Tis the season for fundraisers—and what better way to give than when the giving tastes so good? Thousands are already chomping at the bit for the twenty-seventh annual Taste of the Town, a yearly foodie fest to benefit Myrtle Beach’s St. Andrew Catholic School. But between the beverages, savories, and sweets—and of course catching up with old friends—you probably will forget that your appetite is actually supporting a cherished school.

Stacey Pellicci, chairperson of Taste of the Town, whose children attend St. Andrew, describes the school as a “wonderful, small, family-like atmosphere. It works for my family—you’re not just a number. Both my children have a strong sense of self and value the importance of giving back. I feel I have St. Andrew to thank for helping me foster those things.”

When Taste started in 1984, a handful of restaurants participated, and up until only five years ago attendance was relatively modest. But since that time, according to Pellicci, the event has boomed. And, this year, more than fifty Myrtle Beach restaurants of all sizes and cuisines—surf and turf (of course), but also Indian, Thai, Mexican, and beyond—will proffer tasty bits from elaborately decorated booths to more than 11,000 expected attendees. Local jazz ensemble U-N-I and celebrity impersonators from Dino’s Variety Show will warm up the crowd, and then Soul Function will take over as the main act. At 7 p.m., there will be food awards given by an undisclosed panel of seasoned judges, as well as People’s Choice and Kids’ Choice awards. Also, awards will be given to the best-decorated booths.

Sounds good—so good that throngs of Myrtle Beach denizens mark their calendars well in advance of the Tuesday fall date (the event boasts the motto, “Tuesday’s TASTE ’n’ good”), which promises thousands of dollars for the K-8 private school. Whether to benefit St. Andrew or to satisfy your palate—Taste of the Town is arguably the party of the year. “Some people have been coming to this event for years because it is the place to be,” Pellicci notes.

And as events go, this one is par excellence. Pellicci says that restaurants plan for it all year. “We don’t go knocking on doors anymore. Small mom-and-pop businesses, Taste of the Town has put them on the map. This is a very seasoned event.” And one that will surely feed St. Andrew’s growing needs. “This is a promotional extravaganza for these restaurants, but when they pay their booth fee, they are required to give 50 percent of their evening’s profits back to the school.”

It’s a win-win (win) situation. Restaurants and the school will surely benefit—but so will your taste buds.

Eat and Greet
Taste of the Town
Tuesday, October 12, 4-10 p.m.
$5 admission before event; $6 at the door; food tickets, $1 each; no booth may charge more than 4 tickets per item. Myrtle Beach Convention Center, 2101 N. Oak St. (843) 448-6062,
www.totmb.com