A veritable smorgasbord of unique foods await visitors to this month’s San Diego LGBT Pride festival, where things like Bavarian meatloaf, alligator on a stick and American-Indian tacos will scent the air during the two-day event. The festival runs from 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m., July 31; and from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Aug. 1.

This year’s expanded grounds will encompass nearly 40 food vendors, many of them new, plus three beer gardens stocked with Bacardi coolers, Mai Tais and various beers from Budweiser. And for those designated drivers, the non-alcoholic O’Douls beer will be available as well.

According to Terry Bishop, festival coordinator for Pride, “It’s always fun and exciting to incorporate new types of food and drink into the celebration, as well as offer old favorites. And many of the vendors this year are participating in our volunteer meal program, which provides volunteers who work a five-hour shift a free meal ticket to many of the food booths.”

The grills and ovens will be contained within two “food courts” on the upper level of the festival trod. Each area will offer seating with tables and umbrellas to accommodate the nearly 45,000 visitors expected to pass through the gates both days.

Among the tasty newcomers are Schatzi’s Brats of Oceanside, a German catering company known for its apple strudel, curry wurst and Bavarian meatloaf. From Arizona comes Mom’s Fry Bread, which will offer freshly cooked American Indian tacos wrapped in traditional fry bread. Or for those with a hankering for Hawaiian “plate lunches”, a catering team known as Haule Boys plan to wheel in two grills for cooking up Kalbi beef ribs served with Hawaiian-style macaroni salad and rice.

Says Haule Boys Co-owner James Foren, “We did the Pacific Beach Block Party and North Park Street Fair and sold out at both events. We’re hitting all of the fairs this year and especially wanted to take part in the Pride festival when we heard it was their big 30th anniversary.”

Lori Torres of Islander Grill concurs as she plans to offer some of the Guamanian specialties from her new restaurant located in the Embassy Suites on Park Boulevard. “We just started doing festivals last year because we’re brand new. And in talking to other vendors that we met, they all recommended to us that we try out the Pride festival.”

Torres’ booth will feature glass-noodle pancit seasoned with achiote plus chicken and beef in a ginger-garlic marinade that is used traditionally throughout Guam.

Additionally, gourmet sausages, bacon-wrapped hot dogs and fiery wings can be found at the Muscle Beach Café booth. And other newcomers, such as the Siamese Kitchen and R&C Thai-Chinese Barbecue, will keep their woks at high heat for making shrimp tempura and various Asian noodle dishes. But if your heart is set on Cajun food, the alligator, catfish and gumbo offered by Chef House from Riverside should do the trick.

Other festival savories will include chocolate-dipped berries and caramel apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory; pizza by Dominos; Philly cheese steaks from Hot and Sizzling Grill; and hot dogs served from old-fashioned carts operated by What’s Up Dog and So Cal Catering. And Pride’s new sponsor, Starbucks, will dole out free samples of Frappuccino blended coffee beverage.

Tis the occasion to eat, drink and be merry!