For years East Boston residents have wondered why the annual Taste of Eastie was held in the winter. With other neighborhood restaurant celebrations, like the Taste of the North End, held in the spring or summer East Boston Main Streets (EBMS) new Executive Director was looking to shake things up this year coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
EBMS Executive Director Gladys Oliveros, who took over for Max Gruner in 2019, announced the 25th Annual Taste of Eastie will take place on Thursday, July 15 from 6 to 9 pm at Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor Hotel.
The outdoor event under the Hyatt’s tent on the Eastie waterfront will feature over 20 local restaurants, music, performances and libations.
Oliveros said she was excited to move the event to the summer and outdoors because EBMS and vendors will no longer have to contend with winter weather. In years past, when the event was held in January winter storms kept vendors and attendees away or cancelled the event altogether.
“So this year it will be outside and on the waterfront so it will be beautiful,” said Oliveros. “It was my idea to switch it from the winter to the summer and the board loved the idea. A lot of other food festivals are in the spring, summer or fall. We will still plan to do something in the winter but I think this will be so much better. If the weather is good people will be outside enjoying the food, music and performances on the waterfront and if it rains we have the tent so we really don’t have to deal with weather issues.”
Oliveros said EBMS has already confirmed 20 restaurants with more ready to sign up for the event.
“It’ll be a lot of the same restaurants and maybe some newer ones,” she said.. “Some restaurants are still trying to figure out if they have enough staff because, honestly, they became short staffed due to the pandemic.”
All in all the Taste of Eastie’s 25th anniversary will feature a wide array of food from Mexico, Peru, Italy, America and beyond.
Oliversos added that after many spent the last year and a half in isolation due to the pandemic it will be good to get out into the warm summer weather and celebrate what Eastie restaurants have to offer–a community and industry greatly impacted by COVID.
“I think it will really be fun and I’m so happy it will be outside this year,” said Oliveros. “And if it works out we will switch to hosting the Taste of Eastie in the summer going forward. Throughout last year and a half and the health and economic crises caused by COVID-19, I have been so amazed by how the neighborhood came together to support each other. With the city lifting pandemic restrictions, we want this event – a milestone in the history of East Boston Main Streets – to be an opportunity to celebrate the strength and resiliency of the neighborhood and the incredible people that live and work here.”
Tickets are $35.00 and can be purchased online until July 10 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/25th-anniversary-taste-of-eastie-2021-tickets-157866554113 or in
person at the EBMS office at 154 Maverick Street Suite 210. For more details or questions please contact Gladys Oliveros at [email protected] or at (617)-669-2544.