What to eat at Summer Fest

As jazz, blues and salsa return for San Jose Jazz Summer Fest this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 8-10), so too will catfish, barbecue, tacos and sweet potato pie.

Festival-goers will find about 30 food and beverage booths located at and near downtown’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez and the Main Stage, Blues/Big Easy Stage and Latin Stage.

If you plan to frequent the Swing Stage at San Pedro Square, where the music is free, you’ll have plenty of food and drink options at that venue.

Here are our jazz critic’s picks for the top 10 musical acts to see. And when you want to plan your between-sets snacking, here are highlights from the vendor lineup for the festival. You’ll find old favorites and great-sounding newcomers.

NEW FOOD AND DRINK VENDORS

Angelicakes: San Jose baker Grace Mendiola will be selling her banana cream pie, peach-mango turnovers, cupcakes in a dozen flavors and 15 varieties of cookies.

The Saucy Hut: This popular food truck out of Oakland has developed a following for its cheesesteak egg rolls. The menu includes hoagies and steak and shrimp fries too.

Drae’s Lemonade: Expect a long line for these freshly made lemonades in unusual flavors like Watermelon Yuzu.

Yakitori Yado: This booth specializes in Japanese barbecue chicken skewers and matcha drinks.

Fresh Catch Poke: Head to this colorful local truck for tuna poke bowls (shoyu or spicy) topped with seaweed salad.

RETURNING FAVORITES

Nita Bee’s: Summer Fest legend Nita Willis, a San Jose specialty baker, will return for one last year. Don’t miss her sweet potato and pecan pies, fruit cobblers — and she and her team are also making jambalaya.

Lord of the Ribs BBQ: Look for smokehouse favorites — ribs, pulled pork, chicken, hot links and macaroni and cheese — from San Jose pitmaster Ralph Reyes. Tip: The ribs sell out quickly, so order early.

Jollof Kitchen: West African-style jollof rice bowls with assorted toppings.

La Fenice: Returning from last year are these chefs with festival and pop-up cred for their wood-fired pizzas.

Howard Gumbo: Based on a New Orleans family recipe passed down over the generations, this gumbo is filled with fresh crab and shrimp and Louisiana hot links.

Chick N Bros: Nashville-style fried chicken sandwiches.