OBX Taste grows into bona fide foodie event

Ben Sproul, president of the Outer Banks Restaurant Association, sums up this week’s annual Taste of the Beach this way:

“Four years ago we set out to tell the world the Outer Banks was a bona fide ‘foodie’ destination, in addition to being known for our beaches. We are known for our food, and our restaurant community has really stepped in with their competitiveness and creativity to support the Taste of the Beach.”

The “Taste” runs from Thursday, March 17 to Sunday, March 20.

By any measure, the OBX Taste of the Beach is not only a success, but it continues to improve on that success each year. When the OBRA planned the first Taste, there was some debate as to whether a March event would work on the beach.

If ticket sales are any indication, holding the event in March isn’t a problem. Sproul pegged ticket sales in 2010 at $73,000; as of today, sales are $90,000, and tickets are still available for many events . . . a 20 percent increase in what can only be described as a struggling economy.

The 2011 Taste of the Beach features 50 events from over 35 restaurants and vendors. Events cover the culinary map, including prices and offerings to suit a variety of tastes. From a gourmet St. Patrick’s Day dinner at Ocean Boulevard Bistro (bangers and mash, fish and chips featuring red drum) on March 17, to Corned Beef and Car Bombs at Lucky 12, attendees can sample a variety of offerings at local establishments
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There are also coffee cuppings at Front Porch, wine tastings and pairings with chocolates and aphrodisiacs at Native Vine, more wine and food pairings at Coastal Provisions and Argyles, vineyard tours at Sanctuary Vineyards, a “brew school” at the Outer Banks Brewing Station, and three “OBX Pub Crawls” each night, where you will be transported on a limousine bus with up to 35 other party-goers.

Mako Mikes is hosting a Calabash-style seafood buffet, while Goombays’ theme is “Caribbean on the Outer Banks.” Other venues include tapas crawls in Duck and Manteo, champagne tastings, Calimex at Bad Bean, a chowder cookoff, craft beer tours in Manteo, pizza for breakfast and several sessions on how to cure fish, butcher meat and the art of making a bagel.

While some events are sold out, tickets for many events are still available online at http://www.obxtasteofthebeach.com/home.htm up to 24 hours before the event’s start time. Packages are also available combining tickets with accommodation specials for out-of-town visitors wishing to stay for the entire event.

Click on the “Order Tickets” icon on the home page to get the best listing of each event and participating venue.

If your budget is tight, a “Locals Lowdown” at the Outer Banks Brewing Station doesn’t require a ticket. There you can learn about all of the Taste events and participate in some very cool raffles.

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