With delicious food, dazzling drinks, and fantastic networking in a festive atmosphere, the Queens Economic Development Corporation and the Queens Tourism Council host Queens Taste as their annual fundraiser event. In previous years, we had Astoria’s Sabor de Cuba offer shredded beef with plantains, La Adelita in Woodside give away Mexican chalupas. Alobar in Long Island City has served savory potato pierogis with a creamy sauce, The Nest, a Guyanese/Trinidadian eatery in Richmond Hill, dished out curry, jerk, and BBQ chicken, and Bayside’s Bareburger bequeathed beer-braised bacon with stout onions on a mustard pretzel bun. On the alcohol side, we had Chris Murillo, who owns the local distillery Queens Courage, various wine purveyors, at least seven beer products from various breweries, and plenty specialty cocktails. Abstainers also had options, from Essentia Water to Bruce Cost Ginger Ale and Chatime bubble tea.

Tickets are $125. It’s an all-you-can-sample world and it’s for a good cause. The proceeds support our ongoing efforts to attract, create, and maintain jobs in the borough through business services, neighborhood development, the Entrepreneur Space (our food-and-business incubator), and marketing attractions through the It’s in Queens brand. As QEDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, proceeds are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.