PARKERSBURG - Entering its fourth year, the Taste of Parkersburg seeks to introduce participants to the many varieties of food and beverages available in the Parkersburg area.
The Taste will be 5 to 11 p.m. Sept. 19 at Third and Market streets next to the Blennerhassett Hotel in downtown Parkersburg.
"Our goal is to make sure we're presenting to a broad group of visitors what there is to offer within the independent restaurant world (in Parkersburg)," said Cecil Childress, general manager of the Blennerhassett Hotel.
"The restaurants that are in here are extremely unique and they are specific to this area," Childress said.
"This really does represent, in a lot of ways, some of the best food and beverage that Parkersburg has to offer," he said.
Advance tickets are $10 through Sept. 14 and will be $15 at the gate on the date of the event. Admission includes a complimentary logo wine glass for sampling while those who prefer beer will also receive a logo pilsner glass.
Advance tickets will be available at the Parkersburg/Wood County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Blennerhassett Hotel and all WesBanco branches. Information is also available online at www.tasteofparkersburg.com. All ticket holders will be eligible for a series of special prize drawings during the evening.
Once admitted to the event, Childress said visitors will purchase $1 tickets that can be used with food or wine vendors at the Taste for specific foods and beverages, ranging from $1 to $5 in value.
The food vendors will be serving food until 9 p.m. and the wine vendors will serve until 10 p.m. The entertainment will end at 11 p.m. during the event.
The participating restaurants are scheduled to include; Angelos' Great Steak Grill, Chams Lebanese Cuisine, Colombo's Restaurant, Da Vinci's, Holl's Swiss Chocolatier, Other Side, Polo Lounge, Star of India, Spats at The Blennerhassett, Tampico's Mexican Restaurant, Third Street Deli and Yancy's Five-Star Catering.
Others may sign up by the weekend of the event, Childress said.
This year's program will feature more boutique beers, he said. The wine and beer vendors will include: Alexander Valley Vineyards, Allen Scott, Broadbent Selections Inc., Cape Classics, Elizabeth Spencer Wines, Emerald Wines, Evergreen Vineyards, Excellars Wine Agency, Falcor Wines, Jefferson Vineyard, North End Tavern, Old Bridge Cellars, Peachy Canyon, Premium Port Imports, Proud Eagle, San Francisco Wine Exchange, Toscano in Appalachia, Vineyard Brands, Vintage '59 Imports, White Hall Vineyards, Wine Connection and WineTree Vineyards.
Childress said there will be a new addition to this year's format.
"One of the things we're trying to do this year, which we've wanted to do from the beginning, is to try to make a weekend of it. We have added an additional event on Friday evening that is a wine education seminar," he said.
Prior to the Taste, the wine tasting and education program will be 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Blennerhassett.
The new event is $40 per person and will feature hors d'oeuvres and wine provided by The Blennerhassett Hotel. During the program, participants will learn to taste, judge and evaluate wine and learn to distinguish between different flavors and styles of wines from around the world, describe them to others and match them with various types of food. Following an intermission, the second half of the program will focus on Bordeaux wines.
The program will be presented by former Vienna resident and professional wine educator Robert Cavanaugh. Childress said Cavanaugh will also participate in the Taste event on Sept. 19. He and his staff will have a separate tent where they will give small wine seminars, called "wine shots," during the Taste, beginning at 6 p.m. and offered on the hour each hour.
"It should be a very nice addition to the event," Childress said.
As it did the first three years, the Taste of Parkersburg will have several local artists participating in the event, exhibiting their works for display or sale.
