Update: Earlier today, The Scoop reported that organizers of 2014 Taste of St. Louis will relocate the annual food festival from downtown to Chesterfield. Since publication, Taste of St. Louis’ K. Sonderegger spoke with The Scoop about the decision to move the festival to West County. K. Sonderegger, Taste of St. Louis’ co-director and marketing director, said the new space in Chesterfield would allow for a more “food-centric” event. “We really want to ramp it up his year,” she said. “Our goal is to bring in heavy hitters from Food Network, Bravo and Cooking Channel. What was neat about Chesterfield is the permanent amphitheater space.” Sonderegger said this venue will allow for ticketed shows distinct from free events at Taste.
Sonderegger said she does not feel Taste of St. Louis is abandoning downtown, where the event has taken place since its inception 10 years ago. “We have always tried to be the best regional food event there is,” she said. “It’s not abandoning downtown. It gives us an opportunity to be more regional.” She explained Taste organizers want the festival to be “geographically diverse” and to offer a variety of food from diverse cuisines.
Some Taste of St. Louis attendees used the MetroLink to get to the festival downtown; Sonderegger said she does not believe transportation will pose a problem for fairgoers attending this year’s event. “You can take the MetroLink and then take the MetroBus to get out to the county. And it is a 20-minute drive from downtown St. Louis,” she said.
Though still working out the details, Taste organizers anticipate that 30 to 35 restaurants will participate in Restaurant Row. “Every year we have restaurants that don’t participate for one reason or another,” Sonderegger said when asked if she expected former Restaurant Row venues not to participate because of the new location. “I think this year will be as good as any other year.”
The original version of this post is below. Organizers of Budweiser Taste of St. Louis are moving the annual culinary festival westward to Chesterfield. Previously held downtown at Soldiers’ Memorial, the 10th annual Taste of St. Louis will take place Sept. 19, 20 and 21 at Chesterfield’s Central Park and Chesterfield Amphitheater.
According to a press release, the new location offers a permanent, stadium-style stage “to showcase culinary talent from across St. Louis and around the country, enhancing the visitor experience.” The release also states that an expanded lineup of restaurants from St. Louis, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Southern Illinois and beyond will make for a “more geographically-diverse Restaurant Row.”
Also new at this year’s Taste, chefs will be encouraged to showcase their most unique signature culinary creations. Visitors will be able to use smartphones and tablets to vote for the winning dish, which will be named Taste of St. Louis Best Bite.
As in prior years, Taste will showcase national culinary stars from Food Network, Cooking Channel and Bravo, and offer beer and wine tasting experiences, concerts, an artist area and a family area.
This article appears in Guide to Beer 2014.