Seconds are great, but visitors to the square will soon be able to have a third helping of some local flavor.
From 5 to 8 p.m. on July 20, the public is invited to the third installment of the Taste of Washington, during the eighth annual Heartland Pride Celebration. Treats such as pizza, brisket sandwiches, chicken puff pie, meatball sandwiches and stuffed mushrooms from area restaurants and caterers will be available.
Candy Liggin, office manager at the Washington Chamber of Commerce, said organizers are hoping for a turnout similar to the Taste’s two previous years.
“It was overwhelming,” Liggin said. “We’re anticipating at least as big a crowd if not bigger this year.”
Liggin said that 10 food vendors will offer samplings of their cuisine at the Taste of Washington. Members of the chamber will sell water, soda and lemonade shake-ups.
The vendors are Monical’s Pizza, Royal Dragon, Gracie’s Chicago Style Grille, Maria’s, Countryside Banquet Facility, Chef’s Catering, Bernardi’s, Grand Victorian, Basta O’Neil’s and Denhart’s Baking Co.
Three judges from the food industry, who are yet to be named, will sample submitted dishes and present awards for the best of Washington Taste overall, best appetizer, best entrée and best dessert.
Traveling trophies will be presented to the best-decorated booth and the winner of the Wait Staff Olympics, a competition in which teams of two members from each booth can show off their serving skills by participating in events such as setting a table and carrying a full tray. So far, Liggin said six of this year’s vendors have teams participating in the challenge.
Last year’s winners of the best-decorated booth, Denhart’s Baking Co., and the Wait Staff Olympics, Countryside Banquet Facilities, will both be back to defend their titles and attempt to keep the trophy for another year.
This year, food tickets will be sold at a booth during the event. The tickets will be used to purchase food from each individual vendor. Tickets are $1 each and food items range from one to five tickets each.
A live DJ will provide music during the event.
The Cherry Festival raffle drawing will also take place that evening. Ambassadors began selling tickets at this year’s Cherry Festival. Tickets are currently available from ambassadors and chamber board members. They are $5 each or five for $20, and can also be purchased at the Taste of Washington until the drawing at 6 p.m. Prizes include a $1,000 Visa gift card and a $500 New Dimension Spa gift card.
WMBD-TV Channel 31 will broadcast the news live from the square at 5 and 6 p.m. The channel’s former “Heartland Pride” segment is how the Washington event got its name.
“Each year it catches on a little bit more and I think each year we learn a little more,” Liggin said. “It’s amazing how many people pack the square.”
