They came for the ribs. They came for the peppers. They came for the cow tongue.
Yes, cow tongue.
The annual St. Mary’s Food Festival kicked off Thursday at 212 Elizabeth St. The parking lot was stuffed with foodies — as always.
John Izzo, of Derby, stood eating a piping hot bowl of cow tongue cooked in tomato sauce and Italian spices. Izzo was attending the festival with his buddy Thomas Baklik, of Oxford.
Izzo said he comes to the festival for food he can’t find elsewhere.
“I’m Italian and these are things my parents made while I was growing up,“said Izzo.“My wife doesn’t like it, she never learned how to make it. So if I want it, then here I am.”
As Izzo and Baklik enjoyed the food, a few feet away Don Mastersanti, of Oxford, and his 18 year-old son, Joseph Mastersanti, were serving hot saucy ribs.
Joseph Mastersanti and his girlfriend, Jallisa Rodriquez, had prepared over 400 pounds of ribs in three days for the festival.
“Last year was the first year we sold ribs at the festival and we did so good they asked us to come back,” the elder Mastersanti said. “We sold over 350 pounds of ribs and made over $3,000 in profit for St. Mary’s Church for stuff like remodeling.”
St. Mary’s Festival Chairman Brian McCormick, says all profit from the festival goes towards parish-school renovations and school tuition.
McCormick, who has been chairman for the festival for the past nine years, said that they are looking to make at least $80,000.
However, he stressed that the festival is not just about the money.
“It’s just a great time and people have a lot of fun,” McCormick said. “I have a lot of great volunteers. It’s nice to see novices working with veterans of the festival. Everyone gets along and has a great time.”
Many of the volunteers working at the festival were families working side by side serving food, selling tickets or attending the games set up for children.
Kathy Komar, Felicia Monaco and Cheryl Pilon all coordinated the St. Mary’s children’s booth with their respective families.
The women, their husbands and their children pitched in to paint faces, run games, make sand art and give out prizes.
According to Komar, the children’s booth made $700 last year. They are hoping to make about $1,000 this year.
Aside from the hot foods, drinks, wine and beer there is a table with cakes, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, pasteries and blueberry squares.
Jacqueline Campoli.said she had baked six dozen blueberry squares that she proudly sells without any complaints for her hard work.
“We love our parish,” Campoli said. “It’s something special and it a nice treat to be able to have something good for everyone.”
The festival continues Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
