Photos By Sandra Small/ Photographer, CeCe Photo and Rippee Photography
No diets were allowed on Monday, June 3rd as guests feverishly waited to enter the Golden Ballroom at the Town and Country Hotel for the newly re-tooled and re-named ‘Taste of San Diego East.” This annual food related event entertains over 450 people and this year was no exception. The new venue accommodated the increased crowd and allowed them to enjoy the evening in one room for the first time in 7 years. The delight of the attendees was obvious, as they grazed from table to table sampling the signature dishes prepared with perfection by the chefs and their staff. The guests began arriving at 4:30 p.m. to be sure and get their food plates when the doors opened at 5:00 p.m. Once the doors opened, the crowd rushed into the ballroom to the aroma of freshly grilled steak, fresh pulled pork, platters of freshly carved meats and cheeses, braised chicken, freshly baked carrot cakes, shrimp cocktail, seasoned chicken with an array of sauces, pizza, delectable mini desserts and more! As the song says, “Oh, What a Night!” This would be a night to remember! Many of the crowd took a break before continuing on their feasting journey and talked with friends, enjoyed beverages from the bar, visited the silent auction or just hung out before beginning round two or three of samplings. A HUGE thank you to the following who prepared their items with love and attention to satisfy this year’s crowd: Anthony’s Fish Grotto, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, BO-beau kitchen + garden, Brew Coffee Spot, Brigantine Restaurant of La Mesa, Café Carmel Bakery, Cali Comfort BBQ, Dream Dinners, Eccentric International Chefs, Edible Arrangements, Hooleys Public House, Lantern Crest Senior Living, Little Roma, Los Pinos Taco Shop, Marie Callender’s, Outback Steakhouse – Mission Valley, Pick Up Stix, Ranch Events, Red Lobster, Surf Rider Pizza Co., Sycuan Casino Resort,Terra American Bistro, The Hills Local Pub, and Valley Farm Market.
The Presenting Sponsor for this fun and food-filled evening was EDCO. They were joined by: Supporting Sponsors: Barona Resort & Casino, Kirk Paving, Inc., SDG&E, Crème De La Crème Sponsors: American Medical Response, Sycuan Casino Resort, Gourmet Sponsor – Carl Burger Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM World, Bon Appetite Sponsors: AT&T, Berg Taxes, California Coast Credit Union – La Mesa, Dignity Memorial, La Mesa Courier, Marque Urgent Care, Nightwalker Caverns, San Diego County Credit Union – La Mesa, San Diego Eye Professionals, Smart Home Alarm, SMIB Management, The Hills Local Pub, The Kitzman Family and Westmont of La Mesa. The Media Sponsor, Discovering My City Magazine was joined by Logistical Sponsor Town and Country Hotel and Audio-Sound Sponsor, Studio M.I.F. The Newspaper Media Partner was Local Umbrella Media/La Mesa Village News with all printing sponsored by AAA Imaging and graphics designed by Kostedt Design & Marketing. The evening was captured by CeCe Photos, Rippee Photography and Sandra Small Photographer, with an interactive video of the evening produced by Community Spectrum.
