Taste Of Alpharetta Returns Next Week

More than 60 restaurants will serve up samples of their best cuisine to tens of thousands of food lovers next week in downtown Alpharetta.

The 24th annual Taste of Alpharetta will return to the city's downtown core on Thursday, May 8 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. along Milton Avenue on the west side of Main Street/S.R. 9. 

Billed as the city's largest dinner party, patrons will enjoy food, a culinary arts competition, live music, three Fun Zone areas and more at the festival, which will set up on Milton Avenue, Roswell Street, Old Roswell Street, Canton Street and Old Canton Street. 

The taste is free to attend, and residents can purchase food and activity tickets — 10 tickets for $5 — to redeem at participating restaurant booths for an array of tastes ranging from $.50 - $3. per sample. 

Tickets can also be used in the events family-friendly Fun Zones for a variety of activities ranging from pony rides and rock climbing walls, to inflatable’s, balloon art and henna tattoos. 

The Culinary Arts Competition will feature select restaurants competing in a variety of categories including Best Appetizer/Salad, Best Fast Casual Entrée, Best Fine Dining Entrée, Best Dessert, Best Presentation and Best Decorated Booth.  

The Culinary Arts Stage, located on Roswell Street, will feature select candidates in each category preparing their signature dishes live on stage.  The stage will be hosted by Mara Davis from Atlanta Eats on CBS Atlanta and Atlanta Eats Radio on WGST 640 AM.  

Judges for this year's competition include Atlanta Cuisine on Tap editor Tom Maicon, recipe developer and food stylist Ashley Baughman, TV Chef, author and restaurateur Hans Rueffert and the People’s Voice and Foodie Candice Belle Isle. 

Additionally, the People’s Choice Award is open to all participating restaurants. This award will be presented based on the number of popular votes received from festival goers. 

Ballots will be available at the culinary competition tent through 7 p.m. 

The Culinary Competition Awards will be presented at 8:30 p.m. on the event’s Main Stage for the top chefs in each category and the People’s Choice Award. 

On the main stage located on Milton at Roswell Road and another stage on Old Canton, residents will be entertained with a slew of music acts. 

Along with free admission, the event will also include free parking and shuttle service:

• Park and walk (no shuttle service): Milton Center (86 School Drive at Independence High School/old Milton High School).
• Park and shuttle: Wills Park Equestrian Center (on Wills Rd), Wills Park at Wacky World (on Old Milton Parkway to the right of the Alpharetta City Pool).