A taste of success

June Casagrande

FASHION ISLAND -- The mood at this year’s Taste of Newport was subtly

different from the past -- underlying somberness that somehow enhanced

the celebration.

“It was very joyous,” said April Florent of Gina’s Pizza and Pastaria.

“I think it was because we’re celebrating our life and our independence

and our freedom.”

When the three-day event wrapped up on Sunday, restaurateurs,

organizers and community members were pleased to declare it a success.

For a while, they had been worried.

The food and music festival, which brought together about 30 local

restaurants and top acts such as KC and the Sunshine Band, had originally

been scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 14. But after the Sept. 11

terrorist attacks on the U.S., organizers decided to postpone the event,

now in its 13th year. The sudden rescheduling and slow restaurant and

event sales nationwide seemed to spell trouble for the Taste as well.

But those worries were quickly put to rest Friday as 25,000 flocked to

Fashion Island to sample food from local restaurants and take in some

world-class entertainment. By late Sunday, about 70,000 people had

attended and sales were estimated at just 2% below last year.

“That made us very happy, because last year was a record-breaking year

for us,” said Doug Stuckey, public affairs director for the Newport

Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the event.

Friday and Saturday were huge successes, but Sunday brought a slight

downturn as people awoke to the news that the country was bombing

Afghanistan.

“Sunday was comparable to Sundays in previous years except last year,

when the Beach Boys drew a really huge crowd,” Stuckey said.

Sales estimates in dollars are not available, but many of the

restaurants that participated in the Taste reported sales equal to or

greater than previous years, Stuckey said.

“Our sales were excellent,” said Florent, who noted that Gina’s new

Barbacoa barbecued chicken pizza was the restaurant’s best seller.

“People had great attitudes. It was a lot of fun.”