Taste of the Vineyard June 12th

Once again, people lined up as far as the Court House to enter the huge tents at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House for the annual Taste of the Vineyard Gourmet Stroll hosted by Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust. Young and old, traditionally and eclectically dressed, year-rounders and summer folks picked up their plastic trays and wine glasses and confirmed their strategies for navigating the course. As always, food and beverage vendors were lined up with their signs and their creatively arranged delicacies throughout the three tents and although a few areas were a little tight with too much “traffic”, most folks managed to enjoy sampling, sipping, walking and talking.

Delicious Fare by Vineyard Businesses

It seemed more controlled than of previous years, with a little more elbow room and a wider distribution of cuisines and products. There were over forty five food vendors that included restaurants, caterers and gourmet shops. With elegant fare from Atria, Herring Run Kitchens and Vineyard Golf Club, comfort food from Tea Lane Caterers, Flatbread Company, and Bill Smith’s MV Clambake Co and barbeque and sushi from Smoke’N Bones, Sand Bar Grille and the Lookout Tavern it was overwhelming!

The incredible sweets of Chilmark Chocolates, Cakes By Liz, Not Your Sugar Mamas, and Pie Chicks were not ignored…nor were all the samplings of craft beers, fine wines and specialty cocktails. There had to be more beverage distributors than last year –there were at least fifteen brew companies represented such as Bad Martha Beer, Allagash Brewing Company and Offshore Ale Company (of course!) and several wine and liquor distributors such as J Lohr and Old Ipswich Rum.

The Sultans of Swing played incredibly, as everyone has come to expect, and had people on the dance floor from the beginning. There was a crescendo as the evening progressed, and people tossed beach balls in the air, sang (or screamed) the lyrics to the tunes, and hugged sweaty strangers closely…it was a beautiful thing and difficult to decide who had more fun, the guests, the vendors or the hosts- everyone coalesced with great satisfaction.

Then the music stopped, the lights brightened obnoxiously, and people all eased out to the streets, wiping their faces and straightening out their sweaty clothing… It was a wonderful night. http://www.tasteofthevineyard.org/