Spanning two gorgeous summer days, the Taste of Madison offered residents and visitors a last chance to have a quality outdoor experience with family and friends. Over 65 local restaurants, 20 beverage stands and four entertainment stages lined the Capitol Square Saturday and Sunday, attracting patrons to sample portions of popular food choices at an affordable price. Each food item was priced from $1 to $4. Taste of Madison patrons were tempted by, among other dishes, fried cheese curds from The Old Fashioned, BBQ ribs from Po Boy's BBQ & Catering and fried calamari from Lombardino's Restaurant as they navigated the thick crowds making their way around Wisconsin's capitol building.
To wash down their culinary selections, visitors could choose a fruit smoothie from vendors such as Loose Juice or Bluefin, a glass of red or white wine or a clear plastic cup filled with beer.
Amid all the caloric intake, stages sponsored by local radio stations Q106, 94.1 WJJO, Madison 1670, Magic 98, 106.7 Jamz and LaMovida 1480 serenaded the masses with musical acts including Justin Moore and the college lovin' Asher Roth.
According to tasteofmadison.com, the event has been used to raise money for the United Cerebral Palsy for all of its 27 years. In the last ten years the Taste of Madison has raised approximately $250,000 for UCP. Volunteers provided by the charity work the soda, water, beer and wine stands, which are not affiliated with a particular restaurant. Income from these beverage stands helps cover the cost of the event, estimated at $350,000 for 2009.
All participating restaurants were required to pay a fee for a booth, plus a security deposit. A 10x10 booth cost $800. Restaurants were also able to keep the profits from their sales.
