By Paula Vogler / easton@wickedlocal.com

For the seventh year Easton businesses and restaurants turned out to display their wares and what a display it was for the more than 400 people that attended this year’s Taste of Easton sponsored by the Easton Chamber of Commerce.
From cashew beet salad and pulled pork sliders to allapanna and chicken marsala, there were plenty of foods to tempt the palate in Stonehill College’s Roche Dining Commons Tuesday, May 20.
Chef Tammy Watson and Joyce Parlapiano were putting out samples of a cashew beet salad from the menu of the recently opened Blackthrone Publick House.
“We pickle the grapes and beets ourselves,” Parlapiano said. “We use a homemade horseradish dressing.“
Another newcomer to the event, the Farmer’s Daughter in downtown Easton, served up watermelon salad with feta cheese, nicoise olives, mint and baby arugula with a honey vinaigrette.
There were also pulled pork sliders and bricoche French toast squares complete with maple syrup and cinnamon honey butter.
The Foundry restaurant, scheduled to open sometime in July by Maguire’s owner Neil Levine, was serving up shrimp in a roasted garlic butter sauce.
“It’s garnished with fresh grown parsley from Langwater Farm,” Tracey Motta said.
“We will try to use local herbs from the area for our signature dishes,” Brandon Piers said.
Mario’s Trattoria tempted guests with allapanna, a pasta dish served with a light cream sauce, ham, and peas as well as chicken parmesan and meatballs.
Jill Allbritton and Carolina Santana of Porticello Ristorante served up chicken marsala and cavatelli Bolognese, a type of pasta covered with a meat sauce.
While visitors were enjoying everything from drinks, desserts and appetizers to entrees and salads, a panel of four phantom judges was also sampling the wares to determine who the recipient of the 2014 Best Taste Award would be.
Easton Town Administrator David Colton, state Rep. Claire Cronin, D-Easton, Fire Captain Jeffrey Webster and Easton Cultural District director Carolyn Cole chose the Farmer’s Daughter as this year’s winner.
The judges also gave honorable mentions to Café Hayashi and Tutto Bene.
The event saw a record number of participants offering samples of their food and beverages according to Kerri Nichols, Easton Chamber of Commerce program director.
With 24 tasting participants and 23 businesses, the event also drew one of the largest crowds in recent years, according to Nichols.
“We sold a lot of tickets overnight and the day of the event,” Nichols said.
Part of the proceeds of the evening go to the Easton Food Pantry.
”(Taste of Easton) gives needed exposure to the local business communit,” Nichols said. “It’s also a fun community wide event.“