Local food vendors tempt taste buds
The smell of barbeque beef and chicken filled the air at the 6th annual Taste of the Quad-Cities on Friday afternoon.
Outside The Mark of the Quad-Cities, 25 local restaurant vendors showcased their food specialties. Besides food, the event had children’s activities and live music on the main stage.
“It’s a great way to try different things from Quad-City restaurants at an inexpensive price,” said Bettendorf residents Don and Linda Phillips as they enjoyed ribs from Famous Dave’s BBQ.
Vendors included Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano, Bier Stube, Bishop’s, Café Indigo, Carlos O’Kelly’s Cold Stone Creamery, Culver’s of Moline, Dragon House, Exotic Thai, Famous Dave’s BBQ, Fuddrucker’s Granite City Food & Brewery, Jim’s Rib Haven, Lagomarcino’s Le Mekong, Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream & Treatery, Montana Jack’s, Outer Limits BBQ, Overtime Sports Pub & Grill, Papa John’s Pizza, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, The Parkside Grill & Lounge, Putter’s Pub & Grub, Red Lobster, and Tyson Fresh Meats.
Each restaurant had three food items with prices ranging from $1-$5 per item. No tickets were needed to purchase food items, but beverages required tickets. Ticket booths were found throughout the different restaurant vendors.
The Tyson Fresh Meats vendor not only provided tasty treats, but the money raised benefited Crime Stoppers of the Quad-Cities.
“This is our fourth year helping Crime Stoppers raise money through the Taste of the Quad-Cities,” said Crystal Dyer, community liaison with Tyson Fresh Meats. “We have raised about $15,000 since helping with Taste.”
The Tyson Fresh Meats tent was stocked with Tyson employees volunteering for the event.
“It’s a great time for our team members to volunteer with the community,” Dyer said.
Detective Scott Williams, coordinator of Crime Stoppers of the Quad-Cities, said the money raised at the Taste of the Quad-Cities benefits the organization greatly. Tyson Fresh Meats hopes to raise $7,500 for Crime Stoppers at this year’s event.
“That would be great,” Williams said.
Along with being a nighttime entertainment event, the event was a favorite spot for a working professional’s lunchbreak. From noon to midnight, the event was filled with men and women grabbing a quick bite before heading back to the office.
“We wanted to come and check it out. It was something different for lunch,” said Wendy Sutter of Rock Island.
The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.
Taste of the Quad-Cities
What: Taste of the Quad-Cities
When: Noon to midnight today outside The Mark of the Quad-Cities, Moline
Admission: Free admission from 12-2 p.m.; regular admission, $6; kids 12 and under free
Main Stage Entertainment
4-5:30 p.m.: HI-FI
6-7:30 p.m.: Wicked Liz & The Bellyswirls
8-9:30 p.m.: The Late Night Blues Brothers with Shades of Blue
10 p.m.-midnight: KUUL 101.3 presents Parrots of the Caribbean