Judging At Fall For Greenville October 2014

Judging At Fall For Greenville October 2014 - I was invited by the Board of  Trustees and the Special Events Group of Greenville to serve as one of the judges at Fall For Greenville - A Taste of Our Town an annual event held in Greenville SC. Tens of thousands turned out to enjoy the beautiful weather, spectacular food and lively music.  This was the 33rd showing of this event which has grown significantly over the years from its beginnings as a one block event to the largest outdoor free festival in the state of South Carolina.

The event offers more than 250 menu items from more than 40 local restaurants. There was a variety of food choices to satisfy the ultimate in street food foodies.  Some of the cuisines represented included American, German, Indian, Mediterranean, Italian, Mexican, Asian, Greek, Korean, English Pub Food, Seafood and a decent showing of Southern inspired favorites.  The “taste” refers to experiencing the best that Greenville has to offer. This year there were more than 50 musical acts on 6 stages, a children’s area, cooking demonstrations, and traditional contests like the waiter’s race and bartender’s challenge.  There was something exciting for all ages to experience.

The success of the event has allowed the Fall for Greenville Board to give more than $400,000 back to community non-profits over the past ten years (including $85,000 in 2014).  It also provides a free outdoor experience for the 150,000-200,000 visitors that attend throughout the weekend.

The top three winners this year:
1) Frozen Chocolate Dipped 'Nana Pudding from Fitzpatrick's Food & Spirits 
2) BBQ Shrimp Cake topped with a Skewer of BBQ Shrimp from Smoke on The Water
3) Kim Chi Super Dog from The Roost 

I have to admit, the food was truly scrumptious and it was difficult choosing which dishes were the best.  I had loads of fun strolling main street, chatting with the Chefs, cooks and vendors and tasted many fabulous dishes.  If you find yourself in the Greenville SC area, there are some fantastic places to eat and Greenville offers a wide variety of restaurant choices to tantalize your taste buds. Mark your calendars for next years event which runs October 9th-11th 2015.