Giveaway: Taste of Fairfield

I am SO excited to share my first giveaway with my readers!

For all of my local Connecticut readers, there is a SUPER fun, SUPER tasty event coming to Fairfield on October 8th: The Taste of Fairfield. Sponsored by Fairfield Magazine, the Taste of Fairfield will bring together over two dozen local restaurants and a variety of food trucks at the Delamar Hotel in Southport.  Fairfield, Connecticut, and the surrounding towns, has a vibrant restaurant scene, and many local hot spots will offer samples of their signature dishes and drinks. This year, they’ve added “Food Truck Alley” to the event, which kicks off Fairfield Restaurant Week. 

The event is being held at the Delamar Hotel in Southport, Connecticut.  The Delamar is a beautiful hotel with a beautiful restaurant, Artisan. My husband and I love visiting in the summer to have drinks on their patio before dinner, and I have attended a few special birthday dinners for friends at Artisan.  We have not had the pleasure of staying overnight, but from looking at their special packages listings, I may need to book a night away soon. I attended the first Taste of Fairfield last year with a friend, and we both brought our young children. While most people think this type of culinary event is best suited for a girlfriend gathering or day date, I think there are many benefits for having children attend:

1. Trying New Foods: My son is an adventurous eater; he’s usually open to trying new things (at least once) and has an affinity for healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. My daughter, on the other hand, sticks with what she likes (and doesn’t like) and is usually quick to judge food by its presentation. Bringing them to an event like the Taste of Fairfield is a great opportunity for them to try different flavors and presentations. Thanks to the Taste of Fairfield,  fish tacos and crudite with squash (and not just cucumbers and carrots) are in regular rotation in our kitchen. They even grew to love lobster rolls, thanks to Old Post Tavern.

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2. Social Skills: I’m always looking for opportunities for my children to work on using good manners and interacting with adults. The Taste of Fairfield is a safe way for my children to meet and greet strangers (under my watchful supervision), ask them to sample various foods, and advocate for themselves. Most people would consider my children outgoing, but they have their shy moments, especially if it’s something they want. They made fast friends with the guys from Flipside Burger, who slipped them many burgers, even with a longer wait during the event.

3. Patience: Last year, we were some of the first guests to arrive. We were able to navigate through many of the tables without much of a crowd. However, throughout the afternoon, the tent (it rained last year and most of the event was held under a massive tent) filled with people. My children hovered around the Brick & Wood pizzas and The Cake Box cupcakes and had to wait a bit for a sample.  It was good for them to learn to pace themselves and wait in (albeit short) lines. Full confession: I, too, could be found hovering around the massive cheese display from Fairfield Cheese Company. 

4. Giving back: Last year the Taste of Fairfield held food drives and had several opportunities for guests to donate directly to Operation Hope, a great organization which operates food pantries, shelters, a 365 day kitchen, and offers many services to those in need. They are offering similar opportunities this year.

To be entered to win 2 adult tickets, do the following:

1. “Like” my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Coast2CoastwithKids/

2. Follow me on Twitter: Coast2CoastKids and Instagram: Coast2CoastwithKids

3. Share this post on one of your social media outlets: Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and tag #Coast2CoastwithKids

I will announce the winner on Friday, September 29th at 5pm. Good luck! If you aren’t the lucky winner, you can still attend by purchasing tickets here. Children under the age of 10 are free.

Special thanks to Fairfield Magazine for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.