Tasty competition highlights Taste of Wayne
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on October 15, 2017 1:45 AM
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Norman Malayney and Andy and Dawn Anderson enjoy their first Taste of Wayne samples Saturday.
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Manager Michael Beckman, owner Amanda Kear and children’s party planner Brianna Casto serve samples at the Big Jim’s Pizza booth Saturday at Taste of Wayne. They had a variety of pizzas ranging from Greek to Cheeseburger.
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Michele Wiggins and her daughter Emma, 2, try frozen custard from Highway 55 during the Taste of Wayne. Michele had caramel pumpkin cheesecake and Emma ate vanilla. Emma’s parents used the event to expose her to new foods.
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Gerald Wilson and Carl Judah with the Food and Nutrition \nDepartment at Wayne UNC Health Care prepare a chicken stir fry Saturday during the Taste of Wayne in downtown Goldsboro. This year’s event was judged only by votes from people’s choice so competitors not only brought their most \ndelicious dish, they also did what they could to curry favor for votes.\n
One of the community's favorite events got back underway this year after it was canceled in 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew.
The 27th annual Taste of Wayne drew hundreds to the block of Center Street in front of City Hall in downtown Goldsboro Saturday, as 20 restaurants got the chance to strut their stuff.
This year, the event had a twist -- there was no competition.
United Way's community engagement director, Patty Graham, said the competition element -- where judges would score restaurant's dishes in various categories and declare a winner -- was removed to take some stress off the restaurants that came.
"That way we could make it fun for everyone," Graham said. "The competition aspect almost made it into two separate events."
So instead of having a judged competition, this year there was only one award given out -- the people's choice award.
People got their punch cards and voted for their favorite restaurant at the end of it all.
One restaurant that experienced the destruction of Hurricane Matthew firsthand was glad to attend the event for the first time and get some exposure.
Big Jim's Pizza, a local favorite before the hurricane hit in October 2016, was serving up Greek pizza, cheeseburger pizza and more to the eventgoers.
Amanda Kear said it was nice to be able to meet everyone at the event and get the restaurant's name -- and food -- out to the public.
"This is a big opportunity for us," Kear said.
The restaurant and arcade suffered $410,000 in damages because of the flooding Hurricane Matthew caused.
Big Jim's Pizza had only been open for several months when the flooding came, and they just reopened in August 2017.
All the specialty pizzas being tossed at Saturday's event are available at the restaurant, Kear said.
There was another relatively new restaurant in the area at the event for the very first time -- Nai Thai.
A community favorite in Rosewood for the last year, the owners -- Larry and Pik Balio -- just opened a new location on Berkeley Boulevard, also.
The restaurant served up pineapple pork on won ton tacos, as well as some sea fare.
Larry Balio said they wanted to enter the event to get their name out there and benefit the community soup kitchen.
"We get some exposure, and the soup kitchen gets some proceeds," Balio said. "It's a good cause."
And with new faces in the crowd came some old community favorites, much like the Village Steakhouse.
The restaurant did not bring steak, instead opting to make shrimp and grits for everyone.
Owner Pete Kascsak said the restaurant wanted to show everyone they had more to offer than just steak, saying the restaurant even served things like shark and shrimp tacos.
After several hours filled with fun and delicious food, the results for people's choice awards came in.
The Village Steakhouse took home third place; Carl & Chelle's Grill Room received second; and Artis Daily Bread Catering and Restaurant snagged first place.