Taste of Wayne offering gourmet 'tastes'
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on September 20, 2015 1:50 AM
Everything from doughnuts and cupcakes to pizza and barbecue will await visitors to the 25th annual Taste of Wayne County.
The fundraiser for United Way of Wayne County will take place Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. downtown in the 200 block of North Center Street in front of City Hall. In case of rain, it will b held Oct. 12 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the same location.
"If you've never been to a Taste, your ticket gets you entrance and the ability to walk around and taste all of the food that the local restaurants have brought for you to sample," United Way community engagement manager Catherine Lechot said.
"You get a punch card because it's not a buffet; it's a taste. These restaurants are taking time out of their day and providing food at no cost to United Way. So we want everybody to get a try of what every restaurant has to offer. That's why we have the punch card."
But not to worry, you won't go away hungry, Mrs. Lechot said.
Between 20 and 25 restaurants will take part in this year's Taste of Wayne County, including some repeat restaurants.
Some new participants this year are Sugar Rush Bakery, Haulin' Hog, Phil's Bar and Smoothie Cove.
The restaurants are judged in 10 categories -- hometown favorites, special occasion dinner, pub grub and appetizers, barbecue, pizza, fast foods, healthy foods, desserts, drinks and breakfast, breads and pastries.
Then there's the coveted People's Choice Award, which is voted on by those attending the event.
During the Taste, there will be live music by Still Kickin' It, local musicians who play classic rock, from noon to 1 p.m. And DJ Johnny Carr will play music throughout the day.
There will also be face painting for the children, and they will be able to use chalk to draw on the streets. United Way is also trying to set up a local farmer's market during the event.
"Our vision for the Taste each year is to grow," Mrs. Lechot said. "Hopefully some day we'll stretch all three blocks of downtown Center Street with artists, local agriculture, local restaurants and two bands, one at each end of the block.
"Last year we had the best attendance we've had in the past several years. The weather was awesome. It was like a rare 85 degrees in October. A nice day always draws people."
Mrs. Lechot said there will be plenty of parking available for the event.
Funds raised go to United Way and its agencies to help local people.
"Your $15 is going to United Way," Mrs. Lechot said. "You're getting to have good food, but you're also giving back to the community. We're all about celebrating Wayne County, and these restaurants have a location here in Wayne County. It's a wonderful event for everybody."
Tickets are available from the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp., Mount Olive Chamber of Commerce, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, Zaxby's and United Way.
Or you can purchase them online at thetasteofwayne.com until Oct. 9.
You can also purchase tickets at the event by cash, check or credit card.
But United Way has only 1,000 tickets available.
Anyone wanting to volunteer at the Taste of Wayne County may go to volunteerwayne.org to sign up. There will be three shifts.
For more information about the event, call United Way at 919-735-3591.