About Us
The Taste of Buffalo
On Our Menu
The mission of the Taste of Buffalo is to promote the City of Buffalo and showcase the greater Buffalo area restaurants and businesses by providing an affordable and enjoyable weekend festival that takes place in an inclusive and socially responsible manner for all.
Tasty Facts
The Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS is the largest two-day food festival in the United States. It began in 1984 and now attracts almost 450,000 patrons annually. It has been voted WNY's premier outdoor festival. The Taste is a not-for-profit corporation registered with the State of New York and is run by an all-volunteer board of directors and a festival coordinator. The primary purpose of the event is to showcase downtown Buffalo and the wonderful restaurants that call our region home. As a rule, the Taste is designed to break even. Sponsorships help cover some of the expenses and food prices are set to make the event affordable for all families. The vast majority of the income from the Taste goes home with the restaurants and, after expenses (tents, electricity, permits, entertainment, trash collection, and more!), the Taste makes one or more contributions to local charitable organizations. Select charities and non-profit groups also partner with the Taste to staff ticket and beverage booths with volunteers in return for a small stipend. Up to five high school seniors residing in one of the eight counties in WNY, who intend to pursue a major in a culinary arts or hospitality curriculum, each receive $1,000 scholarships from the Taste each year.
39 Years of Tasting
Join us Saturday, July 9th and Sunday, July 10th, 2022 in celebration of our 39th year of sharing food, drinks and good times with the great city of Buffalo!
2022 Board of Directors
Officers
ChairLuke Baecker, Roofers Local No. 74/203 Benefit Funds |
TreasurerRozana Ayanbadejo, Catholic Health |
1st Vice ChairElizabeth Mamot, Aventra |
Past ChairAmber Hartman, National Veterinary Associates |
2nd Vice ChairThomas Mahoney, SAHD |
|
SecretaryMatthew J. Reis, Tallinger Associates, Foodservice Design |
Directors
| Greg Beckwith, NFTA-Metro | Leonard Hubbard, NFTA-Metro |
| Douglas Boehm, Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Services | Thomas P. Muscarella, Erie County Department of Health |
| Becky Chambers, Delaware North/Erie Sportservice LLC | Valerie E. Pillo, Clarivate Analytics |
| Jessica Christensen, Linde Inc. | Mark E. Reimann, U.S. Department of Homeland Security |
| Erin Collins, PCB Piezotronics | Adam C. Roma, Principal Financial Group |
| Eric R. DuVall, The Buffalo News | Matthew Testa, Keybank |
| Cheryl Goldstone, Clarence Schools | Mark Zawodzinski, Integer Holdings Corporation |
| Amelia Hakes, Horizon Health Services, Inc. | Amanda Ziegler, The University at Buffalo |
| Darcy Hitchcock, Cognigen Corporation | |
Ex-Officio
| James K. Morrell, NFTA-Metro |
| W. Morgan Smith, Buffalo Place, Inc. |
Advisory Committee
| Ann Hackett, aHa! Designs |
| Mac Hartman, Freed Maxick & Battaglia CPA |
| Laura Jacobs, e3communications |
Festival & Sponsorship Management
| Connie Wendling, Sell-utions Inc. |
