The 20th annual “Taste of New TampaTM” was a huge success! I want to say special thanks to the Primrose School of Tampa Palms for hosting New Tampa’s signature event. Primrose owners Rick and Jana Radtke truly went out of their way to accommodate the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce. They not only let us use their beautiful Primrose Park, they also created a fabulous kids area, supplied volunteers, pre-sold tons of admission tickets, let us use their truck for set up and break down and so much more! The weather wasn’t perfect, but the event itself was awesome.
We also want to thank all of our sponsors again (see the logos on page 21), including Whole Foods Market in Northdale, which was left off last issue’s list, as were our media sponsors, the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News and the Tampa Bay Times.
We also thank Steven Hernandez of Tampa Bay Sound & Production, who did an awesome job of emceeing the event. The stage, bands and everything he provided were all perfect. Congratulation to the awesome, funky band Nervous Energy for winning the $500 cash prize in this year’s four-band Battle of the Bands.”
Please call Steve for all your production needs at (850) 361-5255.
We also appreciate the Mayor of Tampa, Bob Buckhorn, for his incredible remarks about our wonderful city and the new and improved roads in New Tampa.
The restaurants also did a super job. The food and desserts were delicious!
Thanks, Taste 2013 Restaurants:
Café Ole
Whole Foods
Takara Sake & Sushi Lounge
Domani Bistro Lounge
PDQ of Wesley Chapel
Full Circle Pizza & Grill
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
CherryBerry Yogurt
Betty Cakes of Dade City
Frogury
World of Beer
Toast Fine Wines & Café
Tijuana Flats
PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub & Grille
Little Greek Restaurant
Thanks also to our outstanding panel of judges for this year’s “Best in Show” dining contest at the Taste: Chefs Peter Gambacorta and Pina Frieni of Private Chef of Tampa and Gary and Joyce Gunter- the Chamber’s great friends and Pina A. Frieni (see pic on page 21). And, the winners were:
Best In Show
Takara Sushi & Sake Lounge
Best Appetizer
First Place – Takara Sushi,
Torched Salmon Roll
Second Place – Domani Bistro Lounge,
Rolled Grapes
Third Place – Whole Foods Market,
Pineapple Mango
Best Entrée
First Place – Domani Bistro,
Duck Confit
Second Place – Café Olé, Paella
Third Place – PDQ,
Chicken Tenders
Best Dessert
First Place – Bruster’s Real Ice Cream,
Blueberry Cheesecake
Second Place – Betty Cakes,
Raspberry Cream Muffin
Third Place – CherryBerry Yogurt Bar,
Sea Salt Vanilla Caramel
Congratulations to all of the winners!
I also really want to really thank my team: Executive Assistant Jayne Baker; VP Neil Heird; Secretary John Lore; Treasurer Karen Hilton; and Board members Earl Meyer, Mark Lange and Rachel Haviland, as well as Gary Nager, the publisher & editor of the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, for his publicity of the 20th Annual “Taste of New Tampa” and his hard work and dedication to recruiting restaurants for this year’s event!
Mark Your Calendars!
I encourage all businesses to attend our monthly luncheons on the second Tuesday of each month, currently held at 11:30 a.m., at Hunter’s Green Country Club. We want to encourage a business- to-business discount for all members. Call me with your offer and I will provide emails and flyers to promote your offering. That is what a Chamber of Commerce is all about!
On line registrations for events are important to provide the best Chamber experiences! For more info and a complete list of upcoming New Tampa Chamber of Commerce events, visit NewTampaChamber.org.
No comment yet, add your voice below!