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.
