UPDATE: Tastefest 2013 showcased the best of Conroe's culinary cuisine

UPDATE:

CONROE, Texas -- Where can you eat out and sample everything on the menu with unlimited refills, wash it down with a wide variety of beverages, and top it off with an unlimited amount of desserts, and for just $15! If you took your BFF you got a $5 discount and the two of you could eat to your stomach’s content for just $25.

Thursday evening at the Lone Star Convention Center, the Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Area Chamber of Commerce presented their annual Tastefest to showcase the best in Conroe culinary cuisine, and no one went away hungry.

Providing the smörgåsbord (in alphabetical order):

All Star Catering Co., Buffalo Wild Wings, Canada's Hole in the Wall Grill, Casa Ole, Conroe's Incredible Pizza, Crescent Moon Wine Bar & Restaurant, Culvers of Conroe, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, East Buffet Chinese Restaurant, Freebirds, H-E-B, Hunan Village Restaurant, IHOP on Lake Conroe, Joe's Pizza & Pasta, Kroger, Kuntry Katfish Catering, La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa, Mama Juanita's Mexican Restaurant, Margarita's Mexican Restaurant, McKenzie's Barbecue, Ryan's Family Steakhouse, Sam's Club, Smokey Mo's BBQ, Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Events, Sweetpeas Cooking, The King's Feast at the Texas Renaissance Festival, The Red Brick Tavern, Walden on Lake Conroe, and Wild Ginger Japanese Steakhouse .

This was no tidbit sampling. Food providers set up steam tables and served up plates of mini menu meals. This was consistent across all of the food vendors, providing attendees with more than enough to eat.

Although the event was open to all Chamber members in the food and drink industry, it was interesting to note that there was a wide variety of vendors and very little redundancy. Even the duplicate food sources offered different selections. The Tastefest was truly a broad cross-section of Conroe cuisine

. Beverage providers included:

Bernhardt Winery, Faust Distributing Co., Organo Gold, Silver Eagle Distributors, Southern Star Brewing Company, and Thornton Financial Services.

Wine sponsor, past Chamber Chairman, Helen Thornton, pulled out all the stops. In addition to serving up both red and white wine, she provided a sampling of cheeses, and featured wine connoisseur and columnist, Ron Saikowski, who provided assistance in pouring and wine expertise.

“For those who drink wine, I thought they would want some cheese to go with it,” said Thornton.

Approximately four dozen vendors were set up, and although the full meal deals were the main attraction, other special attractions included the Greater Montgomery County Restaurant Association featuring the students from ProStart who demonstrated their culinary and knife skills, and for your entertainment…The Village Golf Club set up a putting green for prizes, and PictureThisPhotoBooth had as long a line as the food providers.

“Although the Lobsterfest in October is the Chambers biggest annual fundraiser, the Tastefest is growing in size every year,” said Scott Harper, Chamber President. “We’re pleased with this year’s turnout in both vendors and attendees.”

For more information about the Chamber or both the Lobsterfest and Tastefest, go Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Area Chamber of Commerce

ORIGINAL STORY:

CONROE, Texas -- The culinary event of the year, Tastefest 2013, will showcase the best cuisine Conroe has to offer, May 9, at the Lone Star Convention Center from 5-8 p.m. One of the annual premier events put on by the Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Area Chamber of Commerce, it’s proven to be one of the most popular, with the participation and attendance growing every year.

The event is always a great place to eat your fill, but also a great opportunity to score some discount coupons, network with the businesses present, and share in the camaraderie. Come dine with neighbors you haven’t yet met.

“Throw the diet out the window for this evening,” said Helen Thornton of Thornton Financial Services, Past Chairman of the Chamber, and a sponsor for the Tastefest 2013. “You don't want to miss this!”

Restaurants and vendors at the Tastefest in alphabetical order include:

All Star Catering Co., Buffalo Wild Wings, Canada’s Hole in the Wall Grill, Conroe's Incredible Pizza, Crescent Moon Wine Bar, Culvers of Conroe, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, East Buffet Chinese Restaurant, Freebirds, Greater Montgomery County Restaurant Association, HEB, Hunan Village Restaurant, IHOP, Joe’s Pizza & Pasta, Kroger, Kuntry Katfish Catering, La Torretta Lake Resort and Spa, Mama Juanita's Mexican Restaurant, Margarita's Mexican Restaurant, McKenzie's Barbecue, Organo Gold, Ryan’s Family Steakhouse, Sam’s Club, Smoky Mo’s BBQ, Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Events, Sweetpeas Cooking, The King’s Feast at the Texas Renaissance Festival, The Village Golf Club, and Walden Yacht Club, and the list is still growing.

The event will also feature local breweries and wineries, ensuring that no one will go away hungry or thirsty. Bernhardt Winery, Faust Distributing Company, Silver Eagle Distributing, and Southern Star Brewing Company, will all be present.

It’s not too late to secure a booth to wine or dine prospective customers in the community. Sponsorships are also available at all levels. If you're interested in becoming a sponsor or having a booth at the event, call Angela Storseth at the Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Area Chamber of Commerce, or visit the link provided.