Top Blount County restaurants to offer samples of their fare

Let the friendly competition begin. Taste of Blount, a collection of savory food favorites from restaurants, caterers and gourmet grocers, returns for its 15th year at the Theater in the Park in Maryville (across from the Blount County Courthouse) Thursday, Sept. 8 from 6–8 p.m.

Tickets, which are $25 for Blount County Chamber members, $30 for the public and $15 for students 17 and under or those with a college or student ID, are available at the Chamber office (201 S. Washington St., Maryville, Tenn.), by phone (865)983-2241 or online at www.blountchamber.com. Tickets are available at the door the night of the event on a cash-only basis.

For an additional $10, patrons 21-years or older are invited to sample locally crafted spirits and beers.

Vendors on hand at press time include Roland’s Bistro, Moe’s Southwest Grill, The Soup Kitchen, PennyKakes,

Full Service BBQ, Vienna Coffee House, Cooper’s Restaurant, Jet’s Pizza, Rocky’s Jamaica Sunrise, Chadwick’s Chrun, Dead End BBQ – Maryville, Lambert’s Pie Shop and Hilton Knoxville Airport.

Ticket holders can try savory favorites and vote for their favorite appetizer, beverage, sandwich, main course, dessert, presentation and overall winner.

Rocky’s Jamaica Sunrise is back to defend its Best Overall title, an honor it has won the past three years, as well as Best Main Course for five consecutive years. One other returning champion is Vienna Coffee House which has won Best Beverage four of the last five years.

Other streaks include Full Service BBQ for Best Sandwich and Chadwick’s Churn for Best Dessert; each have won its respective categories for four straight years.

The event is hosted by the Blount Partnership and sponsored by MK Russell & Abbott, CBBC Bank, Asbury Place and Pellissippi State Community College. Media sponsors include The Daily Times, WATE-TV and WNOX 93.1 FM.