Food festivals offer the opportunity to taste delectable and sometimes unpredictable concoctions of the region's finest ingredients. Typically, the secret to an award-winning food festival recipe has been hidden in the mind of a clever, cooking master contestant - until now. 

    James O. Fraioli, the award-winning cookbook writer, editor-at-large for Touring & Tasting Magazine and features editor for Dining & Destinations Magazine, has compiled a collection of secret and sought-after food-festival recipes in this book. The book features history, facts and top recipes from more than 40 festivals around the country, as well as information about 100 additional must-attend food events.

    Recipes range from traditional American and well-known food festivals such as the National Barbecue Festival, the Great American Pie Festival and the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Other recipes come from offbeat but delicious festivals such as the Chocolate Lovers Festival, the Los Angeles Tofu Festival and the SPAMARAMA Festival.  
    These recipes may lead to a festive cooking frenzy right in your own kitchen. H&O

    “The Best Recipes from America's Food Festivals,” by James O. Fraioli (Alpha Books, paperback, $16.95, 311 pages).

    Colleen Corkery is a regular contributor.