2012 Taste of Southcoast

SRyan May 2, 2012 Best of the South Coast, Events Leave a comment

shonna-mcgrail-writer-pic — By Shonna McGrail

It’s the month of May, and that means something great for the City of New Bedford; the Taste of SouthCoast is rapidly approaching. On Sunday May 20th it will mark the 6th year that Custom Square will be home to samplings of some of the area’s finest cuisine, and you can hear stomachs rumbling already. This yearly tradition has become one of New Bedford’s most talked about events, and with good reason.

Taste of SouthCoast highlights something that this region does exceptionally well; food. With great cultural variety and often fresh ingredients from both ocean and farm, the SouthCoast is a food lover’s heaven. You simply cannot consider yourself a culinary connoisseur if you do not make your way Downtown for this event. Currently, there are sixteen local eateries that will be doling out samples come rain or shine. Taste of SouthCoast is still recruiting, and anticipates over twenty-five restaurant options for eager taste buds to test out.

The restaurants that have already committed to Taste of SouthCoast offer great diversity. New Bedford favorite No Problemo’s will be present with their mouth watering Mexican food, as will the distinguished Cork Wine and Tapas Bar. A new downtown addition, Braza Rotisserie should make for a savory newcomer (their menu of rotisserie chicken and ribs looks incredible), and there will be other participants from outside the downtown area as well. For example, Dartmouth’s Ayur-Shri will be there with Indian cuisine, and Fairhaven’s ever eclectic and delicious Narragansett Star Cafe will have a table as well. For those with a sweet tooth, Taste of SouthCoast has you covered with Pink Box Desserts and Dorothy Cox’s Chocolates.

Taste of SouthCoast isn’t just about the food however; there’s always the drink for those 21+. New England crafted beers will be featured, and for the wine lover Travesia will be present with their locally grown and bottled wines. There will also be soft drinks available from Cafe Arrpegio for the younger or non-drinking crowd. Keep in mind that beverages are not included in the ticket price.

With great food and great drink comes a vibrant atmosphere, which is why Taste of SouthCoast has become a jam-packed event in years past. This event is not just about sampling flavorful eats; it also offers friendly competition between these restaurants as participants cast votes for “People’s Choice” and “Best Booth Presentation”. In addition to the fun of voting, Taste of SouthCoast really adds to the atmosphere by throwing live music into the mix. This year two very popular local bands will be performing on stage; The Relics and The J. Kelley Band. Both bands are upbeat and sure to get people partying throughout the day.

Taste of SouthCoast starts at noon and ends at 5pm. As previously mentioned, this event is held at Custom Square in Downtown New Bedford. Tickets are $15.00 for adults if purchased in advance and can be bought online at http ://www .downtownnb .org /taste 2012.html. You can find tickets for children ages 6-12 at the same site, and these are only $5.00 (free for children 5 and under). Tickets may also be purchased at many of the participating restaurants, and at Douglas Wine and Spirits, Cardoza’s, and Acme Liquors on Dartmouth Street. If you decide to buy tickets on the day of the event it will cost you $18.00 at the door. Tents are set up so keep in mind that this event will go on, no matter the weather!

There is a Facebook event created here: http://www.facebook.com/events/375708662468040/ Invite your friends and family!

2012 Taste of Southcoast Winners

People’s Choice Food