“Over 50 restaurants and caterers serve up all the food you can eat, all the wine & beer you can drink, plus top-notch entertainment, silent & live auctions in a beautiful garden setting.” And this year we got another great teaser, check out the great photo by Laura Kirchhoff, Taste of the Town at Sunrise…
Exhausted. Even though as a media sponsor we were given VIP seating and full table service, we felt compelled to leave our shady seats, plate after plate of tantalizing treats and two bottles of wine – and walk the whole entire event from one end to the other.
We started by checking in with a few of the hardworking people that made this year’s event a success.
Lois Bauccio, President and Executive Director, Child and Family Center Foundation commented, “We are touched and gratified by the incredible outpouring of support from the community for the event this year. It means so much to the kids and families who receive services at Child and Family Center.”
Laina McFerren, Co-Founder, Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewery and event co-chair along with Ginger Levang, “We are so lucky to live in a community that supports its non-profits in such a big way. Thanks to all of the sponsors, Child and Family Center staff and volunteers who made this day possible. It definitely ‘takes a village’ and the whole village seemed to show up yesterday! We couldn’t have asked for a better day in support of a better cause. Looking forward to 2016!”
Also got this lovely quote from Jennifer Gerard, President and CEO of Whitening Lightning, Gerard Cosmetics Inc., and the “Top Chef” sponsor of the event, “Taste of the Town is always SCV’s greatest event of the year. Attendees can count on great food, music and fun just the way residents of this town can count on our Child and Family Center to be there for us and our families during times of crisis.”
Now with our handy acrylic plates, we braved the heat to keep our plates and glasses filled. Not a problem for any seasoned TOTTers, we enjoyed photographing friends and filling up from:
Participants:
Angel City Brewery – IPA was refreshing.
Anheuser Busch
Bake You Happy – They had a nice selection but I stopped at the Brown Butter Cookies…
Bella Cucina – Looked like you could get your fill of pasta, risotto and rolls!
Bergie’s Steakhouse Bar & Grill – Juicy steak on a toothpick did the trick!
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse – Yummy artichoke spinach dip!
Castaic Lake Water Agency – Much needed and appreciated cool bottled water!
Clarice’s Cake & Candy – Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate drenched strawberries.
Culinary Wonders – Doing demonstrations while serving Chilled watercress soup, Moroccan spiced beef and Matcha chocolate tarts; all excellent.
Eat Real Café – Gallons of hand squeezed juices cooled the crowd.
Fetzer Vineyards – A sweet Chardonnay and balanced Merlot were waiting at our table for me to open and sample!
Fireman’s Brew
Henry Mayo Café – Who knew that their Café was so good? They served up a cool-looking salad.
Honu Coffee – Perfect day for their Cold Brew.
Institute of Culinary Education at COC – Wowing us again with a stellar presentation of cheese, fruit and breads.
Island Pacific Grill
Lohr Vineyard & Wines – Back for another year to support our Child and Family Center.
Jasmine Thai Noodle & BBQ – Three different dishes but we were too full to sample them!
Jersey Mike’s Subs – Served up ½-size subs!
Jill’s Cake Creations – A white cake with whipped cream and strawberries was terrific.
Kokolita Cakes – Served as usual by 50s costumed ladies, people loved their yummy signature cupcakes and empanadas.
Kona Ice of Santa Clarita
Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que – Very good Pulled Pork Slider and full-sized bottles of their BBQ sauce were free in exchange for your email!
Magnavino – A “Beautiful” white wine blend – look for it!
Marston’s
Mystic Hills Vineyard – Serving up their award-winning Unforgiven blend.
New Moon Valencia
Newhall Refinery – Food looked great (Octopus Ceviche and Chicken Liver Toast) but it was the Moscow Mules from their new craft cocktail menu I was drooling for.
Nothing Bundt Cakes – An awesome array of their frosted Bundt-lets!
Nuggucciet Cellars – Get your hands on the 2013 Pinot Noir – and don’t let go!
Parashars’ Indian Kitchen – I had always wanted to try them, and their spicy sauces over chicken didn’t disappoint.
Persia Restaurant
Pinot’s Palette
Pocock Brewing Company
Rattlers Bar-B Que
Regal Wine Company
Rita’s Italian Ice – Flavors this year included Mango, Strawberry Colada and…Marshmallow Peanut Butter!
Robinson Ranch – Serving up healthy pours of Stag’s Leap Chardonnay, paired with Ahi Poke and Caesar Salad.
Rubio’s
Salt Creek Grille Catering – Hot Dog Slider with Spicy Cucumber Relish and Creamy House Mustard. Heirloom Tomato Sandwich with Smoke Corn Aioli! Paired with a Jalapeno Meyer Lemon Drop!!
Signal Wine Club
Sisley Italian Kitchen
solita Tacos & Margaritas – Serving up their popular signature roasted corn, tacos and Margaritas!
StoneFire Grill
Stone Oven – Moist and meaty Panini triangles.
The Paseo Club – Pork and Mango tacos.
The Shrimp Haus
Valencia Country Club
Valencia Cigars & News
Vines Restaurant & Bar – Seafood Cocktail, very popular!
Whole Foods Market Valencia – GIGANTIC fresh oysters and Ahi Poke. Did you know that they have $1 Oysters on Fridays???
Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co.
Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill
Wine Pavilion featuring select wines from local wineries. (Sponsored by: Signal Wine Club)
Note: If we missed a table it wasn’t due to lack of interest or crowds, we were just getting to full! Next year we will start in the back of the event…maybe!
Story in a bazillion photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10205486763675912.1073741915.1455706632&type=1&l=83890ed442
LIVE AUCTION ITEMS
* Private Party for 20 at Piccola Trattoria
* DC Comics Super Hero Birthday Party for 6 at Six Flags Magic Mountain
* Custom Made Dress by Barbara Moore of Dream Dress
* One week at beachfront home in Mission Beach
* 3-night stay for up to 8 in a 2,536 square foot luxury villa in La Costa plus $500 gift card
* 6 nights retreat at a cabin in Arrowhead
* 7 nights in Maui at a 4,000 square foot home on the beach
* 3 nights for two in New York at the New York Hilton, with dinner at Tribeca & Broadway Show including airfare
* Wine pairing dinner for 8 prepared and served to your guests in your home
* One week in Vail Colorado (November 14-21) at Marriott’s Streamside Resort
* Four night stay at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, includes airfare, golf for two & daily breakfast
PLUS 130 FANTASTIC SILENT AUCTION ITEMS
http://www.childfamilycenter.org
Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
