Attention all restaurants & wineries! The Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS is now accepting applications from restaurants and wineries interested in participating in this year's event. The Taste is set for July 10 and July 11 along Delaware Avenue in downtown Buffalo.

"For a restaurant, it's a great way to gain exposure to a large and diverse audience," said Mary Jo Wiepert, Taste restaurant committee chairwoman. "Our history is dotted with restaurants that have gone into the Taste and seen their post-event business increase."

To be eligible to apply for the Taste, the restaurant must be a public-eating place, whose primary commercial function is to serve food on a retail basis and be open year round in Western New York. Wineries must be a public establishment, whose primary commercial function is to serve wine on a retail basis and is open all year round in New York State. Additional restaurant & winery criteria and an application can be found at www.tasteofbuffalo.com. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2010.

The Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS is the nation's largest two-day food festival, attracting more than 450,000 people during its two-day run in downtown Buffalo. The 2010 Taste is set for July 10 and July 11 along Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo.