The Taste of Arcadia returns to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19.
While gourmet food trucks from all over Los Angeles and mostly outside Arcadia and neighboring cities have dominated many recent local events, the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of Arcadia offers a showcase of more than three dozen of the local area’s best restaurants, caterers, and wine and beer vendors. No money changes hands at the more personalized food booths lined up in the idyllic lush Arboretum setting nestled on the soft green grass between beautiful water fountains with the majestic San Gabriel Mountains providing a picturesque backdrop.
The community’s annual signature event that draws more than 1,000 guests who buy a ticket to enjoy as much different food as they want and tastes of various drinks, will once again feature a martini bar and entertainment by Cold Duck, one of the area’s most popular oldies rock bands, and the exotic, brightly and lightly dressed Brazilian dancers who immediately raise the after-dark energy to a party level.
Also returning this year is an expanded version of The Roost, a secluded area introduced last year by volunteer Taste of Arcadia Committee chairperson Verena Somer that is adjacent to the main venue and features fine wine tasting in a quieter atmosphere.
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The beat of entertainment begins upon entry as the Arcadia High School Drum Line entertains guests.
Tickets are $43 in advance online, plus a $2.50 service fee (www.arcadiacachamber.org), $45 at the Chamber office (388 W. Huntington Drive) or by phone: 626-447-2159; and $60 at the gate.
As always, a percentage of proceeds from Taste of Arcadia are donated to three local non-profit beneficiaries, this year the Assistance League of Arcadia, the Boy Scouts of America/Lucky Baldwin District, and the Arboretum Foundation.
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Taste of Arcadia would not be possible without the dozens of dedicated volunteers and this year’s Gold Sponsor, Westfield Santa Anita, and Silver Sponsor, Methodist Hospital. Westfield is the Chamber’s first-ever year-round Community Builder sponsor for 2011-12.
Taste of Arcadia began as a much smaller event nearly 40 years ago to raise money for the Arcadia Tournament of Roses float. The Wineshed Mixer, as it was known at the time, was held on the infield at Santa Anita Park for a period of time. When the AToR dissolved in 1999, all assets, including the annual fund-raiser, were transferred to the Chamber.