Taste of the Southside expands its menu

By Submission For The Southside Times

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Food and wine enthusiasts should start preparing their palates for Sunday’s 18th annual Taste of the Southside. This popular community event will feature food and beverage samples from more than 40 restaurants, bakeries, caterers and wineries. New for 2010 Four local chefs will showcase their culinary talents in an “iron chef” cook-off. The challengers are Keith Angell, Hal’s Fabulous Vegas Bar and Grille; Richard Goss, Richard’s Kitchen; Aaron O`Mara, Augustino’s Italian Restaurant; and Chris Porter, Bravo Italian Kitchen. The participating chefs will have only 30 minutes to prepare three dishes that must incorporate a plate of secret ingredients revealed to them just before their time begins. Each chef will have access to a pantry of cooking staples and common spices. All dishes will be judged on plate presentation, flavor, portion size and how creatively they incorporate the secret ingredients. The cook-offs will take place at 4:30 and 6 p.m. Attendance hit an all-time high in 2009 so organizers are expanding the event layout to create more elbow room where attendees can nibble and network to their heart’s content. In all, this year’s guests will enjoy 25,000 square feet of food and fun. In addition to cheering for the chefs and enjoying more breathing — and eating — room, Taste attendees can bid on a variety of auction items. Proceeds from this year’s feature auction item will benefit the American Red Cross Haiti relief efforts. That featured auction item is an autographed Peyton Manning action photo from Super Bowl XLI, along with a commemorative Super Bowl XLI trading card set, both matted and framed. The estimated value of this exciting collectible is more than $1,000. In addition to Colts memorabilia, the Taste offers a popular silent auction featuring sports memorabilia, wine baskets, restaurant gift certificates and getaway packages. “We are proud to partner with Community Health Network in delivering this hallmark community event to Southside food and beverage lovers and are thrilled that this event has become a tradition people look forward to attending. We have fun spicing it up to create a memorable experience each year,” said Christian Maslowski, executive director at the Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. Participants A Piece of Cake Albatross Pizza Emporium America’s Incredible Pizza Company Cold Stone Creamery GFS Marketplace Kinetico Quality Water Systems Moe’s Southwest Grill Oliver Winery Wing’n It Arni’s Restaurant Bravo Italian Kitchen Chateau Thomas Winery Fireside Brewhouse Napoli Villa Italian Restaurant Jonathan Byrd’s Catering & Banquets Max & Erma’s The Cheesecake Factory The Melting Pot Hal’s Fabulous Vegas Bar & Grille Paradise Bakery & Café Mallow Run Winery Qdoba Mexican Grill Community Hospital South Nutrition & Food Services Donatos Pizza Sammy’s Pizza and Salad Buck Creek Winery Gallagher’s Place Easley Winery Monarch Beverage Brozinni Pizza McAlister’s Deli Shallo’s Antique Restaurant Smoke Eaters BBQ Don Pablo’s Stir Crazy The Coffee Shop Aqua Systems Cakes by Cathy Sunshine Bakery Applebee’s Fairytales Custom Cakery Mexico City Grill Noodles and Company Richard’s Kitchen When: 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 31 Where: Valle Vista Golf Club and Conference Center, 755 E. Main St., Greenwood Tickets: $30 for one, $50 for two in advance; $35 each at the door Additional Info: Attendees must be 21 or older Web: Visit www.greenwood-chamber.com

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