Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris Originally published March 19, 2008 47 Restaurants' Food In Parking Garage Of East Jefferson Hospital Taste Of The Town Moves To Rain Location Tonight, But Still On Taste of the Town, which is in a league with any other grazing event put on by any other group, is still on tonight, despite the ferocious rains we've had the past couple of days. As it did last year, it will move to the East Jefferson Hospital's parking garage, on West Espalanade near Houma Boulevard. You will be able to park on the upper levels for free, and come down to the event without worrying about getting wet, even if it's storming outside. So much for the bad news. All of the rest is good. They food will come from the best chefs and restaurants in town. There's live music all night, open bars for cocktails and wine. The tickets are $90 and worth every cent. The money raised goes to an education program in Orleans and Jefferson public schools as well as to the nascent culinary program at the University of New Orleans. Some of the meony also goes to Lafreniere Park, where the taste of the Town takes place when it's not pouring. Restaurateurs are constantly being asked to serve their food for free in support of charities. A few years ago, at a restaurant association meeting, it was suggested that they do their own such event, with the money used for the restaurant industry's favorite non-profits. (Mostly of those are about education.) That was 2002. The idea has gone well beyond a big success (it drew 4400 people last year). It's also a contender for the best grazing food festival in town. The restaurants are eager to be part of it, and serve their best stuff. Even with a smattering of rain last year, everyone who attended last year's Taste found it to be more than a little delicious. The range of food spans the gamut from sandwiches to steak to seafood to desserts. The best part: very few restaurants run out of food. Your appetite will give out before the chefs do. Ditto for the beverages. The list of restaurants is long and growing. Here are some of the bigger names: Arnaud's, Brennan's, Besh Steakhouse, Cafe Giovanni, Commander's Palace, Drago's (with char-broiled oysters) , Galatoire's, La Petite Grocery, Mr. B's, Nola, Palace Cafe, Andrea's, Pascal's Manale, Ralph's on the Park, Ruth's Chris, Vincent's, Zea, and Wolfe's. The tickets are $90 at the door. I'll see you there, I hope. . . please don't be shy about coming over to say hello! © 2009 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com