More than 60 Baltimore-area restaurants will have the chance to show their gastronomic prowess Saturday and help raise money for charity when the 10th Annual Taste of Baltimore comes to Camden Yards.
A portion of the proceeds from the $8 entrance ticket and 10 percent of food-ticket sales will benefit the Maryland Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Additionally, Baltimore?s Lee?s Ice Cream has donated a variety of tasty treats that CF volunteers will be selling throughout the day.
“This event gets our name out there,” said Breahn McAteer, special events coordinator for the state?s CF chapter. “To be the official charity of this event gets us a lot of exposure and gives us a chance to hand out a lot of material.”
Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease affecting 500 children and young adults in Maryland and 30,000 people nationwide, she said. With its cystic fibrosis clinic at Johns Hopkins Children?s Center, McAteer said CF patients from throughout the region seek treatment in Baltimore.
“This is a great entertainment event that highlights the different types of food that Baltimore restaurants offer,” said Bob Phillips, senior vice president of CBS Radio in Baltimore, sponsor of Saturday?s event.
Phillips said Baltimore?s CBS Radio affiliates work throughout the year to assist charitable groups in the area.
“This is a great event that gets a lot of exposure,” he said. “Every year we like to tie a charity into the event and offer them hundreds of thousands of dollars in publicity.”
Camden Yards opens at 11 a.m. Saturday for the tasting festival, which features entertainment, demonstrations, games and more, Phillips said. Gates close at 6 p.m.
Baltimore Raven Justin Greene and Jason Brown will be on hand in the afternoon to sign autographs at the ESPN “Touchdown Lounge.” And kids can have a scary good time at the Looney Tunes Fright Fest area.
But the day really is all about the food.
“Sure, Baltimore is known for its crab and heritage areas like Little Italy, but Taste of Baltimore highlights offerings from many different restaurants,” he said.
Among restaurants participating in Saturday?s taste festivities are Italian restaurants such as Armoi d? Italia and Buono Restorante Italiano, confectioners such as Edelweiss Bakery and Family Inn Funnel Cakes & More, Berger Cookies and Beach Bum?s Ice Cream, and dozens of other independent and franchise operations from throughout the Baltimore metro area.
More information
» 10th annual Taste of Baltimore
11a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday
Camden Yards
West Camden Street, Baltimore
www.tasteofbaltimore.com
