EDMONDS – Foodies flocked to Taste Edmonds Friday to sample local cuisine during a lively three-day festival.
The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce’s annual event featured food and drinks from local restaurants and food trucks, as well as live music, mini golf, cornhole, axe throwing and bounce houses.
The event attracts large crowds every year, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
The main focus was the chef’s tent, which featured some of Edmonds’ culinary heavyweights. Notable names included Shubert Ho, the mastermind behind several popular restaurants such as Bar Dojo and Fire and the Feast, Ethan Stowell, representing his new The Victor Tavern, and Jose Garzón, whose four restaurant brands mix and reinterpret Latin American flavors.
Garzón has local roots and graduated from the culinary arts program at Edmonds College.
Jose Garzon cooks vegetable soba saltado at Taste Edmonds in Edmonds on Friday. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
“We’re really connected to the community here and they always welcome us with open arms,” he said. “We’re really excited to be back here.”
His vegetable soba saltado was a bestseller last year and he is primed to achieve similar success this time around.
Food trucks and stands near the entrance offered even more choices, such as tacos, sushi burritos and dumplings.
Art Varela’s first stop? Alaska Weathervane Scallops.
Pan-seared Alaskan scallops on Friday at Taste Edmonds in Edmonds. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
“These are the best scallops in the world and I’ve been in the seafood business for 40 years,” he said.
He has been coming to Taste since 1992 and continues to come back to support local restaurants.
“It’s just a great place to enjoy Edmonds, meet people you haven’t seen in a long time and enjoy good food and drink,” Varela said.
The beer garden was equipped with a stage and a whole program of local artists.
“It gets wild, especially on Friday nights. It gets loud,” said Brandon Karow, head chef at Victor Tavern.
Brandon Carow of The Victor Tavern cooks burgers at Taste Edmonds in Edmonds on Friday. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
While Ethan Stowell Restaurants was featured last year, Victor Tavern opened this spring, marking its debut at Taste Edmonds.
“It has a really hyper-local aspect to it,” said Phia McDonell, another tavern employee. “It really feels like a very community-focused event, which is exciting and great.”
Connor Zamora: 425-339-3037; [email protected]; Twitter: @cgzamora02.
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