Don’t let the “BBQ” in Roots N Blues N BBQ fool you. This year’s 15 vendors will serve much more than barbecue at this year’s event.

“We opened it up to more vendors to bring in a variety of food,” vendor coordinator Danielle Hart says. “With the growth spurt of Roots N Blues, we wanted to focus on the festival and making it the best that we could.”

With so many options, here are a few suggestions for which vendors you shouldn’t miss:

1. Coming all the way from Nashville, **Dan’s Gourmet Mac & Cheese** is a vendor you should be sure to stop by. Owner Dan Stephenson says the three varieties of mac and cheese he plans to serve will “blow your mind.”

Hart first discovered Stephenson over the summer at Bonnaroo Music Festival, and she knew that he was a must-have for the festival.

“We reinvented mac and cheese,” Stephenson says. “And we do it better than anyone else in the country.”

2. Another place you must try is **Pizza Tree.** The Columbia restaurant is located inside of Mojo’s, and has been receiving a lot of hype since its opening in January.

“My pizza tastes great, and we pizza party really hard,” owner Johnny Gilbreth says.

Pizza Tree will be serving three types of pizza by the slice, including a barbecue pizza and some vegetarian options.

But note this: Gilbreth prefers to be called Johnny G because he’s “kind of like Madonna.”

3. If you’re looking for traditional barbecue, try **Smokin’ Chick’s BBQ**. The local restaurant has been a vendor since the festival’s first year. Lissa Gaw-Orscheln and her husband “Chick” Orscheln run the company.

“Smokin’ Chick’s BBQ prepares smoked meats with a special dry rub, then smokes them for hours to tender perfection,” says Lissa Gaw-Orscheln.

Some items on the menu include pulled pork, ribs, brisket and their new award-winning jerky.

4. Lastly, make sure to try **Festi Café**, owned by Andrew Bean of Springfield, Mo. The Roots N Blues crew discovered Festi at a fair in St. Louis. This will be its first year as a vendor.

“We make food that no one else has ever seen before,” Bean says.

One item on the menu Bean highlights is “The Ultimate Burger,” which is two grilled cheese sandwiches with a burger, pulled pork and bacon in the middle.