Swampscott kids bring back ‘Taste’ treat

SWAMPSCOTT – Swampscott High School juniors are getting ready to serve up another round of local flavor at the Second Annual Taste of Swampscott this Sunday.Contrary to the name, the event will feature restaurants from Lynn, Salem, Peabody, Marblehead, Winthrop and Revere, with 14 new restaurants added to last year’s lineup. Chefs from the participating restaurants will bring enough samples for 250 to 300 people to the high school’s cafeteria from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.Though the purpose of the event is to raise funds for the Class of 2014, the students say the real intent is to showcase the food from local restaurants.”Most of us grew up going to these restaurants with our families,” said Jackie Walsh, a class representative. “We want to promote it to people who haven’t had a chance to try them.”Class adviser Joe Bennett said restaurant owners called the school asking to participate again because being “re-recognized to the community” had proven very successful for them last year.”The goal of all of this is to get people to go to these restaurants after,” said Bennett. “It’s a benefit to them as much as the class.”With 28 restaurants in the lineup, the students promise there will be something for everyone and then some.Restaurants will include locally owned eateries such as Red Rock Bistro, The Blue Ox and Periwinkles Food Shoppe, chains such as Five Guys and Dunkin Donuts, and a newcomer, Pesce Pazzo in Revere.Many of the restaurants have a connection to a Swampscott High School student, either through families or because a student is employed at one of them.”There will be so many restaurants this year it will have to go into the atrium,” said Bennett.The $15 advance ticket price will increase to $20 at the door and will help the Class of 2014 to pay for upcoming proms, yearbooks and senior week activities.The class made $7,000 from the event last year, coupled with profits from the similar Pizza War, and members hope to hold the event a third time in their senior year. Last year the event brought 450 people to stand in line until the high school’s doors opened at 1 p.m. Bennett said the class is expecting 600 on Sunday.In addition to the featured restaurants, the class will be raffling off a scooter valued at $2,200, an autographed Boston Bruins hockey stick, a helicopter tour, a Kaplan test prep package, and health and beauty products and services from local shops and salons.Bennett said class members aim to make the event as upscale as possible, with white tablecloths and centerpieces on the cafeteria tables. Students who are helping the restaurant representatives will wear black polo shirts embroidered with the event’s logo. Class representative Danielle Mayblyum said some students even got jobs with the restaurants after assisting the owners last year at the event.For a full list of restaurants that will appear at the event or to purchase tickets, go to www.atasteofswampscott.org.If You Go? WHAT: Second Annual Taste of Swampscott to benefit Class of 2014WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 14 from 1 to 3:30 p.m.WHERE: Swampscott High School cafeteria, 200 Essex St.ADMISSION: $15 in advance, $20 at the door.INFO: www.atasteofswampscott.org
Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].