This past weekend I spent Saturday afternoon with Somerville Local First as they hosted their annual Harvest Fest. The festival was held at Arts at the Armory and featured local restaurants and breweries serving up some of their most awesome treats.

With so many old favorites along with some new places, figuring out where to start was a tough decision. Ultimately I went with a beer from Mayflower Brewing Company based out of Plymouth, MA. I had never tried them before and it didn't take more than a couple sips to become a fan. So that I wasn't drinking on an empty stomach I decided to try out the Butternut Squash Maple muffins from 3 Little Figs. They are opening in a few weeks, so it was really cool to get a sneak preview. The little muffins were so moist and sweet, but not overly so...yum. I am definitely looking forward to them opening.

I also tried a sample from one of my favorite local breweries, Pretty Things, as well as Rapscallion Brewery, Clown Shoes, Blue Hills Brewery, and one I'd never heard of before- Farnum Hill Ciders. The cider I opted to try wasn't too sweet and just as the girl promised, was nice and dry, and a little earthy. It was a bit of a bummer to find out they don't distribute to Somerville but if I see them elsewhere I'd definitely pick some up.

One of the top favorites in the food department was the Beet Bruschetta from Posto. They put chopped beets, which tasted either pickled or marinated, on top of a spread of goat cheese on crostini. The unexpected taste and texture of the beets was a nice twist on the typical bruschetta. Of course my love of Posto is no secret.

But my all time favorite were the Pork Belly Tacos from Five Horses Tavern. I wish I had a photo to show you but I was too busy savoring every bite. I was first impressed by the exuberant and infectious excitement the chef expressed for the food as he showed off the full menu and talked of some of his favorites. I've discussed this very new restaurant before but I didn't try the Pork Belly Tacos and I now am planning an immediate trip back. The pork was cooked to a delectable tenderness. I normally don't like the texture of animal fat but it was cooked so perfectly that it literally melted like butter. The sauce only enhanced each additional bite, and the tacos had just the right amount of spiciness. Although had they been spicier you wouldn't have heard any complaints out of me. The pickled red cabbage on top added just the right amount of crisp freshness to cut the buttery indulgence of the meat. This sample was also one of the heartiest portions of the samples being given out.

Other awesome participants included Ronnarong Thai Tapas Bar, The Burren, The Independent, Foundry On Elm, Redbones, Harpoon, Narragansett Beer, and Jumbo's. The place quickly got packed and lively with the addition of the band and a screen up for live tweeting.

I left happily satiated and a feeling of being so proud and happy to be able to regularly indulge in the ever-growing community of great restaurants in Somerville.

Next local event I'm psyched for is the East Somerville Foodie Crawl on October 25th! Hope to see some of you there!