One thing is for sure, if you attend Baconfest, get there early. The doors open at 6:30 PM, Detroit Metro Mashup arrived at 6 PM and the parking lot was full. There were people lined up around the building, on both sides, including the VIP area. The first thing you will notice when you get out of your car, is the sweet, sweet smell of bacon. 

This event tickets also sell out fast, so if you want to attend next year, get your tickets early. I have heard rumors of a fall Baconfest being in the works, but that remains to be confirmed. This was the 2nd annual Michigan Baconfest held at the Royal Oak Farmer’s Market, but you wouldn’t have known it. Whoever organized this event did a bang up job. Once you are inside the Market, you are surrounded by vendors with samples and drink booths. There are also food tents set up behind the Market, along with a VIP tent for those who upgraded their tickets. To get drinks you had to use special pink tickets. VIP ticket holders had access to three restaurants that the general public did not and were given commemorative posters, a bottle of 313 hot sauce, Baconfest drink koozies, and six drink tickets (worth $30 alone). It is worth upgrading. The restaurants in the VIP tent were The Franklin Grill, The Henry Ford, and Tap at MGM Grand.

There were two guest chef’s at this event. Chef Tom, from the PBS-TV Series “Dining in the D,” was one. He is the co-founder of STREET EATZZ Michigan-based food. In 2012 the 313 Foodie Sauce was launched; a specialty hot pepper secret recipe sauce. You can find it in select stores. The other guest chef was a Michigan native, who now lives in Chicago, Stephen Sharp. Stephen is Halo’s “three lobed man.” In 2009 Stephen, along with Robert Sollors (known as “amazing fore eyes”) founded Halo’s. Engine Number 9 spice was developed. In talking with Stephen, DMM discovered there is a new mixture coming out that involves ghost pepper! 

There was a merchandise table at the public entrance and, can you believe this, even a pig made out of duct tape. More proof that you can do almost anything with duct tape. Annette and Becky were there from the local office of Yelp. Yelp was offering a pin the tail on the piggy for a prize. There were lots of other things to do beside eat and drink, somehow all bacon-related. The “Me Show Photos” people were set up, taking your picture with various sayings (and bacon) and emailing them to you. There was music by Gia Warner and her band. The home gaming system company Activ 8 was there with video displays, where you could wave your hand and play a game via their mobile gaming unit.  

I am not saying what item was my favorite but it had chocolate on it and tasted over the ‘moon.’ They really got down the ‘root’ of blending bacon into their snack. There were enough bacon items to sample that you did not go away hungry or thirsty. No problem there was beer, wine and soda vendors there, even free bottles of water to wash the bacon down. Some of the items were bacon baklava, bacon ice cream, bacon moon pies, bacon balls, pork “bellie” sandwiches, bacon mac and cheese, and just plain bacon.

A portion of Baconfest Michigan proceeds goes directly to support Gilda’s Club of Metro Detroit and the Royal Oak Film Society. Be sure to get on their email list to find out when tickets for the next event go on sale. Their website is at http://www.baconfestmichigan.com and the mailing list is on the upper right hand side of their homepage.  

We would like to thank the Baconfest Producer for inviting us to this wonderful event, which opened my eyes to restaurants in the area that I did not know existed. So if you are a vendor and make bacon, you should consider setting up next time.

This was a no hassle event, pretty laid back and self running. If you did not have a good time, you were not there. We don’t know what the final attendance number was, but do know they were expecting 1,600 through the door.

If you did not go home feeling like a stuffed pig…