Taste of Santa Monica on tap
Sampling the menus of the best restaurants in Santa Monica would normally take days and hundreds, if not, thousands of dollars.
But at the Taste of Santa Monica, it’ll only take five hours and 30 bucks.
Sunday at the Santa Monica Pier will be a day filled with food, drink and entertainment. The event will feature 36 local restaurants that will prepare specialty dishes that range from duck confit, shrimp and papaya salad, Hawaiian style barbecue ribs, Korean fire chicken and caramelized banana tart.
Food lovers can eat to their heart’s content and learn some tips and techniques for preparing gourmet cuisine from culinary experts representing some of the best restaurants Santa Monica has to offer.
“We have some of the best restaurants in the world,” said Kathryn Dodson, executive director of the chamber of commerce, which is hosting the event. “This is kind of a microcosm of Santa Monica.”
Professional culinary art instructor Chef Hailey Nghyen and some of Santa Monica’s finest chefs will attempt to dazzle tastegoers with culinary demonstrations throughout the day. The demonstrations are developed to inspire the crowd, and to give novice gastronomes basic instruction so they can try recreating the menus at home.
“We have some tantalizing presentations and charismatic chefs slated for the demo stage,” Dodson said. “I advise all home-chefs to bring their notepads and cameras. We’re having a lot of fun putting the event together and expect the crowd will enjoy the show.”
Last year was the first time the chamber held the event, which had 24 booths and attracted 600 people. This year will have 42 booths and the event will be capped at 2,500 people. Half of the tickets have been sold and Dodson expects the other half will be sold at the event.
“We capped it so it can be a great event for everyone... it’s not about cramming a bunch of people in and making a ton of money,” Dodson said. “We want it to be high quality and make it a signature event.”
The sounds by Os Bohemos and the voices of the New Directions choir will fill the air while patrons savor food from the most recognized restaurants in Santa Monica.
Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for students and $10 for children ages 4 through 10. Ticket price includes all food. There is an additional charge for soda, water and alcoholic beverages. Tickets available at www.tasteofsantamonica.com or (310) 393 9825, ext. 16.
The event, which goes from noon to 5 p.m., includes the following restaurants:
Acadie Hand Crafted French Crepes
Bistro 31
Blue Forest Bakery
Bravo Cucina and Bravo Pizzeria
Buca di Beppo
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Coral Tree Café
Duke's Malibu
El Cholo
Fairmont Miramar Hotel
Gladstone’s Malibu
Hooters i Cugini Restaurant
Italian Volcano Juices
La Vecchia Cucina
La Serenata de Garibaldi
Library Alehouse
The Lobster
Locanda Del Lago
Loews, Santa Monica Beach Hotel
Louise's Trattoria
Lula Cocina
Mariasol
Marina Del Rey Marriott Hotel
Michael's Restaurant
Monsoon Cafe
New Directions
Ocean Avenue Seafood
Rusty's Surf Ranch
Sushi Roku
Union Restaurant
The Victorian
Vienna Pastry
Whole Foods Market
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 19, 2003. Read the original PDF.