Local restaurants, bars, and small businesses will serve their best bites and sips to raise money for local nonprofits at Somerville and Cambridge’s all-you-can-eat food festivals.
The Taste of Somerville takes place on June 10. Cambridge Taste follows a week later, on June 17.
Taste of Somerville
Next week, 52 vendors and an expected 1,500 attendees will fill Boynton Yards near Union Square for the 28th Taste of Somerville.
“It’s just wonderful for the restaurants to be able to highlight how incredible they are,” especially since the restaurant community “still hasn’t bounced back” from COVID, said Jennifer Lawrence, executive director of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce.
The restaurants “put out their best food,” hoping the exposure brings in new customers, Lawrence said.
Gracie’s Ice Cream plans to serve the shop’s popular Fluff cones — an ice cream cone topped with toasted marshmallow Fluff — and pop-tart ice cream sandwiches, said owner Aaron Cohen. Vera’s, an Italian-American tavern, is participating for the fifth year and plans to serve housemade arancini with herb aioli, a past favorite. Vera’s sister restaurant, The Independent, will serve steak tips, said Meghan Rounds, Vera’s general manager.
This is the first year Wander Cat Cola will appear at the festival. The company makes spiced colas based on Japanese craft colas, with ingredients including yuzu and green cardamom, said owner Allison Ventura.
“I’m honored to be tabled alongside restaurants I’ve always admired in Somerville,” she said.
The festival will also feature music by the percussion group Grooversity, DJ Magic, and Josh Lederman and the Cambridge-Somerville All-Stars, as well as a kid-friendly obstacle course by Parkour Generations Boston.
In addition to supporting the restaurant community, the event benefits local nonprofit organizations. The Taste of Somerville has raised more than $1 million for charities since its founding in 1990. This year, the festival proceeds will go to The Elizabeth Peabody House, an organization that supports families with early childhood development and food security.
New additions to this year’s festival include Legal Sea Foods, Liars, PopUp Bagels, Lehrhaus tavern, and Hearth & Hug Bakery, which took over the former Q’s Nuts storefront near Davis Square. As a new resident of Somerville, owner Natalie Hug said she wants to become involved with the city and the community. “It’s really important to us that potential customers see the real people who are behind the business and care about giving them a great experience,” she said.
Hug plans to serve mini pretzels with mustard dip and assorted mini cookies, including chocolate chip and pomegranate molasses.
Taste of Somerville, 5 to 8 p.m., June 10 at The Brick at Boynton Yards, 101 South St. near Union Square, Somerville. $65.
Cambridge Taste
Cambridge Taste is celebrating its 20th year with a DJ, cornhole, and a longer festival — three hours, up from last year’s two — at University Park near Central Square.
The event celebrates the local restaurant community, giving restaurateurs a chance to showcase their creativity and passion, said Bailey Clurman, the festival’s volunteer marketing and event coordinator.
Beyond honoring the Cambridge food community, the food festival also raises money for local charities. Over the last two decades, Cambridge Taste has brought in over $370,000.
This year’s beneficiaries are Transition House, a domestic violence prevention and intervention group; Bridges Homeward, which supports children in need of permanent homes; and the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Barron Educational Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships to college-bound students. The beneficiaries are selected by the Cambridge Licensee Advisory Board.
The 38 restaurateurs volunteer their food and time to connect with the community.
Chef Jason Doo plans to serve Mai Tais from his restaurant, Wusong Road, and margaritas from Gato Exotico.
“We love seeing our regulars and the other Cambridge restaurants,” Doo said. “It’s also nice to get out of the kitchen and enjoy a nice summer day.”
In addition to Gato Exotico, other new participants include McCarthy’s Pub, Scull & Keel Fish House and Spirits, Caffe Nero, and Shake Shack.
Cambridge Taste, 5 to 8 p.m. June 17 at University Park Commons, 65 Sidney St., Cambridgeport near Central Square, Cambridge. $74.
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