Indian Herbs | Taste Savors Its 10th Anniversary, With New Vendors And Country Theme

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

LOCKPORT ” Under new management as it completes its first decade, the Taste of Lockport will offer a new theme and some new vendors when it returns to Ida Fritz Park on Sunday.

Gary Chapman, manager of Papa Leo’s in Lockport, said his company, Lockport Promotions, has signed a one-year contract with the Lockport Business Association, sponsors of the festival.

Chapman said he decided on a country theme for the 10th annual event, to be held from noon to 6 p. m.

Two local country bands will perform: the Teasers from noon to 3, and 90 West from 3 to 6. The Hot Country Line Dancers also will perform, and country music radio station WYRK-FM will broadcast live from the park at West and Park avenues from noon to 2.

“All the vendors have been asked to decorate their booths in a country theme,” Chapman said. “We’re hoping to have a large attendance with the theme.”

About 30 vendors are expected to take part, which Chapman said is about average for the Taste of Lockport, but still makes for a substantial size and variety.

“The Taste of Buffalo only has about 55,” he said.

DeFlippo’s, a longtime Lockport Italian standby, won last year’s People’s Choice Award.

Although the public gets to vote for that award, other awards, such as best wine, best entree and best dessert, will be decided this year by about 10 undercover judges.

They will simply get in line and buy food, so no one will know who the decision-makers are.

“I put one person in charge of it. She’s sworn to secrecy,” Chapman said. “Last year, the vendors brought their entries over to the judges. Who’s to say they didn’t make the portions a little bigger, or put some extra whipped cream on them? This year, we’re going to catch them in the act.”

The pricing rules are, nothing more than $3, and cash only.

“There will be smaller portions [than in the past], so people can sample more food,” Chapman said.

The wine court that was set up at the park last year has been dropped, and the five

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