Taste of Petaluma offers tasty bites for a good cause

Now in its 11th year, the annual summer Taste of Petaluma provides an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to experience some of the city’s best taste-makers - all assembled in easily walkable downtown locations.

The Aug. 20 celebration offers businesses a chance to create special summer menus, signature drinks, or just to welcome customers to sample their locally-made products. Benefiting the Cinnabar Theater, the event is held from 11:30 a.m. to 4 pm., with more than 40 participating locations across the city. In addition, plenty of entertainment, including belly dancing, folk and jazz music is scheduled to take place throughout the day.

As the primary sponsor, Celebrity Cruises will host a wine garden at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum and a handful of wineries including Barber Cellars, Cazadero Winery, Lombardi Wines and others will be on hand. Craft cocktails, grappa, cheese and locally made chocolates will also be on the menu.

“This is such a wonderful event that brings the community together and supports a great cause at the same time,” explained event coordinator Laura Sunday, whose own children grew up performing at the local theater arts company.

A unique aspect of this popular event is how Sunday has carefully paired multiple Petaluma businesses with one another. In an effort to make different businesses accessible by walking, many have been paired up or hosted by downtown establishments.

For example, Juan Gutierrez of Quinua Cocina Peruana will be serving his delicious Peruvian cuisine at the Urban Elements Salon on Second Street. Locally caught red snapper ceviche in fresh lime juice, red onions and a spicy rocoto pepper will be served accompanied by a couple of unique, tasty Peruvian corn preparations.

Last year Wind McAllister from Sonoma Spice Queen opened the doors of her lovely Victorian house and more than 200 people tasted, smelled and enjoyed the store’s high quality selection of organic herbs and spices. This year, she plans to have a large tent where visitors can enjoy her Jamaican jerk chicken prepared with a variety of special spices, Caribbean style black beans and a tangy mango salsa. McAllister’s drinks are not to be missed.

“I used to have a coffee cart and I spent years perfecting special combinations,” she explained.

Not surprisingly, her iced spiced black tea with coconut syrup is a perfectly balanced concoction of not too sweet with a hint of spice.

Ideally situated right off the river, Basha Quilici opened her European-style Corkscrew Café and Wine Bar four years ago. The Italian speaking interior designer turned wine bar owner will offer a special tasting of Sonoma County wines for the event along with toasts topped with shaved coconut on Full Circle Bakery baguettes.

“I love having a business in Petaluma,” said Quilici who confided that she specifically chose the location for her cafe for its resemblance to her favorite town in Italy.

Partners Amber Driscoll and Roger Tschann of both Speakeasy and their newer Big Easy will be preparing a crab, mango and green papaya salad drizzled with a delicious curry dressing. The busy couple will be serving tastes of their popular summer salad in the courtyard, and of course there will be live music nearby.

Spicy ethnic flavors will abound – look for a vegetable apricot curry and chicken tandoori from Everest Indian Restaurant, and Thai River will also be serving a red curry chicken and Tom Kha coconut milk soup.

Dessert lovers need not worry- there are plenty of sweet options. Yoga One Studio will host Three Twins Ice Cream, with four popular flavors offered, and The Sweet Zone will offer its homemade fudge. Nicole’s Fashion Boutique will host Forget Me Not Cakes and Straus Family Creamery, bringing cake pops and ice cream to the clothing store.

Three downtown galleries will be hosting businesses as diverse as Trader Joe’s to Bright Bear Bakery and Petaluma Creamery.

And the list goes on - barbecued chicken, pork sausage, sweet corn risotto, nachos, pizza and spritzers - even dog treats from the Petaluma Pet Company will be on the menu.

It’s important to note that summer is typically a slow time of year for restaurants as many of locals are on vacation and are eating out less. Along with supporting a valuable arts program, the event also serves businesses that often see much less traffic during July and August.

This culinary walking journey gives folks the chance to make new food and drink discoveries and support existing favorites.

The $40 admission gets guests 10 tickets, which can be used at any of participating locations. The full restaurant list, an interactive map and menu can be found at tasteofpetaluma.com.

(Contact Tanya Henry at argus@arguscourier.com)