By Shannon Hardy

 

For the third time, the Taste of Somerville was held outdoors on the Buena Vista Pavilion in Davis Square. Due to poor weather conditions, the 2016 food and drink festival was rescheduled from June 8th to last Wednesday evening, June 15th.

 

The Taste of Somerville is a longstanding tradition produced each year by the Somerville Chamber of Commerce Dining & Nightlife Group. This year’s chosen beneficiary was the Somerville Community Agency Network, (CAN).

 

Somerville CAN is a collaboration of eleven nonprofit organizations that shelter families escaping from violence, prevent homelessness, grow healthy food on urban farms, create jobs for youth, aid the elderly, support local business development, as well as provide for basic human needs in the Somerville.

 

The two-hour charity event highlighted food and beverage samples from over sixty of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants and breweries.

 

“There’s great craft cocktails and the best Somerville bartenders,” said Luke O’Neil, a PR representative from the Somerville Chamber of Commerce Night Life & Dining committee.

 

While the general admission pass covered the price of the festival’s food for attendees, this year’s VIP section included offerings from Tasting Counter and Journey man, cocktails by United Liquors, brews from Aeronaut, and a souvenir tasting glass from the ScoutSomerville publication.

 

Last year, the Taste of Somerville raised over $50,000 for The Somerville Home, an assisted senior living facility.

 

And while this year’s admissions and raffle ticket proceeds went to Somerville CAN, an additional donation table was dedicated to raising funds for the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL.

 

“I think they made that last minute decision to make a donation considering everything that’s happened. It was a wise thing to do,” said John M. Connolly, Vice President of Somerville’s Board of Aldermen.

 

In addition to sponsors from regional and international establishments, the event was also funded by individuals such as Timothy Toomey, Maureen Oliver, and Nancy Busnach & Joe D’Ovidio.

 

This year, the following restaurants were featured: Anna’s Taqueria, Aeronaut Brewery, Ball Square Fine Wines, Bantam Cider, Bergamot, Blue Point Brewing, Boston Burger, Brass Union, Bronwyn, Casa B, Dave’s Fresh Pasta, Deano’s Pasta, Earl’s Kitch & Bar, Ernesto’s Pizza, Espresso Plus, Fat Hen, Five Horses Tavern, Foundry on Elm, Fuji at Assembly, Goose Island Brewing, Groundwork Somerville, Harpoon, Highland Kitchen, Holiday Inn, Horizon Beverage, Joshua Tree Grill, JP Licks, Juliet, Kirkland Tap & Trotter, Legal on the Mystic, Meju, MEM Tea Imports, Mike’s Hot Honey, Mount Vernon, MS Walker, Oath Pizza, Olde Magoun’s Saloon, Orange Leaf, Orleans, Outback Steakhouse, Paul Bakery, Pepe Bocca, PJ Ryans, Red Bones, River Bar, Saloon, Sam Adams, Sav Mor, Somerville Brewing Co., Somerville Chocolate, Sugidama, The Burren, The Independent, Tony C’s, Union Square Donuts, United Liquors, Whole Foods, Winebow, Winter Hill Brewing.