P arty L ife

Feasting At Fiesta

WORDS BY OLIVIER J. BOURGOIN

There are parties and then there are Parties with a capital P! Numerous cities around the globe are well versed at “putting on The Ritz” with world-renowned signature events. Rio de Janeiro has Carnival and New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras with a savvy mixture of class and extravagant debauchery. Then there are those more obscure events that are celebrated just as fervently by those faithful to their traditions.

Philadelphia has its New Year’s Day Mummers Parade

(the oldest continuous folk parade in the U.S.). The walled city of Siena, in Italy, puts on the craziest horse race I’ve ever seen, called Il Palio. Jockeys dressed in medieval costumes ride bareback at breakneck speed around the town’s main plaza while jam-packed crowds cheer them on from the periphery of the plaza.

And then, there is something special, something so very uniquely our own, and that’s Fiesta San Antonio, which takes place this year from April 20th through the 30th.

What began with a meeting of a small group of San Antonio high society women in Alamo Plaza, with horse buggies and baby strollers colorfully decorated with flowers that were then playfully thrown at each other, has grown to encompass a multitude of citywide events that run the gamut from grandiose to irreverent. It’s a party that takes over the entire city, as locals already know. Fiesta is simply synonymous with San Antonio.

Although from humble beginnings, San Antonio now takes its Fiesta very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that numerous businesses, banks and schools shut down on the day of a premier event known as The Battle of Flowers Parade, named after that initial flower throwing affair.

Although there are several other notable parades that take place during Fiesta, The Battle of Flowers is the second largest annual parade in the United States. It began in 1891 to commemorate the battles of the Alamo and of San Jacinto. Interestingly, Fiesta, as it has been known since 1960, was first called Carnival, then Spring Carnival.

As far as parades are concerned, another renowned feature of our city is the San Antonio River and its world famous River Walk. A stroll down the River Walk is always a pleasant adventure. It really comes alive in all its splendor during the holiday season and also, you guessed it, during Fiesta when it is home to the Texas Cavaliers River Parade.

No matter what type of entertainment you’re looking for, there will be something for everyone at Fiesta. From family fun to adult humor, live music and dancing, multiple parades, fanfare, glitzy costumes … and, oh, the food!

Food and Fiesta are forever conjoined. All things Fiesta-related cannot fail to remind us of food. The word “fiesta” itself is now embedded in the city’s DNA. There’s even the homegrown Bolner’s Fiesta Brand of Spices, which was founded in 1955 by San Antonio native Clifton Bolner.

But “fiesta” literally means “feast,” and feast implies food and drink and in copious amounts. One of the most well known events is NIOSA, which stands for “A Night In Old San Antonio.” This year will be its 75th anniversary and, as mentioned, tons of food and many gallons of adult beverages will be consumed (and spilled) during this four-night celebration of our city’s multicultural heritage. Gourmet foods are not the focus here, but rather popular party eats that represent a variety of cuisines. Anything on a stick goes!

Similar types of food are available at various other events, such as the popular King William Fair. If you love oysters, there’s also the longrunning St. Mary’s University Oyster Bake or A Taste of New Orleans, which celebrates the influence of the French culture in Texas. This one is always a favorite with Cajun staples, such as jambalaya, red beans and rice, and crawfish.

For those looking for a bit more than party food, there is the Champagne & Diamonds party held in the Rosenberg Skyroom at the University of the Incarnate Word, which raises money for college and trade school scholarships, as well as for donations to the University Hospital nursing program.

In recent years, food enthusiasts have flocked to chef Brian West’s A Taste of the Republic event, which is meant to interpret the “Six Food Republics of Texas” and features other top chefs like Braunda Smith of Lucy Cooper’s Ice House, gourmet bites and all the libations you desire. This year’s event will take place at The Alamo and is a fantastic way to kickoff Fiesta.

Regardless of your preferences, come one, come all and join in on this world-class fun and food regalia.

Find out more on upcoming Fiesta events at fiestasanantonio.org.

Olivier J. Bourgoin has been a wine broker and consultant, as well as a freelance writer, who has been involved in these industries in and around the greater San Antonio area for more than 25 years. A native of France with family roots deep in the wine producing region of Burgundy (known as the cradle of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties), he is known as “Olivier The Wine Guy” and was featured as such on a local weekly radio segment for 20 years.