Taste of Carrollwood Highlights Flavor Of Northwest Hillsborough County

TAMPA, FL – Each community around the Tampa Bay area has its own flavor, and the Carrollwood area is no different.

And much like many communities, Carrollwood will bring out its best during the fourth annual Taste of Carrollwood, which will take place Sunday, April 1 from noon to 5 p.m. at Steinbrenner Field, 1 Steinbrenner Drive in Tampa.

But unlike many “Taste of” events around the Tampa Bay area, Taste of Carrollwood is not a fundraiser. The event is a free service of the Carrollwood Area Business Association, which hosts the event to encourage people in northwest Hillsborough County to shop local.

“CABA is a business association, representing more than 400 businesses, and we believe our Taste event is a great way to enhance business-to-business networking as well as promote our CABA member businesses to the public,” said Kelly Williams, the public relations contractor for CABA.

The Taste of Carrollwood will feature more than 30 Tampa area restaurants that have a presence in the Carrollwood area.

“Most restaurants are Carrollwood-based, but most are regional franchises – as large as Bloomin’ Brands or as small as Kona Ice, where Matt Ripley usually operates out of a truck,” Williams said.

There will also be a few independently owned and operated restaurants highlighted during Tasted of Carrollwood, including Cuatro Restaurant at TPC, Chocolates by Michelle and Stacy’s Gluten Free. Williams said the event’s cuisine will be as varied as the sizes of businesses.

“Nothing Bundt Cakes will feature their amazing ‘Bundtinis’ while we expect WOW Fresh will be serving up samples of their delicious burgers,” she said. “Tazikis will certainly be bringing samples of amazing Mediterranean fare, while Stacy’s Gluten Free is known for lots of baked goodies.”

Aside from the food vendors, there will also be other local businesses participating in the event.

“More than 90 business vendors ranging from chiropractors to attorneys to nutriceuticals (will participate in Taste of Carrollwood),” Williams said. “Nothing is for purchase except drinks and adult beverages, which can be bought from the stadium concessions.”

For its first three years, Taste of Carrollwood took place in the India Cultural Center. But thanks to the addition of several corporate sponsors, the event needed a larger location in 2017.

“With Publix as our presenting sponsor, in addition to CABA’s collaboration with the Tampa Yankees Telemundo and Beasley Media Group, the Taste of Carrollwood is going to scale this year as we move our annual event a little farther south on Dale Mabry,” said Jeff Ryder, CABA’s president.

The newly renovated Steinbrenner Field will allow for more entertainment, including the University of South Florida marching band, Flash from Q105, a performance by Beyond Chaotic, running the bases, a kid’s corner and a family scavenger hunt. Scavenger hunt participants who complete their entries will have a chance to win a free 40-inch flat screen television.

For more information about Taste of Carrollwood, visit http://www.usecaba.com/events/details/taste-of-carrollwood-784385.

Images courtesy of Carrollwood Area Business Association