VERO BEACH — Say you had the time and the money to do it, you still could not eat at all the restaurants that participated in last night’s Taste of Vero. Restaurant Rut can be an issue in Vero Beach, so this annual event was a chance to sample old favorites and find new ones. The gastronomic outdoor gala was put together by the Oceanside Business Association and took place along Ocean Drive.
Along both sides of the street, which remained open to motorists during the event, merchants sponsored 18 local restaurants and caterers, who shared samples of their best cuisine and hospitality from their establishments, all to benefit The Youth Guidance Mentoring and Activities Program.
More than 350 gastronomes paid $35 per ticket for the epicurean experience, checked off boxes on ballots provided.
Baci, a restaurant on 14th Avenue, was sponsored by Coldwell Banker Realtors, who also sponsored Paul Conti, of Casereccio Cakes, and is most recently famous for winning “Cupcake Wars” on the Food Network. Local realtor Pat Zangre Cappello was happily dishing out cupcakes and serving red wine, as Andre Bocelli (on CD) sang in an italian courtyard set up in front of Humiston Park.
“What’s not to like about good italian food and cupcakes,” laughed Cappello.
Costa d’Este set up two of their signature pool lounges, with a cocktail table for diners to relax.
Local resident Julian Fojon pronounced the scallops, jumbo shrimp, and plantain chips “amazing!”
Post card weather prevailed as the sun set and ocean breezes blew gently as a mix of locals and visitors sampled the array of cuisines, while wandering into stores open later for the event.
Epicurean delights included refreshing white wine sangria and tiny, delicious Reubens in eggroll wraps by Chef Lou Kolbauer of Wild Thyme Catering at the Longbranch Saloon.
Flavorful carrot and fennel soup and roasted red pepper soup were served in miniature bread bowls, along with “Southbound Train” chicken, a delightfully spicy dish, by Gator Kate’s, a local catering company whose mission is to cook using local ingredients.
“We have Veggies of Vero to thank for the soup,” said owner Kathleen Fouche.
Joey’s Seafood Shack served its award winning lobster bisque along with its signature fish dip. Located at 1800 US 1 in Vero Beach, Joey’s sells some of the freshest seafood in the area, and now serves lunch, and reservation only dinners on Friday and Saturday nights.
Proving the old adage that your eyes really are bigger than your stomach, some diners were looking a bit queasy after only checking off four boxes.
“You have to have a strategy,” advised one participant. “You can’t eat the whole sample, or you won’t make it.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if we could do this over two nights,” said one woman. “We still have half this side of the street, and then the whole other side.”
“We’ll tough it out,” her husband said, leading her to the next destination.
Other gourmands were happily making their way to sample the salted caramel turtle sundae ice cream in freshly made waffle cones, the smell of which could add five pounds to any physique, served by Kilwins.
“People were throwing down their tickets saying they didn’t think they could eat another bite,” said Julie Denning, who owns Kilwins with her husband, Jeff. “Their eyes were a little glazed over, but suddenly they had an appetite.”
