THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 28, 1997 TAG: 9701280280
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REBECCA MYERS CUTCHINS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 77 lines
When ``A Taste of Portsmouth'' was introduced in 1991, no one was quite sure how well it would be received.
Linda Lamm, executive director of Ports Events, told a reporter in a Jan. 4, 1991, newspaper article that appeared in advance of the first event:
``It's real important to us that it be successful this year. If it isn't, we won't do it again.''
That first ``Taste'' catered to a crowd of 600. About 100 people were turned away. A ``Sold Out'' sign had to be posted at the door.
The evening has been a sellout every year since.
``The whole idea was we just wanted to have an indoor event so we could promote Portsmouth in a cold-weather month,'' Lamm said. ``And then, of course, we wanted to promote the restaurants.''
Only about 100 tickets remain for this year's sampling of 13 popular Portsmouth eateries, to be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 4, at the Holiday Inn, 8 Crawford Parkway.
The event is limited to 500 guests.
``It's not unusual for half the crowd to be Portsmouth people and the other half to come from the other areas,'' Lamm said.
She attributes the positive response to ticket sales from Portsmouth folks to a little bit of ``cabin fever.''
``The Super Bowl has come and gone, it's been kind of cool out, people have stayed in the house,'' Lamm said, ``and this is the first social event of the year for Portsmouth people.''
The event seems to be as popular with restaurant owners as it is for their guests. Knowing they have to serve enough food to accommodate 500 people, about 12 to 15 restaurant owners agree to participate each year.
``My magic number has always been 10,'' Lamm said. ``I've always said if I have nine restaurants, we won't do it because I felt like it needed to be at least 10 restaurants to give our customers their money's worth. And we've never had that problem.''
Two new restaurants and a dessert shop have joined the roster this year: O'Bailey's Cafe, Thumper's and the Anderson-Wright Dessertery.
Mimi Bailey, owner of O'Bailey's Cafe, plans to serve ``Cock Island Leek Soup'' and a dish called ``Shrimp Downpatrick.''
``I've bought enough shrimp to accommodate at least 600 guests,'' Bailey said.
The Anderson-Wright Dessertery, which is part of Anderson-Wright Rooms and Gardens, an antiques shop in the 600 block of High St., will offer lemon squares and a chocolate fudge tart.
``Those are two things that we serve in addition to a chocolate pecan pie, a variety of flavored poundcakes, and an apple cake,'' co-owner Philip Weber said.
Thumper's owner Robert Conery plans to dish out oyster and beef jambalaya, traditional hot and spicy jambalaya, seafood gumbo and a special shrimp dish served with French bread.
Admission to ``A Taste of Portsmouth'' is $15. Tickets are sold in advance only and can be purchased from the Ports Events office, 355 Crawford St., Suite 101.
Admission includes 13 samples, plus an extra from a person's favorite restaurant, as well as drawings for dinner gift certificates. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Linda Lamm is executive director of Ports Events
Graphic
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: ``A Taste of Portsmouth,'' which features samples from 13
Portsmouth restaurants.
WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 4.
WHERE: Holiday Inn - Portsmouth Waterfront.
TICKETS: $15, sold in advance only and purchased from the Ports
Events office, 355 Crawford St., Suite 101. Charge by phone with
Mastercard or Visa by calling 393-9933.
PARTICIPATING: Amory's Wharf, The Anderson-Wright Dessertery,
Baron's Pub, Brutti's, China Garden, Commodore Theatre, The Max, New
York Deli, O'Bailey's Cafe, Scale O'De Whale, Thumper's, Vic Zodda's
and Wiener World.
INFORMATION: 393-9933.