Taste of Omaha 2010
To many not from the city, Omaha is synonymous with steaks. While we’re certainly proud of our beef, the culinary culture here has become much more varied in recent years. Take the Taste of Omaha, for example. Over 40 restaurants had a presence at the 2010 festival, spread across Lewis & Clark Landing and the Heartland of America Park. Though the three long days (11am to 11pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11am to 8pm on Sunday) lead to some griping from a friend in the restaurant industry (his fault for going on salary, obviously!), no one could complain about the food.
The World Tour Pavilion alone, set up on the Landing, featured food from Italy (Zurlo’s Bistro Italiano), Mexico (Maria Bonita), England (Fox and Hound Pub), Germany (Zum Biergarten), and Spain (España Tapas Bar). Though other cities surely have similar events, let’s give credit where credit is due: not only is this at least fairly unique, it’s also totally awesome! Many of the restaurants use the Taste as a marketing vehicle, not a profit generator, meaning the delectable little portions you receive (patrons purchase tickets which they can exchange for food) are beyond reasonably priced—they’re often downright cheap.
The Taste of Omaha may haven been packed for some top quality people watching, but it was the delicious gastronomic delights that kept everyone coming back for more!