The gourmand, the oenophile, the epicurean, the zymurgist — whatever the label for people who love good food and drink, they all will be happy on Sept. 9, when the annual Taste of Cazenovia event returns. This year, for the first time ever, the event will be held at the Willow Bank Yacht Club.
The annual gourmet event is an evening of featured food and drink samplings from local farms, restaurants and businesses, accompanied by live music and fundraising auctions. The Taste of Cazenovia is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Cazenovia Children’s House, a not-for-profit childcare and pre-school educational facility, that uses the proceeds to support programming and tuition assistance for qualifying families with financial need.
“It’s an evening of lots of specialty dishes and select wines, beers and spirits,” said Laurie Cornell, CCH director of development. “It’s a wonderful community event to showcase the amazing things we have here in Cazenovia.”
While the past two Taste of Cazenovia events were held at Owera Vineyards in 2011 and 2013, the 40-year-old event often switches locations, and this year the Cazenovia Yacht Club sought to be the host.
The private club has never before hosted a public event of this size, but the Taste of Cazenovia event fits well with the club’s mission of helping to educate children, said Cazenovia Yacht Club Commodore Tucker Lounsbury.
“We teach kids to swim and sail, and the connection with CCH is just a no-brainer,” Lousbury said. “Much of our demographic is with young families; this is where all this starts, what drives our utilization.”
Lousnbury said that even though the club is private, their youth swimming and sailing lessons are open to the public, and the club itself is “a very inclusive place.”
“It’s amazing the number of people in Cazenovia that have never been here,” he said. “I think everyone is excited to have this [Taste of Cazenovia] here this year.”
The event will be held in the club’s Owahgena Room, the two connected balconies, as well as under a temporary event tent on the grassy pier. Live music entertainment will be provided by Frenay and Lenin.
Approximately 500 people attended the Taste in 2013, Cornell said, and this year’s event promises to be even better with more and new sponsors, food and beverage participants and a new twist to the annual auction.
This year, two restaurants will partner with two local farms to create their offerings: Brae Loch Inn will create a specialty dish that will include Empire Buffalo bison, and Horned Dorset will feature a specialty dish using Drover Hill Farm products, Cornell said.
Also new this year will be the auction, which will offer more “experiences” such as tours, cruises and weekend getaways instead of the “items” that have been auctioned in past years, she said.
“I’m excited by the venue, the nautical theme — so much of what Cazenovia is is the lake,” said Cazenovia Children’s House Director Penny Noll. “What a beautiful way to enjoy it for a fundraiser.”
This year’s Taste of Cazenovia food sponsors include: Willow Bank Yacht Club, Dave’s Diner, BG Buda’s Cucina Italiana, Brae Loch Inn and Empire Buffalo, Pewter Spoon Café and Eatery, Lincklaen House, Horned Dorset and Drover Hill Farm, Side Hill Farmers Meats and Market, Latte Da Café and Bakehouse, Junior’s Caz Bar, Owahgena Pizzeria, Rise, Primo and Mary’s Salsa, Hartwood Farm and Kriemhild Farms.
This year’s beverage sponsors include: Life of Reilley Distilling Company, Empire Brewing Company, Owera Vineyards, Harvest Moon Cidery and Henneberg Brewing Co.
The Taste of Cazenovia will have a VIP Taste from 5:30 to 7 p.m. held in the original yacht club barn and south picnic area, and the regular Taste from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the yacht club’s Owahgena Room and the grassy peir. Tickets are $75 for the VIP Taste and $40 for the regular Taste.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Taste of Cazenovia website at tasteofcazenovia.com.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
