The 17th Annual Taste of Wellington West offered Ottawa residents a splendid way to spend a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon.

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The Taste of Wellington West 2023, was hosted by the Wellington West Business Improvement Area (BIA), a not-for-profit local board comprising business and community leaders established in 2008. It aimed to promote and preserve local businesses in the Wellington West area while fostering community bonds.

 

This year’s event showcased a lineup of popular local businesses, including Momo Spot, Little Jo Berry’s, Flamingo Boutique, and Tooth and Nail Brewing Co., among others. People from all cultures and backgrounds were encouraged to join and participate.

 

“I think the vibe here is very lively as different aspects of the community are present, there’s a lot of people here, which is busy,” said Lorna Wegoye, a Ugandan, who attended the event. “You could see everybody here, families with their children, people on a date.”

 

Musical performances, both individual and group, took centre stage, featuring students from Ottawa’s Pop Shop All Stars and folk-pop singer Claude Munson. The event also offered entertaining games for attendees to enjoy, such as beanbag toss and cornhole.

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While general admission to the event was free, food enthusiasts had the option to purchase sample tickets for $2.50, allowing them to indulge in sample offerings from vendors. Tooth and Nail Brewing Co. also offer its beer cans priced at $5.

 

Unlike last year’s format, where participants visited individual restaurants for treats, this year vendors and attendees gathered within Hintonburg Park.

 

“This is the first time that we are doing it,” said Kripa Dongol, one of the owners of The Momo Spot, an iconic Nepalese dumpling restaurant in Ottawa.

 

“Last year was different as people had to walk to the restaurants on the street to have a sample,” Dongol said.

 

The park’s amenities, including playgrounds, outdoor patio tables, and benches, offered a welcoming environment for families and friends to relax and savour the day’s event.

 

To guarantee the event’s success, organizers and vendors extensively promoted it on websites, such as “Wellington West,” and “Ottawa Tourism,” and different social media platforms.

 

“I think this event is great, it helps businesses out, brings more people to the area and wanders off and they go to different establishments,” said Gerry Lichty, an Ottawa resident, who attended the event with his neighbours. “I like this one better, I could see my neighbours, my friends, it’s close.”

 

The goal of the event included celebrating the seasonal tastes of Wellington West, supporting its permanent charity partner, the Parkdale Centre, and spotlighting local businesses while uniting Ottawa residents in a shared experience of food and music.

 

With hundreds of attendees, the event proved to be a resounding success, with vendors selling out their products by the end of the day.