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Business & Tech

Taste of Lakewood is a Succulent Success

A veritable smorgasbord of local restaurant fare.

took place last night on a perfectly sunny spring evening on the lush front lawn of the Clifton Club- tucked back in Clifton Park on Lake Avenue. Crisp white tents provided shade for the white-clothed tables; the music ensemble, Mobius, jazzed up the festive atmosphere; the lake supplied a refreshing breeze.

Twenty local Lakewood restaurants shared substantial tastes of their respective samplings. And, there were 5 baskets of goodies being raffled – brimming with goods and services donated by local shops, salons, restaurants and private donors, as well as a bounteous- and coveted- wine basket.

This was the fourth year the Clifton Club offered their property, staff and facilities for the Lakewood Chamber to hold their fund-raiser, which showcases some of Lakewood’s favorite restaurants- new and old. It’s an intimate gathering where guests can graze through the dining rooms and chat with the chefs; the atmosphere is casual and relaxed, but having the Clifton Club as the back-drop provides the sophistication that this food deserves.

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Juxtaposed to the laidback — and tasty — evening that the eaters enjoy, the restaurants do a lot of work to prepare for serving samples to 400-plus people — I hope it’s just as fun for them to be at this venue!

On the front lawn had their signature deep fried Twinkie with raspberry coulis; served Barbecued Pulled Pork with Pineapple Jam and Banana Peppers; sampled their Crispadillas and Southwestern Eggrolls. Inside, down in the Pub Dining Room, had their famous Black Pepper Wings;  had Chicken Marsala; the Clifton Club offered Lamb Bruschetta with Kalamata Olives and Feta; Pier W served Seared Sea Scallops with Quinoa Salad; had Moroccan-spiced or American mussels. In the Main Dining Room Nature’s Bin had a Vegan Fennel-Orange Slaw; OH, Cakepops! had about 10 different flavors of their bite-sized cakes on sticks; served Lobster Nachos; had fresh or chocolate-dipped fruit...

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The only lamentation one would overhear was not having enough room to try everything — there were restaurants’ tables that I never made it to before my stomach was full: , Cozumel, , The Greek Village Grille, , , the , - but no-one could complain about being hungry or having the opportunity to leisurely sip a glass of wine out on one of Lakewood’s best lawns as the sun dipped lower into the west…

The Taste of Lakewood is fun for meeting new folks across the common tables, as well as seeing friends and neighbors, - chatting and comparing notes –ranking favorites under a sun-dappled oak tree canopy.

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