Candi gave me a t-shirt for my birthday that said “Pale is the New Tan.” Fitting, now that I live here in Wisconsin where a great many people are melanin challenged, like me.
In fact, while she was visiting, Candi couldn’t get over how pale a lot of people looked for the middle of August. (She is from Dallas, remember. Being toned and tan is a must there!) It’s unfortunate that she couldn’t stick around long enough to go with me to the Indian Summer Festival, where due to the Native American blood coursing through their veins, a great many people roaming the grounds were blessed with the kind of beautiful golden-hued skin that I would now have to spend a small fortune on tanning products to maintain.
Actually, I hadn’t really planned to go to the festival. But when I went by Trader Joe’s to pick up some of their frozen orange-ginger chicken (I’m seriously addicted to that stuff!), one of the ladies there raved about how much she always enjoyed the Indian Summer Festival. Later I was getting my hair cut at the cool new shop my stylist just opened in the Third Ward and noticed a ton of people making their way to the entrance, so I decided I might as well check it out.
Turns out Indian Summer felt a lot like all the other festivals. Maybe because so many of them are in the same location (Summerfest grounds.) or because I didn’t make it to the actual pow wow. Naturally, there were some general differences: Tribal dancers decked in an array of colorful feathers, music, interesting Native American arts and crafts, and of course, different food.
The most popular item seemed to be the “Indian Taco,” large pieces of fry bread mounded with beans, chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and cheese, which was available at almost every other food vendor. Finding I really preferred just the taste of the fry bread. I ordered some of that next.
Although it’s incredibly simple to make – I learned to make fry bread in a fourth-grade Indian Art class if that tells you anything – the warm, flat, all-purpose bread is absolutely delicious drizzled with a little honey. Sugar addicts can sprinkle on a mixture of sugar and cinnamon for a little more kick. But I'm not sure I'd advise that addition, considering that one paper-plate-sized piece of fry bread already contains a whopping amount of calories and fat!
Other food items available were the burger and brat on fry bread (This is Wisconsin. Can’t leave out the brat!!) , buffalo burgers, and a wild rice dish. One of the most authentic choices in my opinion included the ever-present roasted corn, which I didn’t even touch because every time we grill I always throw on corn, and to be honest, I’m a little tired of it by now.
All in all though, it was a nice way to spend the afternoon. And with the cool breeze blowing gently through the air, it also served as a reminder that soon, summer will officially be over and the chilly days of fall will be upon us.
The Indian Taco looks yummy!
Posted by: kelly | September 12, 2007 at 01:34 PM
“Pale is the New Tan.” I like.
Additionally, I went to Indian Summer on Sunday afternoon. It was fun browsing the market shops selling everything from dream catchers to animal furs. I also caught a few minutes of the pow-wow competition and ate some of Eric's flat bread. The last time I was at Indian Summer was when I was in elementary school, but after having an enjoyable time this year I think I might make it an annual thing.
BTW, happy belated b-day!
Posted by: Karen | September 18, 2007 at 09:55 AM
I need that shirt!
Posted by: Erin | September 24, 2007 at 10:05 PM