One would never suspect that Justin began his position as the operations manager for Duck Donuts in Woodbury, MN a couple of weeks ago. He assembled one of their S’mores Donuts flawlessly on the morning of Aug. 21. First, Justin warmed a bare cake donut. Next, he dipped half of it into a chocolate glaze. Justin finished the pastry by decorating it with a marshmallow drizzle and graham cracker crumbs. Succeeding that, The Journal was offered a fork and a taste of Woodbury.

For 43 years, Woodbury Days has served as a summer festival for locals to play and celebrate the town that they love. Oftentimes, it consists of kids’ activities, BINGO, giveaways, rides, fireworks, and a parade. The fair also provides attendees with the opportunity to eat scrumptious foods. Taste of Woodbury has always been a feature of Woodbury Days. This is according to Mark Lombardi. He has been directing Taste of Woodbury since 2019. In an interview with The Journal, Lombardi defined, “It’s supposed to be a taste of Woodbury under one tent.”

This year’s Taste of Woodbury was distinct, in comparison to past years. To begin with, not all of the vendors in attendance were located in Woodbury. Additionally, many of the usual food tent contributors did not return for Woodbury Days 2021. Lombardi justified, “We’ve had several regulars that can’t make it this year just because they don’t have enough employees, so we’ve had to branch out to non-Woodbury businesses and whatnot, just to fill the tent.”

Three-fourths of the vendors were brand new to Taste of Woodbury. As a result, smaller businesses who were impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic could gain exposure. Katie Cheney is the former president of the Woodbury Days Council. She illustrated how this was possible: “There’s smaller businesses that have been able to come in…Woodbury Days has always had respect [for] previous years’ vendors. They always have the first right to come and be back. And with those bigger vendors not being able to come in, the small vendors have been able to pop in…”

The Journal spoke with the people behind some of Taste of Woodbury’s firsttime vendors: Duck Donuts, Nani’s Sweets, Bub’s Aussie Gourmet Pies, and Pizzeria Pezzo.

JoAnn developed her “unique” deep-fried pound cake recipe 36 years ago. It was only two years ago when she launched Nani’s Sweets. “So I’ve been doing the vendoring thing since 2019. [I] started out with…Selby Jazz Festival, so this is my first Woodbury Days,” announced JoAnn.

Although the year of 2020 impacted Nani’s Sweets, it did not cause it to crumble. All of the events that JoAnn anticipated appearing at, besides Black Businesses Beautiful, were cancelled. Her son-in-law and business advisor requested that she facilitate “pop-ups.” After researching what that entailed, Nani’s Sweets was offering deep-fried pound cakes in sites such as church parking lots. “We did more events, we made just as much,” JoAnn insisted regarding last year, “but we worked harder.”

Since the launch of Nani’s Sweets, JoAnn has adhered to only decorating her pound cakes with powdered sugar. “I just want people to taste the cake. I don’t want you to judge the toppings,” she shared with The Journal.

Even so, JoAnn crafted a strawberry syrup and a chocolate syrup for the people at Woodbury Days 2021 who desired add-ons.

When The Journal prompted Alex to reveal the values of his Australian Photo by Sadie Jones.

father’s business, he responded with a single word: “Pies.”

His response was valid. Bub’s Aussie Gourmet Pies is an authentic Australian bakery in Lake Elmo, MN. The restaurant’s menu consists of desserts, shakes, coffee, and seven Aussie pies. At Woodbury Days 2021, Alex and Jared were selling two of their Aussie pies cups of coffee.

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, Bub’s Aussie Gourmet Pies was able to serve guests, utilizing their drive-through window. Still, the crisis affected them. “[Taste of Woodbury] is going to help us,” concluded Alex.

Keri Bougie is one of the owners of Pizzeria Pezzo. She brought Hosts Sunny Green and Maddy Brandenburg with her to Taste of Woodbury. In an interview with The Journal, she reasoned why: “The Woodbury store opened in 2019, December, so we’re kind of here to have a presence and get involved in the community.”

Between rules, regulations, and shutdowns, Pizzeria Pezzo felt the impacts of COVID-19. Therefore, Bougie called Taste of Woodbury an “awesome opportunity” for them. “I think it really allows us to kind of be out. Whereas, before, none of this possible… it allows us to kind of meet with the community and kind of see what’s happening.”

At Taste of Woodbury, Pizzeria Pezzo was not allowed to sell their coalfired nor their deep-dish pizzas. Rocco’s Pizza was already offering similar meals. Even so, Bougie, Green, and Brandenburg dished out salads and sandwiches. Green believed that through this, Pizzeria Pezzo was bringing diversity to the food tent. “There’s other pizza… there’s Indian food and Mexican food, so we’re kind of a little divider between [those].”

While Taste of Woodbury poured loads of joy into Woodbury Days 2021, the future of it is disturbing. Lombardi explained, “Literally, we don’t know if this event’s going to happen next year if we don’t get more volunteers.”

If readers are willing to donate any level of commitment to the Woodbury Days Council, they may head to www.woodburydays. com/wp-content/ uploads/2018/11/Woodbury- Days-Council-Application. pdf .

The S’mores Donut from Duck Donuts was divine! Photo by John McLoone.

These are the ladies behind the Pizzeria Pezzo booth: Keri Bougie, Maddy Brandenburg, and Sunny Green! Photo by John McLoone.

The Journal’s Sadie Jones receiving one of Woodbury’s favorite donuts at Duck Donuts. Justin made the S’mores kind-to order. Photo by John McLoone.

Meet JoAnn, the owner of Nani’s Sweets. She was very excited to be serving deep fried pound cakes at her first Woodbury Days. Photo by John McLoone.

This is where Woodbury Days fans had their “taste of Woodbury all under one tent”