Heading out to Bumbershoot this weekend? Check out the food lineup, too

A Seattle fall tradition returns this Labor Day weekend after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Bumbershoot highlights Pacific Northwest music and arts. But the festival’s food lineup is worth checking out, too.

This year’s lineup, curated by Seattle restaurateur Ethan Stowell, may be local, but the flavors are global.

Tina Fahnbulleh is owner and chef of Gold Coast Gahl Kitchen. This will be her first time selling at Bumbershoot and she’s excited to introduce festivalgoers to West African food.

“The foods that I picked are what we share across the Ghana and Liberia region like the meat pies and Jollof rice,” Fahnbulleh said.

She said there will be grilled proteins marinated in suya, a peanut spice blend.

Other food offerings at the festival include Russian inspired dumplings from Dumpling Tzar, and Filipino cuisine from Musang.

Bumbershoot is under a new production company. One of the goals is to keep the festival affordable.

“Often at music festivals, food can be an afterthought,” said Angela Ortez-Zarate of Mamnoon street eats, with a menu anchored in Lebanese and Syrian traditions. “And [it’s] kind of a negative experience where you walk in and you’re going to spend like, $50 on a hot dog.”

Ortez-Zarate said their offerings such as the chicken shawarma bowl, or the mushroom bowl with tabouleh and hummus are quick, affordable, and healthy.

For Delish Lemme, co-owner of Delish Ethiopian Cuisine, paring down the menu for Bumbershoot was hard. He recommends the veggie roll, made with injera flatbread spread.

“We spread out the sauce on the injera,” said Lemme, “and we roll it up and cut it into small pieces so it would be easy to handle while you’re enjoying the festival.”

Another pro tip, from Fahnbulleh, is to go in with friends.

“Go in a group and each person orders a single item so that you all can try it," she said. "It all pairs well, and that’s how I created the menu.”

Which is kind of like Bumbershoot, a festival of art and music samplings.