OBX Taste of the Beach a Tasty Treat

Bluewater Grill & Raw Bar at the BBQ, Wings Showdown.
Bluewater Grill & Raw Bar at the BBQ, Wings Showdown.

We’ve had a lot to say about the Outer Banks Taste of the Beach and now that it’s here and gone, it’s time for a recap.

There is no perfect way to describe everything that happens over the four days of the event—there is just too much happening. Tapas crawls…we were partial to the Kitty Hawk Friday night crawl that featured Russo’s Bistro & Bar, Ocean Boulevard and Coastal Provisions. But that was just one of many.

Wine tasting? Impossible to choose, although Sanctuary vineyards did an amazing job pairing wines with food at a number of events.

So that leaves us with the two major events, the Wings & BBQ Showdown and the Grand Tasting & Bartenders Bubbly Bash, both at the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head.

Our tip if going to either event next year is do not eat breakfast. In fact, maybe restrict caloric intake the day before as well.

The Saturday Showdown featured some great wings, fantastic eastern North Carolina barbecue and melt in your mouth ribs. Tough call on our favorite. We really liked what Coastal Cravings did with their ribs, but the competition was close there was no clear favorite.

Fantastic music by Jonny Waters and Company.

Sunday was as the Grand Tasting and it was grand.

If there was ever any question about the expertise of Outer Banks chefs this one event should put all doubts to rest. There was a wonderful fresh rockfish over a sweet potato soufflé. The Carolina Crab Cocktail Coastal Cravings was serving up was really good. And the list goes on and on.

And of course there were the Champagne cocktails, which were also wonderful.

Tough call all around, so we’ll take the graceful way out and not call out a winner.

Soul One was the music. Loved it.

Summer’s coming! If you have not made your Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates reservations, do it soon for best selection.

Outer Banks Taste of the Beach This Weekend

Annual Taste of the Beach a Feast for the Senses

At last year's Chowder Cook-off.
At last year’s Chowder Cook-off.

The Outer Banks Taste of the Beach is not like any other food festival out there. A culinary adventure? Yes, it is. A chance to tour the Outer Banks with a purpose? It certainly is. An opportunity to discover how talented Outer Banks chefs really are? You bet!

From Corolla to Manteo there are events scheduled all day every day now through the Grand Tasting that wraps things up on Sunday. Unfortunately the Grand Tasting is sold out already, but there are still lot of events worth checking out.

Tomorrow it’s the Outer Banks BBQ & Wings Showdown at the Pointe Golf Club in Powells Point—a couple of miles north of the Wright Brothers Memorial Bridge on the Mainland.

The graded of the Taste of the Beach cook-offs though is the 10th Annual Chowder Cookoff that’s sponsored by Coastal Provision in Southern Shores every year. It begins at noon. Bring a really good appetite, and a jacket may be a good idea this year. It’s an outdoor event and no rain in sight, but it may be a bit chilly.

The Taste of the Beach is much more than the big events, which is what makes this such a special time on the Outer Banks.

Lots of wine tasting—and even a few beer tastings. A wine tasting that we have always enjoyed is at Sanctuary Vineyards where they’re hosting “Toast The Coast: A Selection of NC’s Finest Wines & Cheeses.” It’s an all day event every day through Sunday. It’s a great opportunity to try some very well made local wines.

In the morning on Saturday and Sunday, Brooke Mayo is offering “Food in Focus: A Delicious Crash Course in Culinary Photography.” Brooke is one of the finest photographers on the Outer Banks and is married to John Wright, the manager of Sanctuary Vineyards.

The weather is looking a bit on the cool side for the weekend, but there is so much to do that the weather shouldn’t matter that much anyway.