15th Annual Taste Of Elk Grove Put On By Rotary Club Of Laguna Sunrise
Last weekend, people of Elk Grove gathered at the Asian Sports Foundation Center to have a Taste of Elk Grove. Each year for the last 15 years, Rotary Club of Laguna Sunrise has put on this much anticipated fundraiser. The Rotary Club raises money for local and international causes. Locally, they support foster youth, Elk Grove Teen Center, Elk Grove Senior Center, and Elk Grove Food Bank. Taste of Elk Grove is their big spring fundraiser. They also have a golf tournament in the fall.
Taste of Elk Grove is an indoor and outdoor event. First, you walk by the patio with drink booths and a band. Next, you enter the building where you will find the food vendors. At the entrance of the building, volunteers hand you a plate and a wine glass for tastings. Then, you are welcome to wander through the food vendors in any fashion you’d like.
One of the great things about Taste of Elk Grove is that after you stand in the initial line to enter, the lines are very manageable. They have a lot of vendors spread out through the event so usually a line will only consist of 3-5 people. The restaurants are usually very prepared with their samples and can quickly move through the lines.
Food Highlights
Journey to the Dumpling is one of the most talked about restaurants in Elk Grove. They brought out a booth where you could watch a chef make their famous soup dumplings right in front of you. Then, they took those same dumplings into the the kitchen, steamed them, and served them fresh. They also had their chili oil wontons for sampling.
Umai Sushi brought out beautiful sushi boats to display their rolls. Poke was another sample they were giving out. Their sake and soju samples were also a big hit with the crowd.
Above and Beyond Cakes brought our their darling mini cupcakes. They had four different flavors to please everyone’s pallet. The crowd favorite was the churro inspired cupcake.
Other great spots were Raley’s and Bel Air’s giant display of cheese, charcuterie, breads, and dips, Local Burger provided delicious sliders on pretzel buns, and Fiesta Meat Market had an array of meats and salsas for tacos. Brand new bakery The French Hen House also debuted their cheesecakes at the event.
Drink Highlights
There was no shortage of drinks at Taste of Elk Grove! What’s food without something to wash it down? There was wine from Lodi, Clarksburg, Acampo, and even Elk Grove. McConnell Estates Winery from Elk Grove was pouring that night. A wide variety of breweries were out pouring samples as well. Tilted Mash from Elk Grove was pouring two brews, Derrick the Red and Summer in the Grove. A great non-alcoholic option was Ethan’s Legenade which is a lemonade from a young man from Elk Grove named Ethan. Ethan donates 50% of his proceeds to Chicks in Crisis.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rotary Club of Laguna Sunrise put on a great event in honor of their late president Terri Moule! The event ran smoothly and was well thought out. Taste of Elk Grove is a great night of food, drinks, friends, and music.
