A bit humid, a tad crowded, but supremely delicious. Taste of Somerville 2016 DE-LIVERED this year, yet again, showcasing over 60 local sips and bites from establishments within the city.
This is the second year in a row I’ve gone to Taste of Somerville, and I couldn’t be any more satisfied. Not only does it serve as a foodie haven, but it saves you from the 30 minute “What do you feel like eating tonight” conversation with your special person. The answer is “All of it!”
As if the food wasn’t reason enough to get in on the action, proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Somerville CAN, a multi-organization collaboration that helps to feed the hungry, educate vulnerable youth, eliminate racism, and improve health.
I was lucky enough to get to walk just a few minutes from my house to Taste of Somerville into the heart of Davis Square to sample some of the best flavors from places like Bantam Cider in Union Square and Mount Vernon Restaurant in East Somerville.
It’s hard to say exactly how much I ate. I lost track, which is scary to think about, given the amount of participants! Here are a few things that really made my tastebuds soar:
“I wonder which kind of cider I should try,” I said to myself. Oh, wait a second, I’ll grab a Wonderkind! The folks at Bantam said it’s a fan-favorite and it’s not hard to see why. The Wonderkind Cider is light and refreshing — great for a warm day. With a little bubbly aftertaste, it just left me feeling clean and ready to keep on eatin’, which is A-OK!
Come to find out this is the oldest restaurant in Somerville; est. 1935. I was quick to hop on these roast beef sliders as soon as I saw them. You could say it was love at first sight bite! The homemade clam chowder was fantastic as well, but this place is known for their lobster, so that’s next on the radar.
A favorite of many Davis Squarians throughout the day, especially fresh off the Red Line from work. Anna’s was serving up mini meat or veggie burrito bowls with a fantastic homemade hibiscus tea made from fresh hibiscus petals. A wonderful pairing for summer!
Drinking your food can be cool. Especially when it tastes exactly how it looks. This Chilled Watermelon Gazpacho from Assembly Row’s River Bar really helped quench my appetite, if that’s even possible. It was smooth, a little bit sweet, but had a tart and savory ending with a little bit of, what tasted like, feta cheese at the bottom of the cup. Oh, also, the River Bar girls are fantastic dancers.
I mean, you need to end on a high-note, right? I follow Union Square Donuts on Instagram because everything they post is just plain sexy. USD brought their Strawberry, Orange Creamsicle, and Blueberry Ginger donut holes, fresh from the shop. I was able to snag one of the last Blueberry Ginger balls-of-magic and, boy, was that the right choice. It was kind of doughy with a sweet punch and a slight bite of ginger to accompany it. I only regret not being able to have more!
For More Information:
TasteofSomerville.org
IG: @tasteofsomerville
T: @tasteofsomervil
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