Twenty-five restaurants are participating in the 10th annual event.[/caption]
Bites, beverages, live music and activities for children are part of the 10th annual Taste of North Austin at The Domain on Saturday, June 10.
The event runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at The Domain 2 near iPic Theaters and costs $20 for a wristband with 10 taste tabs to sample food. For an additional $15, guests can upgrade to VIP status, which includes a goody bag, complimentary beverages and access to the VIP lounge. Wristbands can be purchased The Domain’s Simon Guest Services or at the event.
“We know Austinites know good food and we are excited to be part of the upcoming Taste of North Austin event,” said Stephen O'Connor, chief operating office at Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill, in a press release. “We have been part of the North Austin community for a long time and look forward to meeting all the guests who come out for this great event.”
Cap City Band performs from the main stage throughout the day, and attendees can register on-site for a grand prize package giveaway drawing. The winner will announced at the end of the event.
“Events like these are exactly what Domain 2 was designed for, and we are thrilled to welcome families out to gather and enjoy the space,” said Lauren Krumlauf, director of marketing and business development at Simon Property Group, said in a news release. “We have an excellent line up of family-friendly activities, in addition to a wide variety of new restaurant choices, which are sure to make our tenth annual Taste of North Austin event the best yet.”
The family-friendly event will draw about 6,000 people, according to Kyleigh Haro, assistant director of marketing and business development at The Domain. It also doubles as a fundraiser for charity, and each participating restaurant may partner with a charity of its choice. The three restaurants with the most taste tabs from attendees at the end of the day will win a Simon gift card for their partner charity.
Serving sizes are not regulated at the event so some bites may be bigger than others. Black Walnut Cafe, which is partnering with the Austin Food Bank, plans to serve 2-ounce entree samples and 3-ounce scoops of gelato, General Manager Cheyenne Hodges said.
"We are estimating to serve over 1,000 people so we're portioning based on recommendations from management and our chef," Hodges told
Community Impact Newspaper. "We are very excited."
Official judging also takes places throughout the day, and the top three restaurants are named at the end of the event.