Committee above) Emily Hilty, Rachel Skilliter, Trustworthy Schumacher, Deron Martin (DJM419), Kathy Dickson Sider, Sarah Phillips. CLICK gallery to enlarge and view at your own pace.

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Organizers from First Mennonite Church (FMC) drew a broad sampling of permanent and temporary Bluffton residents to A Taste of Bluffton on Saturday, Aug. 23. The first-time event offered $5 servings from Bluffton restaurants, specialty food businesses and carryouts, as well as tunes by DJM 419, live music by Wendy Chappell-Dick and Phil Gratz, games, t-shirt dying and Bingo.

Created as a way to introduce Bluffton University students to food services in the Village, A Taste of Bluffton proved to also be a way for them to meet the people of Bluffton. The event was well received by local businesses with almost all local food purveyors participating. The FMC FUN committee spent almost a year working out the details.

A long line of tables and chairs was filled with diners while lines formed at the food stations circling the Citizens National Bank parking lot at 102 S. Main. Offerings included custom coffee beverages from Luvu A Latte, gourmet cookies by Bluffton Baking Co., tacos from Campito Lindo, egg rolls, noodles and fried rice from China Wok, asiago cheese dip with ciabatta from Kira’s Flipside Grill, sweets from Langhan Family Finds, Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn, pizza from Padrone’s and cotton candy from Cinnamon and the Bandit. Free desserts were also served.

Activities included Bingo with Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio, making tie-dye t-shirts and beading with Bluffton Ten Thousand Villages.