The Famous Food Festival Delights With International Cuisine and Local Talent in Deer Park
By Mariam Guirgis
The annual Famous Food Festival returned this past weekend to Tanger Outlets in Deer Park, bringing together more than 100 food, art, and beverage vendors from the Tri-State area for the “Taste the World” event.
Among the featured vendors was Matilda, an empanada food truck from Rhode Island known for its distinctive heart-shaped empanadas.
Darlyne Lugo, one of the workers of the food truck, expressed excitement about returning for the third year to the festival.
“We love coming to New York,” she said. “We love all the vendors here, and we love doing trades and trying different food. We make everything from scratch using local ingredients.”
Food vendors and foodies lined up at the festival.
Festival-goers had the opportunity to explore a wide variety of options, from gourmet snacks to beverages.
Candice Lewis, a Deer Park resident and returning attendee, praised the event’s atmosphere and diversity of food.
“All the food was good, there’s a lot of things to do here, and the music is really good,” Lewis said.
Another vendor, Krzysztof Sawicki, operated a tent selling grilled Polish kielbasa.
Sawicki, who is based in Suffolk County, explained why he opted for a tent over a food truck.
“[For a] long time, I wanted to [get] a food truck, but food trucks are expensive, so [the] best choice was to do a tent,” Sawicki said.
This was Sawicki’s second time participating in the festival, and he shared some memorable experiences.
Krzysztof Sawicki sells Polish kielbasa.
“It was good—a lot of good experiences. I tried a lot of food because I can’t have kielbasa anymore,” he joked. “Last time I tried [an Asian dish] octopus, and it was amazing.”
The festival also featured live music and family-friendly activities like rock climbing and different carnival rides, creating a lively environment for visitors of all ages. With a combination of local talent and international flavors, the event provided a unique platform for small businesses and artisans to showcase their work while captivating attendees.
Mariam Guirgis is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
