Event attracts hungry crowd
CRANBERRY TWP — Hundreds of people gathered Monday night to get a little taste of what area restaurants have to offer.
More than 600 people came to the two-hour Taste of Cranberry sponsored by the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber of Commerce at the DoubleTree by Hilton. It featured 20 restaurants and 16 businesses.
Jim Boltz, chamber executive director, said the turnout was great.
“I have heard nothing but positive things about all the food,” Boltz said.
“I am proud of the fact that all of the great restaurants we have in Cranberry can be here and be able to display the great food that they have to offer,” Boltz said.
The North Park Lounge served pulled pork sandwiches.
“Our biggest goal is to get some new faces coming in based on what they tried tonight,” said Kim Ciccozzi, manager at the lounge. “There has been a lot of good positive feedback.”
Todd Rubino, owner of Peace, Love & Little Donuts in Cranberry and Grove City, said the event was great.
“We are excited to get exposure in the surrounding area,” Rubino said.
“It brings in a lot of people and you get to meet other businesses.”
Peace, Love & Little Donuts had several varieties of doughnuts for people to sample including the bacon and maple doughnuts, which Rubino said is one of his best-sellers.
Maria Wroblewski, co-owner of Tin Man Sweets, said she liked the venue because it was not as crowded as in years past and the flow was nicer.
The bakery made pumpkin rolls for Taste guests.
Wroblewski said the bakery marked its three-year anniversary in August.
“It is still a good event for people to know we are in the area and get some exposure,” she said.
There was live entertainment throughout the evening with the Bogmeisters, the Keystone State Music Theater and the Greater Harmony Chorus.
Donna Knapp, marketing chairman for the Greater Harmony Chorus, said the group was excited to be invited. This is the first time the chorus has been to the Taste of Cranberry.
The chorus is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International. The chorus is always looking for new members, she said.
“We want to get the word out that we are here, and we are available and we love to sing, so that is why we came,” Knapp said.
