Here’s a chance to give your taste buds the best workout ever.
Just show up at Barrhead Elementary School gym on Saturday, Sept. 29 – and bring a healthy appetite, a hunger for culinary diversity and a willingness to try anything at least once.
The Barrhead &District Chamber of Commerce is hosting a first-ever “Taste of Barrhead” between 11 a.m and 3:30 p.m., hoping to showcase the food from as many as 35 countries.
As an appetizing extra, a fun Barrhead County versus Town challenge is being arranged – the winner will be the municipality that raises the most money from food sales at its booth.
“The loser will have to wear the winner’s T-shirts,” said organizer and Barrhead Bakery owner Dennis Donkers.
“A Taste of Barrhead” will be one of the highlights of the Alberta Culture Days celebration. Similar events have been held in Edmonton and Neerlandia.
Helping Donkers organize the event are Chamber chair Darlene Gross and members Elize Zuk, Inge De Herdt and Elaine Dickie. The Chamber discussed the idea at its general membership meeting last Thursday.
Members heard there was room at the BES gym for 35 tables, each representing a different country. So far the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Greece have been spoken for. It is hoped the booths will be decorated in interesting and symbolic ways to attract as many visitors as possible, including Barrhead Mayor Brian Schulz and new Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA, Maureen Kubinec. Tables were offered to Chamber members first, but after June 25 anybody else in the community can participate, such as churches, school groups, caterers, charities and 4H organizations. There is $100 deposit, refundable as along as the table is used.
Dickie said the Chamber would supply knives, forks, plates, napkins, pop and water. The Chamber has applied for a grant to help promote the event, which will feature snack-size food that can be bought for $1, $2 or $3.
Visitors will buy $1 tokens at the door. After the event, vendors can hand in tokens to the Chamber in exchange for money.
Contact Inge De Herdt at 780-305-8744 for registration. Donkers can be reached at 780-674-2563.
