by Ronda Payne

Bring an appetite if downtown 91原创 is on the list of places to go this weekend.

The annual Fork & Finger Festival makes its way to the streets on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Among the participating restaurants is Frosting  Cupcakery and owner Melanie McDougall thinks this year may be the best Fork & Finger yet.

鈥淚鈥檓 anticipating it being, hopefully, bigger and better,鈥� she said.

Fork & Finger features a variety of downtown restaurants through the offer of sampler plates for $5. Plus many of the eateries will have other specials on during the festival.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a way to go down and sample things,鈥� McDougall said, noting that people may not want to commit to eating a meal somewhere because they don鈥檛 know if they will like a dish.

The sample plates of Fork & Finger allow visitors to try a small portion.

Frosting鈥檚 own sample plate will include a vanilla bean scone, coconut macaroon, gluten-free brownie, and a classic cupcake.

鈥淚t was really popular last year,鈥� McDougall said of the dessert sampler plate.

鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to have some really good specials as well, too.鈥�

Frosting recently added lunch as well as high tea to its offerings so McDougall鈥檚 specials may include new items regulars haven鈥檛 yet seen.

Other locations offering sample plates are: 1 Fish 2 Fish, Ban Chok Dee, Choo Choo鈥檚, Dragonfly Cafe, Health. Your Life. Our Passion, McBurney Coffee & Tea House, Naka Bistro, Yummy House, MCC Meals Catering, Sticky鈥檚 Candy, and All of Oils.

In addition to the sample plates, Fork & Finger also features a passport program that has been running since the start of the month and there鈥檚 still time to take part.

Visit one of the participating downtown restaurants to get a passport, make a purchase at any three of the listed locations, and be entered to win a downtown dollars prize pack worth more than $1,000.

Fork & Finger will have live entertainment on the stage in McBurney Plaza with music and special cooking demos on edible flowers, cooking with bison, and preparing shellfish.

McDougall sees the event as a way of introducing people to restaurants downtown they may not have experienced otherwise.

鈥淒owntown 91原创 has a lot of restaurants,鈥� she noted. 鈥淭here are so many little gems.鈥�