Taste of Olean
Time to loosen that belt a few notches, gather family and friends and head down to the 59th Annual Art in the Park and the 18th Annual Taste of Olean on September 7, 2008, from 11 AM - 5 PM at the Cattaraugus County Campus of Jamestown Community College. The Taste Of Olean, co-sponsored by the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, its 41 Corporate Sponsors, and National Grid Co., provides an affordable and enjoyable festival in a socially responsible manner for families of the greater Olean area, enhances the quality of life in Olean, and promotes downtown. The Taste of Olean is a festival filled with great food and entertainment. Admission to the event is free. Pay as you eat!
THE TASTES -- Twenty restaurants will present “tastes” of foods, smaller portions with affordable costs between 50 cents and $3.50. The participating restaurants with their respective dishes include: Baldwin Hill Farms--Maple Candy, Maple Peanuts, Maple Cotton Candy, Maple Ice Tea, Maple Pies; Backstage Catering of Cuba-- New England Clam Chowder, Mediterranean Chicken, Bread Pudding w/ whiskey sauce; Beef n’ Barrel Restaurant--Beef on Wick, Chicken Wings, Onion Rings/Sauce, Apple Pie, Birch Beer; Bistro 188--Cod Fish Tacos, Chilled Peanut Soba Noodle Salad, Kalifornia Ahi, Seattle’s Best Coffee; Canticle Farm--Fresh, organically grown vegetables; Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation--Cookies, tea, coffee, or milk; Green Acres--Pulled BBQ Pork sandwiches, Strawberry Shortcake, Steak Sliders; Kabob Cafe--Chicken Souvlaki on Pita, Gyro Pita, Chicken Curry over Rice, Hummus; Karol’s Kitchen--Texas Hots, Kurley Fries, Broccoli/Bowties Alfredo, Strawberry Shortcake, Lemonade, Coffee; Linger Longer Cafe--Italian Flat Wrap, Panini, Biscotti, Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup, Smoothies, Coffee/Latte; Main Street Pizza and Grill--Pizza, Specialty Pizza, Nachos, Mini Baked Wraps, Wings - Zesty Parmesan Ranch and Naked Aussie Flavors; Napoli’s Pizza--Pizza Slice; Old Library Restaurant--Non-Alcoholic Strawberry Daiquiri, Asian Ginger Chicken over rice, Parmesan Artichoke Hearts, Luciano Bowtie Shrimp; PEPSI Booth - JCC Alumni--Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Aquafina Water; PitStop Restaurant--Stuffed Chicken Breast, Salt Potato, Blueberry Banana Tart, Snow Cones, Iced Tea; Pizza Hut -- Boneless Wings, Pepperoni Pizza, Cinni Sticks; Taste of India Fest -- Samosa’s, Chicken Curry, Chick peas in Curry Sauce; Whispering Mountain Lodge Restaurant -- BBQ Ribs, Texas Hots, Pasta Salad, Salt Potatoes, Lemonade; and Wrapped in Dough -- Baklava, Chocolate Baklava.
THE ARTS -- Art in the Park, co-sponsored by Cattaraugus County Arts Council and the Olean Visual Arts Alliance held in conjunction with the Taste, is a juried fine arts show with a long standing tradition of showcasing the finest art in southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. Art in the Park will recognize several of the artists in the following categories: Best of Show; 1st Place; 2nd Place; 3rd Place; Honorable Mention; and Visitor Choice. The artists lined up for the show include: Cheri Antle, William Capozzi, Robin Zeffers Clark, Nadine Dyskant, Eileen Finn, Dawn Fletch, Michelle Hoff, Annette Horn, Zachary Horn, Sean Huntington, Sarah Larson, Kimberly Light, Lea Matthews, Shawn Erin McGuire, Betty Meierjurgen, Amy & Ron Peterson, Todd Plough, Robert Ring, Shannon Seybert, Emily Seybert, Dee Smith, Southern Tier Quilting, Jill St. Ledger Roty, Lori Tiller, Heather Ullman, Michael Weishan, Lorraine Welsh, Wild Heart Unlimited with Gary Cucklev and Cindy Pascatore, Cattaraugus County Arts Council, Literacy Volunteers of Cattaraugus County.
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS -- The music never stops with two stages providing continuous entertainment. From Jazz to Top 40, from Pops to Blues, the best local artists are always showcased. The scheduled of music includes: OUTSIDE UNDER THE BIG TENT - 12 PM Olean Brass Quintet; 12:30 PM Trombone Quartet; 1:00 PM Allegany Alumni and Friends Band; and 2:00 PM Olean’s Blues Brothers. INSIDE the Cutco Theater scheduled is: 12:30 PM Olean Area Irish Dancers; 1 PM Enchanted Mountain Barbershoppers; 1:30 PM Nancy Hefti & Broadway Review Olean Chamber Group Children.
THE SIGHTS -- The Taste is a festival for the entire family. There is a children's area with rides by American Amusement Rentals, the Chalkin' Proud America contest, and more. From The Balloon Man, to caricatures done by Ericatures, to childrens games, the Taste has the magical power to bring out the child in everyone. Back again this year, CUTCO Cutlery Corporation will host two chef demonstrations near the CUTCO theater. Alfred State College Culinary Arts Program will feature Associate Professor and Chair John Santora with several of the program's students with chef demos at 1 PM and 3 PM. WPIG-FM Radio Station and Shurfine are sponsoring the Buffalo Bills tailgate area where the Bills football game will be broadcast, as well as sign-ups for the Shurfine BBQ basket loaded with goodies for the winner to have their own tailgate party. The Southern Tier Military Support Group will hand out small flags to children and will showcase the Fallen Soldiers Display.
The GOACC and its Taste of Olean Event Committee will honor four individuals with the 2008 Taste of Olean Hospitality Wall of Fame Awards. The Hospitality Wall of Fame recognizes individuals and/or businesses who have made a significant contribution and given exceptional service to the food service/ hospitality industry in the past and who may continue to do so. “GOACC is proud to announce the second class of the Wall of Fame awards: John Sawaya, Sr., Carl Iseman, Louis and Nancy Giannechini, and the late Lucia “Lou” Bardenett. All have succeeded in excelling at all the most important elements of a great restaurant - inviting atmosphere, friendly staff and impeccable food in its stylish artistic presentation and its innovative flavor combination,” stated John Sayegh, GOACC’s Chief Operating Officer. The awards will be presented at 2:15 PM.
KICK-OFF TASTE EVENTS -- The 5th Annual "Tour of Interesting Homes," presented by the Literacy Volunteers of Cattaraugus County, will be held in Ellicottville on September 6, 2008, from 11 AM to 5 PM. Take an unhurried, self-guided tour of several unique homes. Pre-sale tickets at $25 are available at the Olean Public Library, Ellicottville Memorial Library, and by calling (716)372-8627 or email olean1@aol.com. Tickets may be purchased on the day of the event at the registration area at 10:30 AM in the Ellicottville Memorial Library at 6499 Maples Road for $30. The Cattaraugus County Arts Council is proud to present a new member show, Small Works/Big Ideas, which will open in the administration building on JCC’s campus on September 6, in conjunction with Art in the Park/Taste of Olean. Ribbons for best of show, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mentions will be presented during a gala opening with refreshments and entertainment. The show will hang until October 30. For more information on the Taste of Olean, call Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce at 716-372-4433 or email taste@oleanny.com.
| What is Taste of Olean? | |
| What is Art in the Park? | |
| Taste of Olean Restaurant Wall of Fame | |
| Event Photo Gallery |