ENCINO : Put Taste Buds to Ultimate Test This Weekend

What’s cookin’? Follow your nose to the seventh annual Taste of Encino this Saturday and Sunday and find out.

Nearly two dozen local restaurants and wineries will participate in the festival to raise money for local schools, including Adam’s Rib, Chin Chin Cafe, Haagen Dazs and Preston Winery. Starbucks Coffee will serve cafe mocha and espresso. The event is sponsored by the Encino Chamber of Commerce.

Some eateries have been preparing for the feast all week.

Adam’s Rib owner Scott Hirschthal stocked up on 600 pounds of beef ribs, 800 pounds of pork ribs and 100 pounds of kosher hot dogs. He also has nearly 1,000 pounds of potatoes sitting in the restaurant’s kitchen, waiting to be mashed with garlic and butter.

“This is a chance for the entire community to get together, have a cookout and just have a great time,” said Hirschthal.

Arthur Granado, owner of Angels Gourmet Take and Bake Pizza, said he expects to toss at least 100 pizzas for the crowd. His specialties include Margarita pizza, covered with basil, garlic and tomatoes, and a Napoli pizza topped with sausage, onions and red and green sliced bell peppers.

Last year’s Taste of Encino took in about $40,000, nearly half of which went to schools in the area. The remainder was allocated to the Encino Chamber of Commerce, which used the money for operating costs and its other projects, including an anti-graffiti program.

Jan Sobel, the chamber’s executive director, said the organization hopes to take in at least as much this year. She said that although the event’s main purpose is to raise funds for local schools, it is also designed to promote Encino restaurants and the community.

“I want to increase the visibility of the area,” Sobel said. “I want the public to see how the chamber promotes Encino, and what it does for the community. That’s why this event is so special. It brings the community together while helping out local schools.”

This year, seven local schools will receive a percentage of the funds, based on how many volunteer hours they put in selling food and drinks over the weekend.

The event is open to all schools in Encino. Participants this year include Taft, Birmingham and Zane Grey high schools; Mulholland Middle School; and Emelita Street, Nestle Avenue and Encino elementary schools.

Entertainment for the event includes an arts and crafts fair as well as live music. Children’s shows and the L.A. Cabaret Comedy Club will perform at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

The event will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Courtyard Shops of Encino, 17401 Ventura Blvd., between Balboa Boulevard and White Oak Avenue. Off-site parking is available with a free shuttle service.

Daily admission is $2, $1 for seniors and free for children under five. Food samples cost between $1 and $4.