Tastefest Returns to Novi Sept. 16

—Submitted by the Novi Athletic Boosters Club

Novi restaurants, entertainment, business sponsors and "special guests" are putting their best fare forward on Friday, Sept. 16 at Wildcats Stadium as they all support Novi athletic programs through the Novi Athletic Boosters Club’s premier fund-raising and community outreach event: 2011 Tastefest.

Gates open at 5 p.m. for restaurant service and a silent auction, followed by the varsity football game vs. Plymouth at 7 p.m.

Admission is $5, but kindergarten through eighth grade students are free when accompanied by an adult. Food prices vary by vendor.

Organizers of the fifth annual event are planning dinner for at least 3,500 people.

“We continue to be thrilled by the engagement and commitment of our restaurant partners and business leaders pertaining to Tastefest. Their community spirit regarding our Novi students, student athletes and athletics is immeasurable,” said Jay F. Dooley, who this year is chairing the event with Angela Johnson, Kim Morris and Jack Kilger. “As we spoke with and asked our sponsors if we can count on them again to partner with us their answers are always ‘You bet we will be at Tastefest…!’”    

The dinner menu includes the following items from local restaurants:

• • Kung pao chicken
• • Traditional wings
• • Texas beef & brisket
• • BMT/Turkey subs
• • Chicken bacon ranch pizza
  • Ribs
  • Breadsticks
• • Snackers
• • Chicken fajitas
  • Spinach & artichoke dip
  • Oriental chicken salad

For dessert, attendees have the choice of the following:

• • Sundae bar treats
• 
  
  • Strawberry crème freeze
  • Biggby BEST coffee
    

Traditional concession items such as pop, popcorn and hotdogs will also be sold through Boosters concessions. Fun inflatables will be provided by Pump-It-Up of Wixom.

Supporting local businesses

Although all of the restaurant representatives agreed it is important to give back to the community, they also said they enjoy participating in Tastefest because it allows them to make the community aware of their restaurants. 

“Tastefest provides the perfect opportunity for businesses and citizens to come together in the heart of Novi on the Civic Center Campus and share community spirit,” said Sheryl Walsh, City of Novi director of communications. “The Tastefest is another event which speaks to the ‘hometown’ feel of our dynamic community.” 

Restaurant owners also appreciated that patrons who were aware of their participation in Tastefest have made a point to frequent their businesses.

“The more I do to benefit the community, the more the community does to benefit me," said Terry Sedmak, owner of Cold Stone. “It kind of goes hand in hand.”

Silent auction

Tastefest patrons will have the opportunity to bid on more than 175 items being offered through the Tastefest Silent Auction in the Field House.  

Jack Kilger said, “We would to thank our businesses in and around the Novi area for their contributions and donations to make this auction successful”.

Folks will also be able to purchase this year’s themed “Novi Nation” T-shirts and other spirit wear items that will be available.

Major corporate sponsors involved this year include the safety lighting from Michigan CAT, spirit wear items from , and donations from the , Millennium Limo Service and the .

Tastefest fun facts

During the 2010 event, Tastefest attendees consumed the following:

• 16,000 sips of Biggby’s BEST Coffee
• 150 feet of Subway subs
• 38 pounds each of Famous Dave’s beef brisket and chopped pork
• 100 whole Pizza Marvelous pies
• 40 pounds of beef and 60 pounds of chicken from bd’s
• 200 pounds of Buffalo Wild Wings’ chicken wings
• 250 pounds of Cold Stone ice cream