Hearty Appetites Encouraged for Taste of Madison

Over 30 restaurants are participating in this year's edition of Taste of Madison, which will be held on Monday night from 7 - 9 in the Ferguson Recreation Center at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Those attending the event, which is in its ninth year, will be able to sample signature dishes from the participating borough restuarants. Four local wine shops will offer wines and spirits to go with the meals. Other treats, like tricky trays and a silent auction, will be held for items, some of which are valued at $1,000 or more. 

"This gives [the restaurants] good exposure: visitors try a new restaurant and dish all in one night," said Carmella Moeller, a Co-chair for the event.

According to Moeller, the Taste of Madison event, which draws people from as far as Morristown, is organized by three groups: the Madison Rotary Club, the Madison Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Developmental Commission. 

The Taste of Madison event is held as a fundraiser for these organizations, which in turn recycle those proceeds into local projects, scholarships, and other non-profit organizations. This is also a way to spread the word about local restaurants and wine shops.

"It's a great place to network, learn about Madison, sample food and different wines and spirits from different liquor stores in our town," said Karen Meyer, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce.  "It creates awareness, allows for samplings, and is a great way to get the businesses recognized."

To reserve tickets visit http://www.garyswine.com/taste_of_madison/index2.html. General admission is $65, and persons attending must be 21 or older. For more information call 973-377-7830.