FLX West Food Fest this Sunday is one of those events, and I’ll be there all day long.
The festival is put on by the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce and takes place at the Genesee Country Village & Museum — one of the most unique outdoor settings you’ll find in Western New York.
I’ll be on the ground from start to finish, soaking it all in and bringing you along for the ride on my Instagram Stories. That’s where all the action will be — so make sure you’re following @EatLocalNewYork and keep your eyes on your Stories feed Sunday.
The Demo Stage is Stacked
This year’s chef lineup is genuinely impressive. Chef RJ — a Livingston County native, firefighter, and culinary instructor at The New York Kitchen — is opening with a beef tartare using New York State Grown & Certified beef. The guy was a crowd favorite last year and I can’t wait to watch him work.
Then there’s Chef Camille Le Caër, a Food Network winner, trained pastry chef, and Buffalo firefighter who’s doing a live Bananas Foster flambé demonstration. Live fire, French technique, rum — what more do you need?
And Partyman Catering is taking the stage for a full pierogi demonstration, walking through every step from dough to the perfect pinch. Over 25 years in the business and they’re still showing people how it’s done.
A 50th Anniversary Cook-Off You Don’t Want to Miss
VIP ticket holders get something extra special this year: front-row access to the ACFR “Bradford Yearwood Tournament of Champions” — the 50th Anniversary Chef of the Year Competition. Four serious chefs competing for the title while emcee Dino Kay keeps the energy going. This is real culinary competition, not a cooking show.
Workshops, Vendors, and Live Music
Beyond the demos, there’s a full lineup of hands-on workshops covering everything from BBQ sauce building to focaccia bread, air fryer cooking, and whole trout preparation. The vendor floor is loaded with the best of FLX West — wineries, distilleries, cideries, breweries, and local restaurants all showing up and showing out. Live music from Teagan & the Tweeds and Uncle Ben’s Remedy rounds out what’s shaping up to be a seriously great day.
This is the kind of event that reminds you why it’s so good to live in Upstate New York. Come out, enjoy an incredible food festival, and come say hi — I’ll be around all day and would love to see you there.
One very important thing: tickets are NOT available at the door.
You must purchase them in advance. Head to valleyticketing.com and grab yours before Sunday or you’ll be stuck in the parking lot while the rest of us are eating pierogis and watching things get lit on fire. Don’t let that be you.
