Saraga International Grocery in Castleton to host food festival Sunday
Saraga International Grocery and Food Court in Castleton will host its inaugural international food festival Sunday, Sept. 17 from noon to 8 p.m. The festival will feature food, a beer and wine garden and live entertainment on the store’s parking lot at 8448 Center Run Drive.
Admission is free, and attendees can purchase food and drink of cuisines across the globe, from Central America to the Philippines.
There will be music and dance performances as well as different booths where visitors can learn more about different cultures.
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El Chavo Mexican Restaurant, which has operated out of Saraga’s food court since it opened the Castleton store in January, will be one of more than a dozen vendors at the festival. El Chavo founding partner Shannon Johnson has worked with Saraga for eight years as the creative director of Cruz Management Solutions, which helps primarily immigrant-owned small businesses with taxes, payroll and other financial matters.
Johnson said the festival provides an opportunity to promote Indianapolis’ diversity.
“Between our mission to serve the immigrant community and Saraga’s involvement — longer than we’ve been involved — this all kind of came together in discussions about how we could step up the engagement with the community,” he said.
Saraga general manager Brad Nam said he hopes the festival draws more awareness to Saraga and that it could become a regular occurence.
“If this one goes well, we’ll probably do it annually or twice a year,” he said.
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Saraga’s roughly 850 parking spaces should be plenty to accommodate vendors and entertainment as well as visitors, but parking will be available within a few minutes’ walk at Castleton Mall if not, Nam said.
From Colombian sandwiches to Japanese dance, the festival will offer plenty of new sights, sounds and flavors. Johnson encouraged customers to try El Chavo’s tacos and tamales, while Nam said the Korean marinated short rib barbecue is can’t-miss.
Who will be at Saraga festival?
These 13 vendors will sell food and drinks at Sunday’s festival, Nam said.
El Chavo Mexican Restaurant
Bay Area Bistro: Filipino cuisine
Arepiz: Colombian cuisine
Mochi Joy Donuts – specialty donuts and Hawaiian cuisine
Salamat Cookies – Filipino-inspired cookies and drinks
Sakura Express – Food Truck – Japanese cuisine
Cocobongos – Caribbean tropical frozen drinks
Red Tacos – birria and tacos
Yollie’s Kitchen – Filipino cuisine
Polish Cottage
Tajiris Kitchen – Kenyan cuisine
D’Ritz Bar and More – frozen cocktails
SGD Tofu and Korean BBQ
Indianapolis barbecue restaurant Gip Got Tips is also likely to attend, Nam said.
Contact Bradley at bhohulin@gannett.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @BradleyHohulin.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Castleton Saraga to host inaugural international food festival Sunday
