Festival Epicure was nearly a no-go this summer. It is one of Windsor's most widely attended riverfront festivals, coralling nearly 30, 000 people into the gates of the waterfront terrace to bump elbows in line for overpriced food and wine samples from local patrons. Still, Festival Epicure is one of my favorite events. Any occasion that brings people and food together is worthwile, if you ask me.This year, the festival was particularly important for rejuvenating community morale. Major cutbacks in manufacturing jobs and a lull in new investments have had a devastating impact on Windsor's economy, and many festivals and events have lost sponsorship and interest in turn. When the major sponsor for festival epicure withdrew earlier this year, Windoreats.com, a website that promotes local dining, launched a campaign in support for the event, reminding the media and city counselors of Festival Epicure's cultural significance. The website is co-owned by Adriano and Pina Ciotoli. For this sibling duo, who both work for the city of Windsor, facilitating community involvement is important, but the need to help out local businesses is especially urgent at this time.
Over the summer I have been able to help Adriano and Pina's cause by contributing in writing to their website. It is a pleasure to promote local dining establishments but especially encouraging to work with individuals who actively support our hometown. If you ask me, their tent deserved centre stage at Festival Epicure this year.
