C'mon Let's Go Downtown

Downtown Dining on Display at White Plains Food Festival
Submitted by Jamie Wollberg on Sun, 09/19/2010 - 18:29
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* Reviews

Photo credit: Amanda Hoffman

Mamaroneck Avenue became the site for the annual Taste of White Plains affair, a 6-hour festival of food and music. The White Plains Business Improvement District organized the event.

Amidst the thumping music on Sunday, Sept. 12, giant inflatable items, and decorated cars were various tents displaying some of the best restaurants downtown. Although some well-known eateries from the area like The Melting Pot weren’t represented, the food was cheap and worth every bite.

Senior journalism major Alan Moskowitz happened to stumble upon the event while trekking through. He sampled a dessert shooter from the Applebee’s tent for one dollar, and according to him, it tasted just like apple pie.

Jennifer Snyder, 23-year-old Applebee’s employee, said she was enthusiastic about the block party. “It was packed earlier,” she said. On the menu chosen by their management were fudge brownies, Blondies, and juices.

For a dollar, patrons could have bought a fudge brownie topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. “It’s easier to sell than other items, and everyone likes desserts,” Snyder said.

Local Indian restaurant Ambadi had a colorful and delicious tent featuring lunch boxes filled with Chicken Tikka Masala, naan bread, basmati rice, and more for seven dollars. Purchase students get a great discount at this restaurant, and they also deliver.

“We have so many Purchase students that come by,” said employee Mary Simpson. “They always come in bulk.”

Brooklyn’s Famous Sub and Pasta Shop puts smiles on local faces as they flaunted their two dollar hot dogs, five dollar hamburgers, four dollar milkshakes, sausage and pepper subs, and shish kabobs. Local Bartholomew Beriggi attended the block party with his son and feasted on a steak, pepper, and onion shish kabob.

Another White Plains native, Darlene Vazquez, brought her family to the tent because she said they have eaten there before. “We’ve always liked it and it’s been awhile since we last ate here.”

The best find of the day was likely the large three-dollar Reese’s Peanut Butter cookies at the Iron Tomato tent, which were promoted by Snapple. According to Steven Burg, one of the owners of their new management company, they were a best seller.

“What we wanted to do was put out a variety of the most popular items that we sell on a daily basis,” said Burg.

The bar and lounge tents were disappointing because of the lack of food and the limit of two beers per person. But Purchase students should still look forward to next year as long as they bring their appetites, and umbrellas.