ST. LOUIS – Ballpark Village is hosting Taste of St. Louis this weekend and opened up at 5 p.m. Friday. This weekend features a great lineup for family-friendly events.
This year, over 40 restaurants are participating, covering about 20 regions, with everything from Jamaican to Thai to soul and even pizza returning this year. There is certainly something for everyone and even some new additions.
“We have a lot of smaller restaurants this year and we also for the first year have some food trucks down here,” Michele Coen, the restaurant row director for Taste of St. Louis, said.
Although they’ve changed their name, Susan Putman of Dat Bayou Concessions is still serving up her same authentic Cajun food to supporters, both old and new.
“At one time we owned a restaurant, and we had a following and this is a way we still connect with our loyal customers and new customers,” Putman said.
Being from Lafayette, she’ll be serving up all the favorite staples Louisiana is known for and she looks forward to seeing all those attending this event.
“So come on down and get some good Cajun food,” Putman said.
Amanda Carrasco, owner of Juan Taco, brought her food truck this year. She loves the culinary experience this event offers.
“You know all the different foods that you get to taste and never experienced. And different flavors,” she said.
Even though Carrasco’s food truck has air conditioning in it, she’s thankful the weather has improved a bit.
“The humidity not being as hot as it was the past few days—I’m taking it,” she said.
This year, there are two parking lots full of vendors offering different food adventures.
“There’s places from St. Charles to downtown, from Kirkwood to south city—they come in from all over the region and are in one place for you to try. You don’t have to drive everywhere. You just come down here to Ballpark Village and try them all,” Coen said.
Taste of St. Louis runs until 10 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, it will be available for visitors from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
