Getting more people to appreciate and engage with the crazy world of fermentation is the purpose of the Austin Fermentation Festival, which returns to Barr Mansion, 10463 Sprinkle Road, on Sunday, October 22 with a dozen workshops on making everything from beer and cider to cheese and kimchi.
Things to Do
So Much More Than Pickles and Kraut at Fermentation Festival
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You Probably Eat and Drink Lots of Fermented Foods
Photo: Facebook/CedarParkFM
You might be turning your nose up at the idea of fermented food but little do you know that you probably drink a fermented beverage (or three) every single day. In addition to wine and beer, (which most of us understand is fermented) so is your beloved morning cup of “joe.” Other foods that are considered fermented are yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and miso. There’s a growing movement toward producing our own fermented foods as well, so there will be plenty of useful information on that at the festival.
What Is Fermentation?
Photo: Facebook/TFMMueller
Fermentation is a process in which food is exposed to bacteria and yeasts, either via inoculation or naturally through the air. Beneficial microorganisms beat out the kind that can kill you, and eat up the carbohydrates in the food. The results are interesting flavors, textures, and smells. Before refrigeration, curing meats, pickling vegetables, and clabbering milk was the only way to extend the life of perishables. And if fermented foods haven’t been cooked, they are really good for you (cooking kills off the beneficial bacteria).
The Austin Fermentation Festival is an educational event that celebrates all things fermented in Central Texas and will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Texas Farmers’ Market Farmer Emergency Fund, which offers financial assistance to Texas Farmers’ Market farmers and ranchers in times of environmental, personal or other crisis.
To learn more about the Austin Fermentation Festival, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
