April 28 Leek 'Fezztival' becoming annual tradition

Potter County businessman Ron (Fezz) Linden was always fascinated by the locals' fascination with leeks. So, once he had his diner up and running, he decided to start a new tradition -- the Potter County Leek Fezztival.

"Our goal is to start a new tradition based on a Potter County institution."

With those words, Coudersport area businessman Ron (Fezz) Linden is promoting the second annual Leek Fezztival, scheduled for Saturday, April 28, at his Mill Creek Plaza. The site is located along Rt. 6 and the Ice Mine Road, between Coudersport and Sweden Valley.

Local residents' love of leeks -- those wild onions that grow in many wooded areas of Potter County -- has always fascinated Linden, who moved to Coudersport from Long Island, N.Y., as a teenager.

A year ago, with his new eatery, Fezz's Diner, firmly established, Linden tested the waters with a leek festival at his plaza. Reaction was positive, so this year he's bringing it back with the idea of establishing it as an annual tradition on the final Saturday of April.

"People here are just wild about leeks -- you'd be amazed," Linden said. "I'm hoping this festival will bring people out to celebrate something that's a real popular attraction in Potter County."

This year's Fezztival will include contests for the best leek recipes in four categories: dips, dishes, soups and, yes, leek-based desserts(?). There is no entry fee. Judging will take place at 3:00 p.m.

Those who don't want to enter the competition are welcome to bring their own favorite leek concoction.

Fezz's Diner is dishing up a food special -- the leek omelet.

From 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., there will be live music for dancing or listening pleasure, featuring Every Tom, Jeff and Larry (see accompanying story).

Local leek-diggers know that they taste best in the early spring before their cylindershaped underground bounty extends its roots and becomes more bulbous. Leeks are distinguishable by their twin leaves, flopping to either side of the stem.

They can't easily be "picked" (pulled from the ground), but instead must be dug. Various digging tools have been hand-crafted.

Around Coudersport, if a champion leek-digger were crowned, Vern Crain would probably be a shoo-in.

About 30 years ago, he crafted a leek shovel, of sorts, out a worn-out automobile spring and was spotlighted in several newspaper and magazine stories for his ingenuity.

"I'm still using it," Crain told Endeavor News. "Nobody has come up with a better tool, as far as I know."

Leeks have fascinated different cultures for centuries. In 640 A.D., the Welsh wore leeks in their hats to distinguish themselves from the enemy during the battle between King Cadwallader of Wales and the Saxons. The leek became an emblem of pride in Wales, and the Welsh still wear the leek to commemorate King Cadwallader's victory on St. David's Day (March 1).

Nero ate leeks with oil regularly, thinking they were good for his singing voice. Perhaps Nero got the notion from Aristotle, who claimed the clear cry of the partridge was due to its diet of leeks.

The leek is a member of the onion family, but the flavor is much more refined. Thought to be native to the Mediterranean area and Asia, leeks have been cultivated for more than 3,000 years and have long been popular in Europe.

Leeks have enjoyed growing popularity in the U.S. Soups may be the most popular use of leeks, but new food combinations are bringing the leek more into the gourmet limelight.

Some old-timers claim that leeks have medicinal qualities. The standard Potter County elixir has often been described as follows: "Eat three messes of leeks each spring and you won't have a fever for the entire year" (for some reason, a one-person serving of leeks is often called a "mess").

Wild leeks, such as those found in the forests of Potter County, are much smaller than the commercial variety and are well-known for their strong aroma and flavor.

If anyone in your immediate vicinity has been eating leeks, you'll know it, due to their distinctive -- and, to so some, unpleasant -- aroma.

There is, however, an easy solution: just gobble down a few leeks yourself and the odor becomes anything but offensive.

In other words, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!