Got a call from a reader today who is upset about the new Food & Wine Fest. He’s having a hard time getting through to anyone with the festival to vent his frustrations. He emailed me a summary of his thoughts, and I figured this might be a good outlet to share, since he doesn’t feel like anyone with the event is listening:

Thanks for taking my call this morning.  As I mentioned, as a “veteran” of the Austin Food and Wine Festival events in the past, I can not express how disappointed I am at the change in the venue for this years event! Not sure who to complain to since they do not have a phone number and email site sends an automated reply about how busy they are. This is NOT an Austin event anymore with only two price options: $250 or $800, and no mention of Texas wineries! Tragic: not only local folks who look forward to this event will be disappointed but several of us have return visitors who come to Austin once a year, just to experience this event with the locals!  I hope they go bust like when they tried to change the venue 8 years ago on Town Lake….The event went back to the formula that had worked previous years; great local food, local and national wineries, breweries, music, cooking demonstrations….why change a good formula?  Do they really think we all will spend $250 minimum to give up our weekend trying to get our money’s worth attending events on Sat/Sun? Looks like another event planned by folks who have not got a clue on what makes Austin unique!