It may come as a surprise to some that Taste of DC didn’t take place last year. Or the year before. Or the year before that.
The one-time annual culinary blowout that began in the 1990s hasn’t actually happened since 2003. The next installment is scheduled for this Saturday through Monday.
| If you go |
| Taste of DC |
| Where: Pennsylvania Avenue from 9th to 14th streets NW |
| When: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday |
| Info: $15 for 10 food or 10 drink tickets. Admission to much of the festival is free, but there will be an entrance fee for certain areas and to see major musical acts. Visit thetasteofdc.org for details. |
“Most people have no idea it stopped,” said new Taste of DC CEO Steuart Martens. “It has a strong brand recognition.”
Martens is the driving force behind the revival of Taste of DC. If his name — or mug — seem familiar, that might be because this D.C. native finished fourth last year on the 10th season of Donald Trump’s reality TV show “The Apprentice.” Martens is now an entrepreneur looking to combine his love of D.C. and all things culinary with his knowledge of the hospitality business.
“It’s really in my wheelhouse,” said Martens. “I’m passionate about the city. I love Washington, D.C. I want to see nothing more than for the city to thrive.”
Martens plans to see the new and improved Taste of DC grow to the point that it rivals similar events that take place in Chicago and Aspen, Colo.
“Our goal will be to turn it into an event people put on their calendar,” he said.
Martens and crew are taking a big step in that direction with a three-day event this year. More than 60 restaurants are lined up, as well as a number of beer and wine vendors. Entertainment boasts Big & Rich headlining on Saturday, Styx headlining on Sunday and Rusted Root headlining on Monday. A bier garden hosts a number of local musical acts, and on Sunday the event hosts the World Chili Eating Championship.
Next year, Martens would like to see a week’s worth of small events at area restaurants leading up to the main festival, much like a week of beer events culminates in the annual SAVOR experience.
But with all the music, eating contests and the like, is there a risk of losing the culinary aspect of Taste of DC? Martens doesn’t believe so.
“I don’t necessarily think bigger is better, but there is something for everybody,” he said, adding that there will plenty of opportunities to enjoy the nuances of local culinary creations.
Martens sees this weekend’s event marking a new chapter in the history of Taste of DC.
“I think people are starting to recognize D.C. as a culinary powerhouse,” he said.
