‘It just keeps getting bigger and better’: Oodles of Noodles festival returns to Halifax

Quinpool Road hosts Oodles of Noodles– and serves-up a variety of noodles at 11 participating restaurants

For the third straight year, the Quinpool Road Mainstreet District Association (QRMDA) in Halifax, N.S., is serving Oodles of Noodles to the community.

“Oodles of Noodles has been going now for three years. It just keeps getting bigger and better. And every year we have more restaurants participating,” executive director Karla Nicholson told CTV News.

“This year we are doing those noodles from March 11 to the 17th, and we have 11 participating restaurants on the street doing just about every kind of noodle you can think of.”

From sweet dessert noodles to savory courses and even breakfast noodles, there is something for everyone.

The festival was conceived as a unique way to showcase the restaurants that are found in and around Quinpool Road during a time when sales are traditionally low.

“I thought Quinpool Road has such a wonderful array of restaurants that offer some of the best noodle dishes in the city,” said Jennie Dobbs, owner of Morris East and a QRMDA member. “And it was an event that we could all participate in and showcase some of our best dishes.”

Dobbs approached the QRMDA with the idea, and Nicholson knew it would be a hit.

“We wanted to celebrate all the different cultural restaurants we have on the street. So, we tried to come up with the type of dish that was easy and not very expensive,” said Nicholson. As always there will be new and fan favourite noodle items from the different restaurants – including pistachio rice noodle soup, Bamba di Pasta, ramen, and even a Nutella noodle cheesecake.

“The feedback we received during the event the last couple of years was incredible and extremely positive. We couldn’t wait to have the event again this year,” said Nicholson in a news release about the event.

Dobb adds the location of Quinpool Road makes it an attractive week.

“They have the ability to walk to Quinpool Road and bring their families here. So, it’s really got great traction and it’s a really nice family event, but it’s also really fun,” she said.

When asked why the noodle festival is held in March, Nicholson said there are a number of reasons.

“We’re still in a month where people want comfort food. We didn’t want to interfere with Burger Week or Dine Around and we also wanted to try and catch the beginning of March break,” she said.

“And it is national noodle month.”

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