Faculty, Staff Treated to 5th Annual Taste of Middletown
Three hundred faculty and staff filled Beckham Hall for a feast of food and drink provided by 18 vendors at the fifth annual Taste of Middletown on March 9. Offerings ranged from empanadas, a macaroni and cheese bar, salads, chicken tikka masala and vegan spring rolls to a wide assortment of pastries and desserts and a variety of beverages. Wesleyan welcomed six new vendors to the event this year, including La Piastra, Red Fox, Iguanas Ranas, Taino Smokehouse, Fiore II, Mi Argentina and Mondo.
Attendees donated 327 pounds of food and $133 to the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. This marked a 15 percent increase from last year. Twenty-two people won raffle prizes, including tickets to a Yankees game, a Yale golf foursome, overnight stays with breakfast for two from all the participating hotels and gift certificates to local restaurants.
This year for the first time, organizers encouraged attendees to bring their own mug or utensils or to purchase a reusable clamshell container from Bon Appetit to promote sustainability. Those who did earned an extra raffle ticket.
“Each year the event is getting more popular. This year seemed to be the best one yet, with so many more restaurants participating,” said Purchasing Director Olga Bookas. “It is so wonderful to see our employees so excited to attend this event!”
(Photos by Laurie Kenney)