Taste of Carmel

The Taste of Carmel. It is the food fest fundraiser benefiting Orchard Park Elementary School that I try my best not to miss each year. It never disappoints; just makes me a little uncomfortable by the end of the night. Take a look at just a few of the dishes served up tonight. You'll also see that theI I was invited to attend the VIP First Taste - the hour prior to the start of the event that grants serious foodies early access to sample creations by some of Carmel's award-winning chefs. Never been to this extraordinary eating extravaganza?? You are missing out! Get there next year, support a very worthy cause, and make your stomach extremely happy. #TasteOfCarmel2020#OrchardParkElementrySchool

Taste of Carmel is a foodie fundraising event that happens in Carmel the first week of March. All of the profits go toward Orchard Park Elementary School, to help pay for classroom materials, field trips, school programs and teacher support.I attended in 2018, and I have to say, it was really great. There were at least three dozen food and beverage vendors set up in one big, indoor room at the event center, and you can just walk around and take samples from each one. Multiple samples! As many samples as you want! There were particular tables that I kept going back to (hello, endless vodka shots and meatball sliders). I came to the event hungry, and I left full, buzzed and happy. The great thing about Taste of Carmel (besides the fact that it is a fundraiser that directly helps a local school) is that the vendors at the event are all local and from the Indianapolis / Carmel area, so you get to discover new restaurants and businesses during the event. There were a few local distilleries that I had no idea existed in the area, so I was happy to sample their beverages.Parking is abundant at 502 East Event Center, where the event is held. But this event is really popular, so there are busses that will take you to nearby parking lots where there is more parking. I'm looking forward to Taste of Carmel next year!