What is the best empanada in North Jersey? Clifton festival to name champion Saturday

CLIFTON — Saturday will be all about the empanadas as Weasel Brook Park hosts its first festival dedicated to the stuffed pastry pockets.

About 20 food trucks featuring empanadas will be parked at Westervelt Place,  and there will be vendors selling craft beers, wine and other adult beverages from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"Empanadas are the hottest food in America right now," said MegaBite! CEO Howard Rosenblatt, who is organizing Passaic County's premiere empanada festival.

A northern New Jersey empanada champion will be named at 6 p.m.  The winner of the best empanada, a Spanish or Latin-American pastry turnover filled with savory ingredients, will get a professional-wrestling-style belt.

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Empanadas, a traditional Argentinian dish
Empanadas, a traditional Argentinian dish

In all, Rosenblatt expects nine food trucks in the competition: the Empanada Guy, the Empanada Lady, Lady G's Empanadas. Latin Bites, Authentic BBQ, Empanada Beast, Cas Pierogi, Tunkas Empanadas and the Lomo Truck.

Admission to the event includes music by Naughty Humphrey, and Grand Theft Audio, an extreme racing remote racetrack, an air-soft shooting gallery, extreme bubble ball, a Jersey Shore game trailer, craft vendors, and a henna tattoo artist, among other amusements.

Tickets bought before the event are $6 for adults and $4 for children between ages 4 and 13. Tickets bought at the event will be $8 for adults and $5 for children. Children 3 years old and younger enter for free. Visit megabiteevents.com/festivals/ for tickets.

Matt Fagan is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: fagan@northjersey.com

Twitter: @fagan_nj 

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Clifton NJ empanada festival to name champion at Weasel Brook Park