> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Taste of Santa Monica brings nearly 40 restaurants to the Pier parking lot - URL: https://www.smdp.com/091507-story-20070915/ - Published: 2007-09-15T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T02:53:19.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Events, Downtown, #archive-import DOWNTOWN Foodies, feast your eyes on this. The culinary masterpieces of close to 40 Santa Monica and Los Angeles restaurants will converge on one spot Sunday afternoon, when the parking lot of the Santa Monica Pier will be transformed into an Epicurean’s paradise. The Taste of Santa Monica has been dazzling the palates of so-called foodies and casual diners alike for the past six years, giving local businesses the chance to expose their cuisine to an audience of more than 2,200 people. The Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event will be held in the city that was honored with the distinction of serving the best cuisine in Southern California last year by Zagat, the leading restaurant rating service. The vendors in this year’s event will run the culinary gamut, from the luxurious offerings of Asian fusion restaurant Tengu to the family friendly dining experience of Sizzler. The world of prepared food will even have representation with the participation of Famima, a Japanese convenience store on the Third Street Promenade. “What separates this from other ‘Tastes’ is that it’s outside, open air and on the beach,” said Laurel Rosen, the chair of the Taste of Santa Monica planning committee. “You get this wonderful cross breeze, the beautiful sky above you and it’s lovely.” Rosen is the director of sales and marketing for The Lobster, one of the participants and executive chef sponsors of the event. A fare of $45 will get each guest a “taste treasure map” to take to every booth. Once a guest receives a stamp from each vendor, proving that they’ve sampled from each restaurant at least once, they can go back for seconds. The purpose of the stamps is to ensure every restaurant is able to reach all the guests. Chef demonstrations will be held throughout the day, starting at 1 p.m. with a show by chefs from Locanda Del Lago. Their presentation will be followed by demonstrations by the Art Institute of California — Los Angeles, Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom and the Victorian at Heritage Square. The biggest buzz will most likely come from the popular Wine Garden, where for an additional $10, guests can have access to unlimited samplings from 15 to 20 local wineries. The Taste of Santa Monica started with relatively humble beginnings. Initiated by former Chamber of Commerce Kathy Dodson, the first Taste was held in the Looff Hippodrome carousel building, with 23 restaurants and about 600 guests. Attendance increased gradually over the years and skyrocketed to more than 2,000 when the event was moved to the parking lot a few years ago. The Taste has helped out small business participants over the years, including Rusty’s Surf Ranch on the pier, benefiting from the added exposure. The local staple has participated in the event since its inception in 2002, serving its famous crab cakes. “It’s always a great day at the restaurant because we do see new people after,” said Kevin McVearry, the general manager of Rusty’s. The theme of the ’07 Taste will revolve around environmental issues, highlighting nonprofit organizations Heal the Bay and Sustainable Works. All published material has been printed on 30 percent post-consumer recycled paper and the chamber has encouraged vendors to supply sustainable products. “It’s a first,” said Sheila Estaniel, the director of marketing and events for the Chamber of Commerce. “We’re planning on putting tips for people to follow so they can... be green in their own environment as well.” The Taste of Santa Monica will be held from noon to 4 p.m. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 15, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091507.pdf?ref=smdp.com)