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Participants savor Taste of New Tampa's fresh setup

By Dong-Phuong Nguyen, Times Staff Writer
In print: Friday, April 4, 2008

Ciccio and Tony’s was one of about 40 restaurants featured at the Taste of New Tampa.
	[DONG-PHUONG NGUYEN | Times]

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TAMPA PALMS — The annual Taste of New Tampa has been held at nine sites over the past 15 years, from shopping complexes to community centers. It even once took place at a mall. But organizers said this week they believe they have found a permanent home.

Last weekend's event was held at the New Tampa Community Park for the first time. About 8,000 people walked through the gates, eating their way through rows of booths that featured samples from about 40 restaurants and freebies from more than 100 businesses.

"We would like (the park) to be home of the Taste and we would like to set the date for next year as soon as possible," said New Tampa Community Council President Frank Margarella.

Visitors especially seemed pleased with the all-you-can eat food and music festival, which raised about $40,000 for local schools and charities, Margarella said.

Vendors, however, were a different story.

One of the biggest complaints was from vendors, who did not have full access to the site to shuttle items back and forth. The morning of the event, they were allowed in with cars if they needed. But they had to unload and leave. And a large number of them arrived at the same time, creating "a little bit of a logistical traffic jam," Margarella said.

While the site was compact, which meant revelers didn't have to walk far from booth to booth, it was actually too small, he said. They plan on asking the city for permission to expand to the ballfields with the assurance that the New Tampa Community Council will pay for any damage to the turf and sprinkler system.

Another difference this year: a VIP area across the street inside a vacant office building was created because wet-zoning issues prohibited alcohol.

While not to politicize the glitch, Margarella said community council leaders will work with the Tampa City Council to try to change the ordinance. It would benefit all groups that hope to hold events there, not just the Taste, he said.

"We haven't had an incident in 15 years (of serving alcohol)," Margarella said. "Ultimately, we would like to get a beer garden on site in the park."

All in all, things went well, he said. It was a long walk for some, but shuttles were effective.

"I would rate it very high on the public satisfaction scale," Margarella said.

Dong-Phuong Nguyen can be reached at (813) 269-5312 or nguyen@sptimes.com.