The Taste of LIC will simmer under 900-square-foot tents in Gantry Plaza State Park on Tuesday, and the 52 restaurants, bars and cafes that signed on to show off their signature offerings marked an all-time high.
Three other eateries are even on a waiting list, said Sheila Lewandowski, executive director of the local arts hub Chocolate Factory Theater, which hosts the nine-year-old event.
Neighborhood restarauteurs and merchants say they wouldn’t miss it.
One of the participants, Antidote Chocolate, creates organic chocolate bars from Ecuadorian cacao beans, which they’ve been selling at the Chocolate Factory Theater for years.
Still, said Red Thalhammer, the creator and owner, taking part is a no-brainer: It’s a key opportunity to have curious foodies fall in love with the company’s chocolate.
“A lot of people see things on the shelf they think about buying, but it’s only an experience once they can taste and understand the chocolate, and learn a little bit more about how it’s made,” she said. “That’s really how you win clients.”
Aidan O’Neal, who manages the M. Wells Dinette, noted that the festival is far more than a simple promotion. “It’s more important for us to get out there and be with the community and say hi to the restaurateurs,” he said.
Taste of Long Island City begins at 5:30 p.m. with patron hour at 5:30 p.m.; general admission runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Visit www.chocolatefactorytheater.org.
