Mt Laurel residents should get ready to bring their appetites and empty stomachs to Hartford School on Jan. 28, because Taste of Mt. Laurel is returning.
The fifth-annual event will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dozens of restaurants from Mt. Laurel will fill Hartford School and offer samples of some of their most popular dishes.
The event has become one of the biggest and tastiest community gatherings in the township, according to township clerk Meredith Tomczyk. Approximately 500 to 600 people attended the 2013 event, and the township expects to match or surpass that number this year.
“This is our second-largest attended event that the township hosts each year,” Tomczyk said.
The event has become so large that last year it was moved from the Community Center to Hartford Middle School to accommodate the crowd.
The registration process for restaurants to participate is currently underway. Last year’s event featured about 20 to 25 restaurants, according to Tomczyk. So far this year, about 15 restaurants have registered.
The event is a big promotion that connects residents and businesses. Residents are able to try food, free of charge, and the event serves as a great chance for local restaurateurs to promote their establishments.
“They give out menus and free samples of food from their restaurant,” Tomczyk said. “It gives residents a chance to see different types of food from the township.”
The range of restaurants at the event differs from year to year. The event will feature some returning participants, such as Carlucci’s Waterfront, but will also have some newcomers. Yogurt Land, a new shop that recently opened at Centerton Square, will be at Taste of Mt. Laurel for the first time. Tomczyk said she expects other new businesses to use the event as a promotional opportunity as well.
“This gives them an opportunity to sample their products and give residents a chance to try their food out,” Tomczyk said.
The best part of the event for residents is that it’s completely free. Tomczyk said people should sign up at the Mt. Laurel Township website before attending so the food vendors know how much food to provide for the event.
Restaurants must register before the event by contacting the township. When applying, they can declare during registration what type of food they are bringing and whether they need an electrical outlet or something else at their table.
“They do have to pre-register with us,” Tomczyk said. “They need to contact us because we provide all the tables.”
Because there is a limited amount of space, restaurants can register with the township on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no set deadline for registration, but the township will stop accepting restaurants once all slots are filled.
For more information on registering, contact the township’s Parks and Recreation clerk Evan Newlin at 234–0001 ext. 1220 or email enewlin@mountlaurel.com.
