Where food builds community. Weekly Feast with Friends invites guests to gather around the table together in Bestor Plaza and kick off each week of the Chautauqua Institution Food Festival with a warm, welcoming shared meal. Designed to bring people together, this communal dining experience celebrates the joy of connection, conversation, and exceptional food.
Guests will delight in thoughtfully prepared dishes from some of the region’s best caterers, showcasing the flavors, care, and creativity that define our local food community. On Sunday, August 23, the evening will feature 3 C’s Catering, a beloved regional catering company known for bold flavors and generous hospitality.
More than a meal, Weekly Feast with Friends is an opportunity to slow down, share space, and connect with our community, fellow guests, chefs, and community partners. Whether you arrive with friends or sit down with someone new, the experience reflects a simple truth at the heart of the Food Festival: food is one of the most powerful ways we come together.

3 C’s Catering
Theme: Farm to table dinner

Standard (FT = FARM TO TABLE)
FT Italian Sausage with FT peppers and onions
FT parsley buttered potatoes
FT seasonal roasted vegetables 

Vegetarian Option:
White FT ratatouille lasagna,
Homemade Italian bread,
FT seasonal vegetables,
FT tossed salad with homemade Italian dressing

Big flavor meets big ideas in Bestor Plaza. Enjoy a dynamic lineup of live culinary demonstrations and discussions featuring chefs, artisans, and community partners from across the region and beyond. These engaging sessions spotlight innovative techniques, cultural traditions, sustainability practices, and the stories behind the food we love.

Held daily during the Taste Caravan, each demonstration or talk runs from approximately 1:00–1:45 p.m. and offers guests the chance to learn, ask questions, and connect directly with experts—all while enjoying small bites from the surrounding food vendors.

Featured topics will include a discussion on innovative approaches to tackling food insecurity with 412 Food Rescue, the cultural significance of matzo ball soup and challah bread—with hands on challah braiding guests can take home—live fish breakdowns showcase the preparation process for both restaurant and home chefs, and much more. Programming will showcase something new each day, highlighting regional chefs, culinary professionals, and community organizations.

All demonstrations and talks are free to watch and designed to complement the vibrant flavors and energy of the Taste Caravan, making them the perfect midday stop for inspiration, learning, and delicious discovery.

Bold flavor and joyful hospitality take center stage at this special Guest Chef Dinner with Chef Darian Bryan, one of Western New York’s most dynamic culinary talents. Hosted at the Athenaeum Hotel, this one night only dining experience celebrates Chef Darian’s vibrant fusion of fine dining technique and Caribbean soul.

Born in Jamaica and based in Buffalo, Chef Darian is known for creating food that makes people happy—an ethos reflected in every course of this thoughtfully crafted tasting menu. Guests can expect an evening that balances elevated presentation with bold, expressive flavors inspired by heritage, culture, and creativity.

The night begins with passed hors d’oeuvres, followed by a seated multi‑course dinner showcasing Chef Darian’s confident, energetic approach to cuisine. From start to finish, the experience is designed to be immersive, celebratory, and deeply satisfying.

Perfect for adventurous diners and longtime fans alike, this Guest Chef Dinner offers a rare chance to enjoy Chef Darian’s cooking in an intimate, elegant setting.

Please note:

The menu for all courses is determined by the visiting chef; specific dietary restrictions may not be accounted for in the menu design. The final menu will be added to the website at a later date.

A wine pairing will be available on the night of the event for an additional fee.

A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites.

Food trucks will be available:

Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch)

Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00 p.m. (Dinner)

Vendors rotate throughout the week, and all offer small bites so guests are encouraged to return often so they can explore the wide range of cuisines, cooking styles, flavors and culinary voices—all in one vibrant, walkable destination located just outside the Amphitheater in Bestor Plaza.

During each Taste Caravan lunch service, guests can enjoy a live culinary demonstration or discussion in the plaza, creating an immersive experience where learning, conversation, and flavor come together. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or lingering to sample multiple offerings, Taste Caravan invites you to taste broadly, learn deeply, and celebrate the diversity of our regional food community.

Food/Drink Tickets:

All food vendors only accept Food Festival tickets for payment. The Athenaeum Hotel Beverage Tent & Lounge will accept tickets, cash or card. Tickets can be purchased from one of the two information and ticket tents located within steps of the food vendors.

5 Pack of Tickets: $10

A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites.

Food trucks will be available:

Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch)

Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00 p.m. (Dinner)

Vendors rotate throughout the week, and all offer small bites so guests are encouraged to return often so they can explore the wide range of cuisines, cooking styles, flavors and culinary voices—all in one vibrant, walkable destination located just outside the Amphitheater in Bestor Plaza.

During each Taste Caravan lunch service, guests can enjoy a live culinary demonstration or discussion in the plaza, creating an immersive experience where learning, conversation, and flavor come together. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or lingering to sample multiple offerings, Taste Caravan invites you to taste broadly, learn deeply, and celebrate the diversity of our regional food community.

Food/Drink Tickets:

All food vendors only accept Food Festival tickets for payment. The Athenaeum Hotel Beverage Tent & Lounge will accept tickets, cash or card. Tickets can be purchased from one of the two information and ticket tents located within steps of the food vendors.

5 Pack of Tickets: $10