative or friend. Ah, the teen years.

StarlaJane · 06-30-2009, 09:47 AM

I am not usually into eating sweet things--I'm more of a savory eater. In fact, I remembered being initially perplexed when I first saw there was another way to eat fried dough that involved powdered sugar. I have actually never tried it, probably b/c the red sauce option has always been so satisfying. I can't remember if we were drinking--I was too preoccupied with the boys to care about anything else. So many boys, so little time!

Tin Knocker · 07-01-2009, 05:48 AM

Its still there & its still worth going to. I'm a member of a local Italian club in Norwalk & we make the pizza fritta for the Westport feast & the Norwalk oyster fest. Been doing both at least since I was 11 years old or so.

Acipenser · 07-01-2009, 10:12 AM

You, sir, have made my day. Can't wait to go!

brattpowered · 07-01-2009, 12:32 PM

I braved crowds of high schoolers at the St. Leo's Festival in Stamford last summer just so I could get some pizza frite/fritta with red sauce and parmesan cheese. They don't do that down here in Texas, and it had been 3 years since I'd had it. It was marvelous....

Tin Knocker · 07-07-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acipenser

You, sir, have made my day. Can't wait to go!

Starts on Thursday if my memory serves me. I was there for a bit this morning & would swear thats what the sign read, but I also think I heard they wanted to chop it to 3 days. I need to be there a few hours in the AM, I'll try & remember to look.
I dont help at the functions themselves, too many old Italians bossing folks around

. So I just help set up if needed & beat a hasty retreat.