Last Saturday, in the midst of this weekend’s hazy, overcast and generally gloomy weather, there was some light and warmth on K Street under the bridged Whitehurst Freeway. Taste of Georgetown, an annual epicurean festival celebrating “creative tastes from over 30 of the neighborhood’s best restaurants,” came to our waterfront, attracting families and foodies alike. I decided to bring a friend along to check out the festivities and get a taste of what this area has to—gastronomically—offer.
Emma Berg/The Georgetown Voice
The idea of Taste of Georgetown is to shed light on all of Georgetown’s local restaurants and their specialty dishes. Each of the participants had their own stand, with one or two signature food items that customers tried by trading in a “tasting ticket.” Taste of Georgetown also benefits the Georgetown Ministry Center’s services supporting the homeless, making the importance of community even more relevant to the festival.
With over 60 tasting options, it was difficult to try to even get a glimpse of them all. Foods served ranged from Baked & Wired Ice Cream Sammies to Thunder Burger Pork Sliders, to Duck Banh Mi from Clyde’s 1789. One dish that eluded our tastebuds was the Mushroom Tacos from Chaia Tacos, a new restaurant to Georgetown that has still yet to open on Grace St NW right off of Wisconsin Avenue. When I saw the chefs hand-pressing the tortillas in the back and dressing the dish by hand, I had to ask someone if I could take a picture of the finished plate. The tacos can also be found at the Georgetown, Dupont, and White House farmers markets, so I guess we will have to venture there to get them until the restaurant opens!
Emma Berg/The Georgetown Voice
My friend and I instead indulged at the I-Thai Restaurant stand, sampling Mango and Sticky Rice, as well as Thai Iced Tea. The slightly savory mango dessert was at first strange to me, but definitely something that I would visit I-Thai, located on the corner of 30th and M St, to sample again. The warm rice and sweet mango was a perfect addition to our chilly afternoon.
Emma Berg/The Georgetown Voice
The crowds that showed up to Taste of Georgetown created an overall ambiance that could be enjoyed by a wide range of people. The event was full of people of all ages, giving a different perspective on the area’s demographics than what our campus has to offer (it’s always nice to get out of the college-age bubble). Although there was a noticeable lack of areas for people to sit and eat their food, standing and eating definitely made the “street food” vibe come through in a good way. Another plus is that lines weren’t so long that visiting foodies had to wait for forever to eat, but there were still enough people at the event to create a lively, social energy that, as a patron, I really appreciated.
The food stands at Taste of Georgetown really got me with their hand-made fresh street eats; now, I have a list of a few restaurants in the area that I need to try. Overall, I give this street food culinary experience a big thumbs up. Rain or shine, you will definitely find me at their stands next year.
