Baton Rouge hosts Taste of Mid City festival March 30

Baton Rouge is buzzing with food-related events and new culinary offerings. The "Taste of Mid City" food festival is scheduled for this Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 250 S. Foster Drive. This annual event highlights local restaurants and chefs, with food tastings, games, and live music. It benefits Kids' Orchestra and offers tickets at $35 for adults and $8 for kids aged 4-12. A new dish worth trying is the danger noodle bowl from Chow Yum, located at 2363 Hollydale Ave. This dish features radiatori pasta, creamy gochujang coconut sauce, crispy pancetta, roasted mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, and a sunny-side-up egg. For those interested in wine and culinary experiences, there are two upcoming dinners. The Marco Bonfante wine dinner is on April 2 at The Little Village. Chef Justin McVey will prepare a special menu paired with wines from Italy's Marco Bonfante Winery. Tickets cost $150 per person. Additionally, Ruffino's is hosting "A Culinary Tour of Italy" on April 8. This five-course dinner will include hand-selected wine pairings. Participants can interact with the chef during the preparation. Tickets are also priced at $150 per person. This weekend brings more local fun with two events. A Local Pop-Up Market will be at Electric Depot on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., showcasing local makers and food vendors. There will also be a Holi Festival at Repentance Park from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., celebrating cultural diversity with activities such as henna, face painting, and dance performances. Admission is free. Finally, Crawfish on Commerce will take place Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at The Mallory in St. Francisville. Enjoy crawfish while listening to live music. Tickets are $15 at the door or $10 for pre-sale. These events reflect the vibrant food scene in Baton Rouge.