Taste of Coffee County draws restaurants, crowd

By Carole Brand

Published: September 23, 2008

The first in what Altrusa Club members say would be an annual event, the Taste of Coffee County drew more than 250 people Monday night at the Enterprise City Schools Service Center.

Area restaurants prepared samples of their featured and specialty items and new products to share with the public.

Altrusa Club President Tanya Williams and Vice President Nancy Garner said the affair was “definitely a success.”

“We plan on hosting this event next year because of the huge response we got,” Williams said. “We pre-sold 130 tickets, but people starting lining up at the door and we ended up with a little more than 250 guests.”

Garner said the club provided plates and flatware to the guests with the individual restaurants preparing dishes in sample forms.
The 28 members of Altrusa welcomed guests and prepared tables for the public, along with hosting and answering many questions.
Most of the restaurants provided to-go menus with dishes, specials and prices.

Williams said the fundraising event would help provide monies for the literacy projects Altrusa sponsors.

“We have the Books for Babies for new parents. We also have several Altrusa scholarships we provide, give out dictionaries to third graders in schools, have the No Child Without a Book and many other literacy projects,” she said.

Garner said the restaurants were “very happy about the event and they said they would participate next year, so we are definitely planning on it. If it also were not for the great people at the Enterprise City Schools Service Center, we wouldn’t have been able to do this.”
According to Garner, entertainment was also supposed to be provided for the evening.

“The only disappointment we had was that Shane Owens had a verbal agreement to come, but he didn’t show up,” she said. “Many people came and asked about that, but besides this, I believe that people really enjoyed the food and the fellowship. We had a lot to give us back such positive comments.”

Enterprise and Coffee County restaurants participating in the Taste of Coffee County included Smoochies, Shicky G’s, Ryan’s, Po Folks, Mellow Mushroom, Larry’s BBQ, Huddle House, Frogz, Hot’s Deli, Schnitzelhaus, Euro Bistro, David’s Catfish House, Winging’ It, Cupcakes Ya’ll, The Charleston House and Beef O’Bradys.