Last year a buddy and I walked the mile-and-a-half parade route from Paterson, New Jersey, to the festival grounds in neighboring Clifton, eating all along the way. When we finally arrived, we couldn't do justice to all the festival food. I recall one missed opportunity in particular, a fine-looking sausage that had been appropriated as a paperweight. We left it as we found it.
This year, by touching down at the festival first, we turned our itinerary on its head — which brings to mind the kazandibi (kah-Zahn-di-bee) prepared by ladies from a local mosque. This burnt-milk pudding, rather than being put to the flame like crème brûlée, is caramelized against the bottom (dibi) of the cooking vessel (kazan), then served dark side up. Our toasty kazandibi ($3), especially in contrast with the creaminess of the pudding, was sublime.
For more photos — of lamb-offal kokorec, buttery gozleme, and asure (ah-Shoo-ray) bright with pomegranate, mandarin, and lemon peel — see the EIT page on Facebook.
Paterson-Clifton Turkish American Day Parade and Festival
The parade proceeds south on Main St. from Madison Ave., in Paterson, to the festival site in Main Memorial Park, Clifton, New Jersey
www.Facebook.com/pages/Paterson-Clifton-Turkish-American-Day-Parade-Festival/476964359023656
(The 2016 parade and festival were held on June 4)
