More than 500 people came out for the fifth annual “Taste of the Town” event at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach on Nov. 7.
The event included 40 restaurants and eateries, including the soon-to-open La Buena Vida in Moriches.
“It’s great exposure,” said owner Tom Freck, of Center Moriches, while serving chorizo and shrimp kabobs.
Allison Wiegand, lead teacher of the Career and Technical Education program at William Floyd, which organized the event, said Taste of the Town grows every year, and that proceeds from the event go to scholarships and a trip to Disney.
All extra food at the end of the night was donated to the school’s food pantry.
Stephanie Poprocky, a special education teacher at Wiliam Floyd, called the event “a great opportunity to showcase the culinary program.”
Her daughter, Amanda, said she enjoyed all the food, but that her favorite was the pumpkin crumb cake from Herbie’s Crumb Cake.
Restaurants that donating their time, food and expertise included Applebee’s, Arooga’s Grill House, Bernie’s Family Pizza, Buckley’s Irish Pub, Build A Sandwich, Butera’s, Coral Restaurant, Del Fuego, Giacalone’s Pork & Pasta Deli, Herbie’s, Hero Haven & More, Inc., Ice Cream Cottage, JC’s at Mike’s Place Too, John’s Pizzeria, LaVolpe Ristorante & Anton’s Pizzeria, Mama Lisa’s Restaurant, Millers Ale House, Onofrio’s, Painters’ Restaurant, Prime, Sea Cove Restaurant, Spiro’s, TJ’s Hero Shop, Tend Coffee and more.
Representatives from other CTE programs, including automotive technology, barbering, business, building trades and construction, cosmetology, medical assisting and small engine repair, were also on hand to show off their projects.
Pablo Vargas, manager of Bernie’s Family Pizza and a William Floyd graduate, has been participating for the past four years.
“We get the exposure and we get to meet the community one on one. We also try food from other places. It’s just a fun time.”
Take a look at some scenes from the event:
