On a pleasant late summer’s eve, a sold-out crowd of 860 people gathered to enjoy some of the best food in Blount County as a record 31 area restaurants, food trucks and caterers participated in the 21st annual Taste of Blount hosted by the Blount Partnership at the Theater in the Park in Maryville, Tenn.
“Community events like this, along with the support of local sponsors, are essential to showing the vibrancy of this area,” said Blount Partnership President Bryan Daniels. “The friendly competition among the vendors is great and Taste of Blount shows off the wide variety of places we have to eat here.”
Attendees voted for winners in seven categories while culinary experts handed out the Culinary Excellence Awards.
Taking home top honors for best presentation and overall in the People’s Choice division was Pellissippi State Culinary Institute. Also winning double honors was The Italian Apron for best appetizer and main course.
Winning best sandwich for the fifth consecutive year was REO Cheesewagon. Sugar Mama’s Cotton Candy and Single Barrel Events won for best beverage. Best dessert went to Between the Slices.
The Culinary Excellence Awards were judged by five culinary experts – Kaysey Sanford, Sherri McCall, Ed Mitchell, and Mandee & Eric McNew – who put their professional taste buds to the test and anointed winners in five categories. Vendors were asked to submit one food item for the judges to determine which topped their chart.
Winning best appetizer for the second straight year as judged in the culinary division was Pellissippi State Culinary Institute. Taking home top honors for best sandwich was the Waterfront Bar & Grill. Sugar Mama’s Cotton Candy & Single Barrel Events won for best beverage. Top main course went to the Abbey, while Ham ‘N Goody’s won for best dessert.
The event was sponsored by Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, Y-12 Federal Credit Union, Ebdontics, LDA Engineering, UT Federal Credit Union, ICC International, Simmons Bank, Senior Care Partners of East Tennessee, CBBC Bank, Johnson Architecture, Brackins Blues Club, Cherokee Distributing, and Coca-Cola.
2023 Taste of Blount People’s Choice Winners
Best Appetizer: The Italian Apron
Best Sandwich: REO Cheesewagon
Best Beverage: Sugar Mama’s Cotton Candy & Single Barrel Events
Best Main Course: The Italian Apron
Best Dessert: Between the Slices
Best Presentation: Pellissippi State Culinary Institute
Best Overall: Pellissippi State Culinary Institute
2023 Taste of Blount Culinary Excellence Award Winners
Best Appetizer: Pellissippi State Culinary Institute
Best Sandwich: Waterfront Bar & Grill
Best Beverage: Sugar Mama’s Cotton Candy & Single Barrel Events
Best Main Course: The Abbey
Best Dessert: Ham ‘N Goody’s