The annual returned to downtown 91原创 City Saturday afternoon, with more businesses participating and more visitors sampling the cuisine.
鈥淚t鈥檚 extremely well-attended this year,鈥� said event planner Laura Warren of Meeting and Event Planning Services, which worked with the to stage the event.
鈥淚t seems to have just gotten legs this year and word鈥檚 traveling,鈥� Warren told The Times.
Warren said the presence of high-profile chef Sean Bone, in 91原创 likely contributed to the higher turnout.
Bone was there to share expert tips on everything from vinaigrettes and dressings to handmade pasta and gelatos, and the samples he prepared tended to disappear quickly.
Not that other samples were exactly slow to go.
Warren said an initial distribution of 250 complimentary $5 food sampler coupons ran out in less than an hour, the fastest ever.
Visitors could use the coupons to check out 13 locations including the 1 Fish 2 Fish Fresh Seafood Market, All Of Oils, Ban Chok Dee, Captain鈥檚 Galley Fish & Chips, Frosting Cupcakery & Bake Shop, Hot & Toasty Cafe, Lemon Bakery, Masala India Bistro, McBurney Coffee & Tea House, Rib & Chicken Restaurant, Shiraz Grill, Sticky鈥檚 Candy & Bakery and Twins Coffee.
There were live cooking demonstrations and live music in McBurney Plaza all day.
Fork & Finger passports were available.
Food fans could collect passport stamps by visiting participating restaurants for their samplers, collect a sticker and once they had made the rounds, enter their completed passports to win Downtown Dollars.
First prize of $400 Downtown Dollars was won by Jason Tokaryk.
