Sweets, pork belly, more on the Cherry Blossom Festival menu. Here’s our taste test
The 2026 International Cherry Blossom Festival kicked off this weekend as hundreds of people from Middle Georgia and beyond packed downtown Macon for music, rides and — my favorite part — food.
The pinkest party on Earth wouldn’t be complete without a slate of cherry blossom-centric cuisine, and the Macon restaurant scene never fails to deliver.
This year saw old and new favorites participating, including Piedmont Brewery, Layers, Schuster’s Candy & Creamery and Loom.
Guests were able to get a preview of the food and drinks available at the Pink Provisions Party on March 20. Each food item will be available at its respective location for the duration of the festival.
You can see the full list of food and drinks and where to get them online, and even vote for your favorite.
Here’s what I thought of this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival Fare.
Mini Pork Belly Bao, Loom Comfort Kitchen & Cocktails
The mini pork belly bao is a tasty morsel of tender short rib with cherry hoisin barbecue sauce and pickled pink slaw. It’s juicy with a classic, doughy outside that’s pillowy soft. The pork belly is cooked to fatty, tender perfection, and the slaw and sauce add a touch of salty and sweet.
Very Cherry Ice Cream Sandwich, Schuster’s Candy and Creamery
The very cherry ice cream sandwich is a classic treat: cherry ice cream between your choice of two chocolate chip or sugar cookies. The ice cream is cold and refreshing, with chunks of juicy cherries throughout. I got mine between a pair of rich chocolate chip cookies, which added a nice chewiness. Grab lots of napkins, though, because the ice cream will melt fast.
Pink Buffalo Roll-Ups, Amici
While these roll-ups may not look the pinkest on the outside, the dyed pink Buffalo sauce inside immediately makes their name clear. The pink buffalo roll-ups are made with shredded chicken tossed in pink Buffalo sauce and wrapped in deep-fried pizza dough. It comes with a side of blue cheese. The roll-ups are crunchy on the outside with a meaty, flavorful middle, and the Buffalo sauce adds just a touch of heat.
Pink Poodle Mule, Macon Drinks
For those over 21 years old, the pink poodle mule is a refreshing drink that’s perfect to sip on while you wander the festival. It’s made from Tito’s vodka, grapefruit juice, citrus, rosemary and ginger beer. It’s a nice balance of sweet with a touch of sour and has fresh and fragrant notes from the whole sprig of rosemary floating inside.
Cherry Shortcake, Sweet Eleanor’s
A festive riff on a classic strawberry shortcake, Sweet Eleanor’s offering was a sweet way to finish our taste test. The cherry shortcake is made from a fluffy, Southern-style biscuit topped with a fruity cherry mousse and whipped cream. The mousse is rich and creamy with whole cherries, and the biscuit is a perfectly soft vehicle for it. The short cake even comes with an edible cherry blossom printed onto rice paper.