It's like Christmas for local foodies: the annual Festival of Food, put on by regional food bank Foodlink, is back on Monday, September 10, 6-9 p.m. Food and festivals go hand in hand in Rochester, but Festival of Food isn't your average funnel cakes or kettle-corn stands. More than 100 area restaurants, farms, vineyards, breweries, bakeries, and specialty food purveyors will set up booths at the Public Market (280 N. Union St.). They'll offer samples of their food and drink, and it's basically a night of grazing and people gazing. I've had fantastic roast pork, pate, inventive ice-cream flavors, beautiful petit fours, and savory ravioli. These are some of the best food makers of Rochester all brought together for your sampling enjoyment. Who knows, you may find your new favorite restaurant.

Tickets to Festival of Food cost $40 in advance, or $50 at the door. Proceeds go to benefit Foodlink, a member organization of Feeding America that distributes more than 13 million pounds of food to 450 human service agencies. For more information or to buy a ticket visit foodlinkny.org or call 328-3380 x132.