Crowd Savors 'Taste of Blue Back Square and The Center' - We-Ha

Crowd Savors ‘Taste of Blue Back Square and The Center’

Published On: July 27, 2017Categories: Business, Drink, Food, Lifestyle

Audio By Carbonatix

From left: Patty Swanson, Karen Connel, Paula Stabnick, Lisa Mahoney, Carole Dupuis, Joni Karas, Cindy Dorsey, Brenda Kraimer, and Renee Hartschorn enjoy the 'Taste of Blue Back Square and The Center' on July 27, 2017. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Nearly 500 guests enjoyed the second annual ‘Taste of Blue Back Square and The Center’ in West Hartford on Wednesday, July 27.

By Ronni Newton

On a clear and mild summer evening, guests enjoyed a sampling of signature dishes from many of West Hartford’s premier restaurants at the second annual Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center, held Wednesday in the REI parking lot in Blue Back Square.

Savory fare for the summer evening included shrimp bruschetta from Bar Louie, vegan ribs and cold sesame noodles from Black Bamboo, chorizo-wrapped dates topped with spiced yogurt from Cook and the Bear, Fleming’s signature hot prime rib sliders and mini crab cakes, Goldberg’s Gourmet’s warm house-cured Pastrami on Hartford Baking Company brioche rolls, Billy Grant’s (representing Grant’s and Restaurant Bricco) meatballs and chilled corn soup, a variety of pizza from Harry’s, a savory sweet potato creation from INDIA, penne a la vodka from Rizzuto’s, summer tomato gazpacho and “Federal’s Famous Chopped Salad” from Vinted, and World of Beer’s crispy chicken sliders.

There were plenty of sweets to finish off the evening (or to intersperse with the savory), including a rainbow of cupcakes from NoRA Cupcake Company and bite-sized creamy cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.

Green Teahouse’s green tea smoothies were a big hit.

Maximum Beverage offered wine, beer, and Fisher’s Lemonade tastings, and the soon-to-open Delamar West Hartford Hotel was also on hand with information about the hotel as well as a delicious prosecco and cognac beverage sweetened with strawberries. Hart Real Estate, featuring their new weha-rentals division, handed out water bottles to ensure that everyone was well-hydrated.

West Hartford-based Jade Marketing Group made a welcome return to this year’s event, with a collection of trendy denim shorts and jeans for women and men. A $10 donation for one pair, or $50 for six pair, will be passed along to the Taste of Blue Back Square and The Center’s non-profit partner, the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society.

A jazz trio – Ross Tucker and the Hot Cat Jazz Band – provided the perfect ambiance for the pleasant evening.

Many tried out a new hairstyle at BLO Blow Dry Bar’s “Braid and Pony Bar,” and then posed for easily-sharable photos in SnapSeat’s state-of-the-art photo booth. A few even tried their hand at “wine pong,” for a chance at a cruise, by tossing corks to the glasses at the Cruise Planners booth with Lisa Martin.

Other Blue Back Square specialty retailers donated to the raffle, and also had special offers that in some cases continue for the week following the “Taste of event,” including Charming Charlie and Ooh La La Boutique.

Guests had a chance to win raffle prizes that included gift cards from West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square merchants and restaurants.

Sponsors included Central Connecticut State University, Eagan, Donohue, Van Dyke & Falsey, Lux, Bond & Green, The McCauley at Mercy Community, Sheehan Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, JPCarroll, and Stanger Stanfield Law.

Business Partners include Eat IN Connecticut, Taylor Rental Party Plus, West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, and the Town of West Hartford.

Special thanks also to Merchant Solutions, West Hartford Cleaning Services, Valerie Thomas & Associates, and Northstar Weath Partners. Media partners include Connecticut Jewish Ledger, West Hartford Press, and West Hartford Life.

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