Third Annual Moonbow Eggfest set for Oct. 1

Moonbow Eggfest organizer Tim Barnes is one of many chefs who will be cooking at the 2016 festival in downtown Corbin Oct. 1.

Devoted chefs who use the aptly named, all-in-one cooking device known as “The Big Green Egg” will fill the air with mouthwatering scents when they descend on Corbin Oct. 1 for the Third Annual Moonbow Eggfest.

The traditional “lighting of the eggs” will take place at about 9:00 a.m. — signaling the time when the event opens to the general public. It is held in the municipal parking lot at the corner of Depot and Monroe Streets behind Sander’s Park.

“We have cooks and celebrities coming from seven or eight states again this year,” said Tim Barnes, President of Hometown Bank and one of the founders and main organizers of the event.
“It’s turned into a really great community event. There’s so much that goes into it. The cooks that we have who come here really love the hospitality. That’s why so many of them are coming back.”

Barnes said about 30 cooks will be on hand again this year.

“Fatman” Kevin Jenkins of the popular national radio show “Chef and the Fatman” will be taping a broadcast from Moonbow Eggfest. Barnes said the show airs on Sundays and is available to millions of listeners on Sirius/XM satellite radio and can be streamed online at www.chefandthefatman.com.

Last year, Jenkins was honored as a Corbin Colonel.

Also scheduled to attend the Moonbow Eggfest this year is celebrity chef Francine Bryson, author of “Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen.”

Bryson is a native of South Carolina and has won over 250 cooking contests. More information about her can be found online at www.thefrancinebryson.com. She also plans to offer a couple of cooking classes at the event.

“She has a huge following and I’m hoping she brings even more people from out of town to our Eggfest,” Barnes said.

BBQ champion Jeff Raymond will also return to this year’s Eggfest to teach “Big Green Egg 101” classes.

The Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will also offer beer and wine at the event.

Admission to Moonbow Eggfest is $15 for adults and $10 for kids. For $25, those who go can also get a special event t-shirt. Admission entitles anyone to sample food cooked on the eggs for the duration of the event. It lasts until 3:00 p.m.

Barnes said all the participants in the event will be cooking different items (i.e. chicken wings, bar-b-que pork and beef, brisket, steaks, sliders, etc.) and those who attend can buy a ticket that will entitle them to a small tasting of everything being prepared.

“The first time people hear about this they always wonder about the value of paying $15 just to get a small taste of some food, but anyone who has been to an Eggfest know more than likely you will be stuffed before you leave,” Barnes said. “Also, it’s not like McDonalds. It’s a social event. You walk around and mingle. It’s kind of like a reunion.”

The Big Green Egg is an egg-shaped dome cooker that uses natural wood or charcoal as fuel. Its design allows it to be used for a variety of different cooking styles from grilling and smoking to baking and more.

A raffle for a Big Green Egg will be held at Eggfest. The cookers will also be on sale for anyone who wants to purchase one.

Proceeds from the Moonbow Eggfest go to support the Tri-County Sports Authority and the Corbin High School baseball program.

For more information about the event, go online to www.moonboweggfest.com.