Mmm, Mmm good ... and a good cause, too
By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 12, 2014 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Jo Morris, owner of JoJo's Tea and Coffee Shop, serves her famous shepherd's pie.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
From left, Doris Lewis, Gracie Lewis and Garianne Howell of Carl and Chelle's Grill Room serve meat to visitors at their booth at the Taste of Wayne.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Annabelle Keefer, 2, enjoys a smoothie while her dad, Steve Keefer, samples some of the other treats available in sample sizes Saturday.
"Unbelievable," Ed Cogdell said as he watched the long line of people moving through the serving line for Ed's Southern Food & Spirits.
He was particularly excited with the response since his new restaurant will not open until Oct. 27 at the old Central Lunch building.
Adding to that excitement was that the crowd enjoying all of the different food booths at the annual Taste of Wayne County were also helping a worthwhile cause -- United Way of Wayne County.
"I am very, very excited." Cogdell said. "I think it is great to see so many familiar faces. Goldsboro needs more things like this. Everyone seems to be having a great time and the response has been truly overwhelming."
For nearly three hours Saturday both sides of North Center Street in front of City Hall were turned into one gigantic smorgasbord of desserts, appetizers and main courses. There were cupcakes, barbecue, chicken and even locally produced honey.
The 24th annual event, a fundraiser for United Way, attracted 23 participants. People bought tickets that allowed them to visit each booth to sample the wares.
The band Queen Anne's Revenge provided music and there were numerous door prizes.
The attendees also voted on the People's Choice Award.
And for the third year in a row, that honor went to Carl and Chelle's Grill Room. And this year, the event's highest honor also included a $1,000 check, which was provided by U.s. Foods.
Second place went to Ed's Southern Foods & Spirits and third place to JJ Ashley.
Category winners were: breakfast, breads and pastries, Great Harvest Bread Co.; pub grub and appetizers, Railhouse 1842; hometown favorite, JoJo's; special occasion dinner, Ed's; barbecue, Railhouse 1842; pizza, Pizza Inn; fast foods, Zaxby's; health food, Great Harvest; dessert, Ed's; and drinks, Cottle Farms.
"I have been working in restaurants all of my life and it is just something that I really, really enjoy," Cogdell said.
What he is doing is a bit original for the city, Cogdell said.
"We are doing a farm to table concept," he said. "Fresh local seafood is brought in from Beaufort twice a week, never frozen. We are using local produce farmers from around our county. We use local cheeses. We are using local cattlemen and hog farmers. We are just trying to redistribute back to our economy when we can by using local folks. I think it will be nice."
The Rev. Tim Synder of Mount Olive said the shepherd's pie he tasted at JoJo's during the event was just as good as the ones he has eaten during trips to England.
Synder and his daughter, Suzanne, arrived about 11:30 and wasted no time making the rounds.
"We are almost done. We have almost made it around," she said less than an hour later.
"I knew there was going to be a little of this and a little of that," Synder said. "My thought was, 'I will still walk away from here hungry.' But by the time you go to 20 places, a little bit of this and a little bit of that, you just get filled up and get a taste of everything."
His daughter agreed.
"It think it is fantastic," Miss Synder said. "Me and Daddy love eating, so a thing like this is great. It is really awesome because you get to try little bits at each restaurant and it is honestly making us want to go to some of these restaurants we have never been to before."
With only as handful of booths left to visit, Synder said that Carl & Chelle was his favorite.
Michelle Lewis is the Chelle of Carl and Chelle's that she and husband Carl have operated for the past three years at 702 Corporate Drive, a service road off U.S. 70.
"We enjoy coming out," she said. "We always meet a lot of people. It is a way that we can come out and support the community and also gain a lot of new customers.
"We anticipate a big crowd every year at the Taste of Wayne. It is a big group effort with all of the staff to get all of the food prepared for this number of people. I think it is a great thing."
Mrs. Lewis said that it was fortunate that her husband loves cooking because she doesn't.
"I do everything else, but he is definitely in charge of the cooking," she said. "He trains everybody at the restaurant, shows them his techniques. The rubs and everything that we use are all his recipes. Secret, very, very secret, but we do sell them.
"We only use certified Angus beef so that is kind of what sets us apart from other restaurants in town."
But along with the fun and the business interest, Mrs. Lewis said she enjoys being a part of the community event.
"It is a way to help support the community and the United Way and downtown Goldsboro," she said.