Here’s a taste of the taste of Huntington

DANETTE GOULET

It was pure sensory overload.

A symphony of sounds, smells and sights -- and some of those

sights were not to be believed -- assailed the senses.

Table after table was laden with delectable desserts and savory

appetizers. Chefs sauteed crab cakes, smiling servers dished up soup

and sliced roast beef, bartenders poured wine and beer, jazz and

mariachi bands boomed through the huge, hot ballroom and people

milled about everywhere snacking, sipping, soaking it all in. Emcee

Matt Lefring auctioned and raffled off trips and tickets and such,

while patrons bid on silent auction items that lined tables in the

center of the room.

I am an outgoing person. I am used to working in a rather chaotic

environment -- I handled huge crowds when I was a waitress with ease

-- but the fourth annual Taste of Huntington Beach on Sunday

overwhelmed me.

Perhaps it is because I was not in control, as I am in the other

situations, but as I stood in the grand ballroom of the Hyatt Regency

Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, clutching my plastic plate with its

dangling keepsake wineglass, I spun round and round, not quite sure

where to go or what to do.

Thousands of people were milling about, some in an organized

fashion trying to systematically run down the length of each table,

and even more people strolling haphazardly, jumping in at various

spots to grab the snack, wine or beer that caught their eye.

As an avid people-watcher, I spent more time watching the hordes

of people -- some dressed to the nines, others in T-shirts and

flip-flops and that one girl (if you were there, you know who I’m

talking about) who forgot the bottom half of her jean skirt -- than

checking out the 80-some odd purveyors’ displays.

But that’s OK, because as we bumped into people we knew, everyone

had a suggestion of where we should go and what the best thing to eat

was.

I was told by Debbie Workman, wife of Assistant City Administrator

Bill Workman, not to miss the Banana Fosters from Suzanne’s Catering.

To die for, she said.

I was led by another couple to Chimayo’s table to try the calamari

and shrimp. Someone else said Huntington Beach Pie Co. was a must.

Personally, my favorite taste was Longboards’ spinach and

artichoke dip.

But the coolest thing was that this event brought in thousands for

the Children’s Library. They’re still counting up the dough, but

ticket sales topped last year and they made more than $32,000 in

2003.

So it was a great time and a great fundraiser.

Bon appetit.

* DANETTE GOULET is the city editor. She can be reached at (714)

965-7170 or by e-mail at danette.goulet@latimes.com.