The Arizona Renaissance Festival is more than just a place for all those kids you made fun of in high school to wear their big dresses and jesters' costumes. It's a haven for some of the best food in Phoenix.
Located about seven miles east of Apache Junction on the U.S. 60 Highway, the Renaissance Festival is a 30-acre park with shows, wooden rides and, most importantly, food. Though it costs $20 for admission to the festival, all the food is decently priced and well worth it.
Most of the best food booths are located at the entrance to the park. As you walk in, veer left for turkey legs, steaks on stakes and a variety of bread bowls. I am a huge fan of the broccoli and cheese and spinach-artichoke dip bread bowls, but you can also get chili and other meaty stews.
Though the bread would be much better warmed up, it's still soft and perfect for dipping into the steaming soups, which are incredible. The spinach and artichoke dip is probably the best I've had anywhere; it's creamy, but not too liquidy. The broccoli and cheese soup is the same, and it's so good that I once paid admission to the festival just to eat a bowl. All bread bowls cost $5, a reasonable price for such a great, filling meal.
If you veer right at the entrance, you'll hit my favorite spot: the bakery, which offers everything from brownies and eclairs to cheesecake and tiramisu. My personal favorite is the chocolate eclair, a light, crispy pastry stuffed with two different kinds of cream and topped with chocolate. The only pastry I've eaten from the bakery that I didn't love was the apple turnover - the apples were dry, and since it probably isn't a top choice, it tasted old.
If you're in a chocolate mood, head down a few shops to the chocolate factory for cocoa-covered strawberries, bananas and chocolate cups.
The Renaissance Festival runs on weekends until April 2, and is open rain or shine. Even if you don't don a costume fit for a Renaissance queen, it's worth the trip just for the good eats.
Brite's Bites has gone high-tech. Check out an audio slideshow of Tara's Renaissance food experience at asuwebdevil.com in the "Art & Style" section.
Reach the reporter at: tara.brite@asu.edu.
