The Taste of Vero 2017

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This was the Oceanside Business Association’s 7th Annual Taste of Vero event on Ocean Drive in Vero Beach, Florida 32963. Twenty-one restaurants and booths set up shop for the evening with nearly perfect weather, roughly 79 degrees, and a nice ocean breeze. We had quite the crowd as the sidewalks were lined with people, and every booth had a small but quick line. It was steady from 5pm – 8pm.

Most certainly many onlookers at all of the shops, park,s and hotels eating ice creams and drinking beers, watching all the foodie chaos. After you visited the ticketing station and tasted all your plates, there was voting to be had for your Favorite Booth, Favorite Entree, and Favorite Dessert. Below you will find the booths, the sponsors and THE TASTE.

We have our favorites, but before we share, please tell us who you voted for and why in the comments below.

This year, “The Food Guy” at (Vero Beach Foodie), was out of town with family, so Stacy Cook (Vero Vine) and Stacie Renee (Hurried Home Chef) were on the scene to taste and report. Below, you will find photos and descriptions of all plates and our favorites.

UPDATED: Ultimately, the People’s Choice Award for Outstanding Entree goes to Ocean Grill for their lump crab cake with mango salsa that people raved was out of this world. Countryside Citrus took home the prize for Outstanding Dessert with their Key Lime Pie and citrus ice cream, while the Best Themed Booth Award goes to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Florida Realty for their Mexican Themed booth complete with a Mariachi band! Results tallied by The Oceanside Business Association from the paper vote ballots from the date of the event.

Ocean Grill

Vero’s oldest locally owned beachside restaurant served crab cakes with mango, tomato and red onion relish. Exquisitely seasoned large lump crab meat that could make the most picky New Englander smile. The booth was sponsored by Vero Beachside Sales.

Stacy Cook’s favorite entree was the Crab Cake.

Joey’s Seafood Shack

Joey and Kimmy shared their house made fish dip, a shrimp salad, and eggplant parmigiana in a pink cream sauce. The booth was sponsored by I’ll Never Tell.

Eva’s Polish Kitchen

Handmade pierogies with a perfect filling to pastry ratio, a moist but sturdy beef stuffed cabbage, smoked sausage, and the sauerkraut was perfectly made and complemented the dishes well. A sweet angel wing cookie (chrusciki) rounded out the plate with a crunchy, slightly sweet end to the dish. The booth was sponsored by I’ll Never Tell.

Osceola Bistro

Chef created a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich with house made thin potato chips drizzled with blue cheese. The booth was sponsored by The Beach Shop.

Vero’s Caribbean Kitchen

Chef Charles made a perfectly seared steak over a moist and flavorful shrimp topped with a chimichurri sauce. The booth was sponsored by The Beach Shop.

Countryside Citrus

Known for their orange flavored ice cream, they also had a lovely key lime pie to tempt your sweet tooth! The booth was sponsored by Harbor Community Bank.

The Wave Kitchen and Bar

Chef Nick served us a beautiful coconut seafood ceviche with shrimp, calamari, and scallops. Served with a mojito infused water. The booth was sponsored by Daley & Company.

Vero Beach Yacht Club

Had a lovely trio of dishes, first a wild mushroom soup, then a spinach salad with strawberries, goat cheese feta in a white balsamic dressing. Finally, for the main course, a perfectly braised beef over horseradish mashed potatoes. The booth was sponsored by Marine Bank & Trust.

Citron Bistro

Here we had a crab cake and a crispy fresh kale salad with quinoa, butternut squash, dried cherries, pumpkin seeds, queso fresco, and shallots. This salad was a perfect mix of textures and flavors. The booth was sponsored by Sea Turtle Real Estate.

Rhonda’s Seafood

A low country boil of sausage, potatoes, corn, and perfectly cooked shrimp along with a fresh fish dip and a little key lime pudding to round out the dish. The booth was sponsored by Seacoast National Bank.

The Patio Seafood Tavern

Just the perfect crisp and texture. Bill Brown and crew were serving a nicely seasoned Calamari Fritti with tomatoes and capers, and a slice of pickled watermelon. The booth was sponsored by Dale Sorensen Real Estate.

Heaton’s / Cobalt

Chef Daniel Traimas created a bacon-wrapped shrimp with cheddar grits, chorizo citrus crema. To complement those rich flavors, a Lavender Collins made with gin was created by mixologist Rachel Riley.  The booth was sponsored by Dale Sorensen Real Estate.

Dagwoods Deli & Subs

There was no shortage of meat here! Brisket, prime rib, and wings..oh my! Served with a perfectly cooked and seasoned potato salad, not to mention the sauce.  The booth was sponsored by Primal Health Consulting.

Amalfi Grill

Chef owner Robert Rose created a mushroom ravioli with a chiv-a-lini sausage cream sauce and for the sweet lovers, a Meyer lemon blueberry bread pudding with Belgian white chocolate sauce. This was an amazing texture, soft and lite, almost more like a custard, with the sweetness of the blueberry and slight tart from the lemon. Very well done.  The booth was sponsored by Alex MacWilliam Real Estate.

Stacie Renee’s favorite entree was the Ravioli.

Stacie Renee’s favorite dessert was Bread Pudding.

Stacy Cook’s favorite dessert was Bread Pudding.

Blue Agave

Sautéed shrimp tacos with a roasted poblanos, jalapeño, cilantro and corn relish and chipotle cream. A tasty taco with a kick of spice!  The booth was sponsored by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Florida Realty.

Baci Trattoria

You’ll have to visit the restaurant to figure out what’s in this sammy called the “Sophia Coppola” with a farfalle pasta salad, a pellegrino, and a biscotti for when the sweet need arises!  There was a techie addition to this dish as Gamer’s Realm had set up and offered Google Earth virtual tours of Rome, Italy. Very very cool. The booth was sponsored by Caliber Home Loans.

Stacie Renee’s favorite booth was Baci.

Stacy Cook’s favorite booth was Baci.

Southern Social

A chilled shrimp with a spicy green tomato sauce and a crispy cucumber jicama relish with just the right amount of crunch and freshness. The booth was sponsored by ReMax Associated Realty.

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