Eat, Drink, and Give to Charity!

This year’s Taste of the North Country brought food, fun, and philanthropy to Glens Falls.

Story and photos by Ashleigh Livingston

There were salty treats, tender meats, ethnic dishes, pan seared fish(es), stewed legumes, stuffed mushrooms, gourmet cakes, garnished plates, and a plentiful supply of refreshing beverages to wash it all down. Though this may sound like a delightful, yet unobtainable dream, or the spread at an exclusive Hollywood party, it was actually the 17th annual Taste of the North Country, and it was not only real, it was open to the public. 

On September 27, 2009, numerous area restaurants and bakeries set up camp for the afternoon in Glens Falls’ City Park and served up their culinary specialties to the community. Attendees paid a nominal entree fee of five dollars and purchased tickets at 50 cents a piece to be exchanged for the foods of their choice.

The event, which was launched seventeen years ago by the Glens Falls’ Kiwanis Club as a way to raise fast cash for needy children, has become one of the area’s biggest events, according to Josh Milton, co-chair of the Taste of The North Country and member of the Kiwanis Club’s Board of Directors.

“I like to taste different foods, so that when I go out I know where to go to get nice foods."

“There’s a lot of talk on the streets in the weeks before [the event],” says Milton, who suspects that most people attend for the opportunity to try new foods at affordable prices, and the fact that the money raised goes back into the community is just the milk chocolate drizzle on the homemade pumpkin cheesecake.

“I come every year,” said Marty Bertolino, who made sure to attend this year also. “I like to taste different foods, so that when I go out I know where to go to get nice foods. I go mostly for things I don’t make at home,” she said.

As for the participating restaurants, Milton explains that each donates 40 percent of their sales from the event to the Kiwanis Club in exchange for the chance to introduce both themselves and their foods to the public.

Donnah Digon-Lewis, proprietor and chef of GG Mama’s, a Glens Falls restaurant specializing in global cuisine and five time participant of the Taste of the North Country, says that aside from it simply being fun, she participates because, “it helps people remember you. They come by, they taste things, and they remember, so then they come to the restaurant.”

In addition to being a great advertising opportunity, The Taste of the North Country also serves as a way of uniting members of the community with local business owners. Matt Funiciello, proprietor of Rock Hill Bake House Cafe, a whole sale bread bakery with a café in downtown Glens Falls has participated in eleven Taste of the North Countries and says he keeps returning because of the, “wonderful group of residents that come out and support us.” Funiciello also appreciates, “having that ability to meet all the people who are in the café all year ‘round and letting them know we are here.”

In addition to the numerous edible amusements, The Taste of The North Country also features live music, activities for children, and live cooking demonstrations. This year’s musical guests included Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys, Phil Camp, and The Zucchini Brothers.

“We raised about $51,000, which we are very pleased with in light of the weather situation."

Despite the weather for this year’s event being less than ideal (it rained, turning City Park into a bit of a muddy mess), The bands played on, and over 30 restaurants participated, serving their edibles to an estimated 2000 attendees.

As for the charitable success of the day, Milton says, “We raised about $51,000, which we are very pleased with in light of the weather situation.  Just for comparison, last year's weather was great and we raised $62,000.”

Though the weather may have deterred some people from coming out; dedicated, veteran attendees like Bertolino were not about to let a little rain or mud stop them from indulging in the many flavors of the day. “I’d come if it was pouring; it doesn’t matter to me,” said Bertolino, who was eager for a helping of I Love NY Pizza’s chicken francese, one of hundreds of dishes offered at the event.

Have you ever been to The Taste of the North Country?