October food holidays and where to celebrate them in Flagstaff

Halloween dominates the thought of October, but this month is filled with other holidays in the food arena. For starters, we’re in Eat Country Ham Month, Fair Trade Month, National Apple-Cookie-Dessert-Pasta-Pickled Peppers Month (and that’s just half the “National __ Month” list) and we haven’t even discussed the weeks of honor from American Beer Week (the 2^nd week of the month, which is also National Food Bank Week so be sure to donate while you’re indulging too) to Chicken Soup for the Soul Week (4^th week of October). And now, for the national food holiday days to celebrate this month, take a look at the below Flagstaff suggestions…

October 4: National Taco Day

Treat yourself for 99-cent tacos at the local treasure that is La Fonda (1900 N 2nd St.). They not only have top notch Mexican food, but the service is hard to match. They’re friendly and always on top of everything here. That’s a winning combination.

October 11: National Sausage Pizza Day

Sausage is singled out on the pizza front this month. Two completely opposite but solid sausage topped pies to try: Scott’s Chicago Pizza’s (103 Birch Ave) Southside Classic with Italian sausage, mushroom, onion and bell pepper and Pizza Furiosa’s (2500 S Woodlands Village Blvd) #9 with chorizo and pepperoni The whole month is National Pizza Festival Month – so you might as well go around town and hit up both (and the rest of your pizza favorites), just to be in the spirit of all things cheesy and delicious while you’re at it.

October 17: National Pasta Day

On this day dedicated to a staple of most of our menus –pasta – go for the best pasta in town, the house-made goodness that is Pasto (19 E. Aspen). They’re currently featuring a nice variety like crab maccheroni, corkscrew pastas in a creamy cheese sauce with blue crab; pennette Mediteranea, small penne pastas in a combination of red onion, roasted tomatoes, artichoke, arugula, olives, capers and feta; and the classic and delish spaghettini e popette, which is a thin spaghetti topped with tomato sauce and meatballs.

October 21: National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day

The combination of two wonderful flavors – pumpkin and cheesecake should take you to Beautiful Leaf Bakery (2028 N. 4th St). They make basically every flavor of cheesecake in three to nine inch sizes. A rich, creamy treat you totally deserve, so go for it!

October 25: National Greasy Foods Day

For tasty grease-filled goodness, go to Mountainaire Tavern (110 Mountainaire Rd.). They serve up some mean homemade beer battered onion rings, fried mushrooms, zucchini, cauliflower and broccoli. All served with ranch. Who said you wouldn’t eat veggies today!

October 26: Pretzel Day

Wildflower Bread Company (530 East Piccadilly Dr.) makes yummy oversized pretzels that are perfection for a filling snack or a nice plus with one of their fine soups, like the roasted garlic tomato.

October 31: Trick or Treat for UNICEF Day

While you’re out there getting free candy, trick or treat for UNICEF too. They’ve been doing this fundraiser to help kids since 1950. Find out more at youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat. Also while you’re out on Halloween, don’t miss out on the city’s annual Halloween Harvest festival of fun downtown.

For more October food holidays – and there are a ton this month – go to TheNibble.com.

(This article was originally written for Flagstaff Live! by Angele)