It’s an even better Taste this year

June Casagrande

If Friday was just a taste, Saturday was the main course at the 15th

Annual Taste of Newport Festival in Fashion Island. That’s because

along with the $17 admission to the renowned food exposition,

participants also got a heaping helping of Orange County’s favorite

local boys made good, Sugar Ray.

The irreverent rock quintet were the big draw Saturday night to a

festival that seems to have the clout to attract bigger musical acts

every year. Tonight’s musical act will be music legends the Beach

Boys.

“It’s been going great, a really good time,� said Richard Luehrs,

president of the host agency, the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Friday night’s attendance was slightly below last year’s figures,

Luehrs said. The chamber does not disclose the number of people who

attend. But crowds have been good and food sales have been brisk, a

trend that organizers expect will continue through the last day of

the festival today.

There was bound to be at least one glitch, though. This year there

were a few complaints about the new “e-scrip� cards that patrons are

using for food transactions. Instead of selling food tickets, this

year Taste of Newport organizers sold plastic charge cards for food

purchases. Patrons purchase the cards in advance in custom

denominations, then use the cards as currency at the individual food

booths. Though using the e-scrip cards was a no-brainer for a lot of

the professional restaurant workers at the festival, some of the

volunteer workers were less adept at playing cashier. As a result,

some booths had a slightly longer wait for food on the first night.

“There were a few complaints, but things seem to be running

smoothly now,� Luehrs said.

For the last 15 years, the Taste of Newport has been an ongoing

success story. But in future years, it could become the victim of its

own success. Crowds on Friday and Saturday night have almost hit

capacity.

If the event continues to grow in popularity, the event could sell

out, leaving some would-be patrons salivating at the gate. Organizers

have had some talks about whether they would expand the event to

allow more patrons, but nothing is certain at this point, Luehrs

said.