On a pleasant late summer’s eve, a sold-out crowd of 600 people gathered to enjoy some of the best food in Blount County as 27 area restaurants, food trucks and caterers participated in the 19th annual Taste of Blount hosted by the Blount Partnership at the Theater in the Park in Maryville, Tenn.
“Community events like this, along with the support of local sponsors, are essential to showing the vibrancy of this area,” said Blount Partnership President Bryan Daniels. “The friendly competition among the vendors is great and Taste of Blount shows off the wide variety of places we have to eat here.”
Attendees voted for winners in seven categories while culinary experts handed out the Culinary Excellence Awards.
REO Cheesewagon proved to be the big winner, taking home top honors in the appetizer, sandwich and presentation categories. Crafted Jolt won best beverage, while best dessert went to Blount County Bakery. Rocky’s Jamaica Sunrise served the best main dish for the ninth consecutive year and Pistol Creek Eats was tabbed with the best overall.
The Culinary Excellence Awards were judged by five culinary experts – Susan Headrick, Sherri McCall, Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell, and Mandee & Eric McNew – who put their professional taste buds to the test and anointed winners in five categories. Vendors were asked to submit one food item for the judges to determine which topped their chart.
RT Lodge took home top appetizer for its watermelon salad. REO Cheesewagon’s Blackberry Smoke won best sandwich. The Colonel’s Coffee Company’s raspberry-chocolate frappe was voted top beverage. Pistol Creek Eats’ brisket won best main course and Between the Slices’ salted caramel cheesecake was named best dessert.
The event was sponsored by CBBC Bank, Commercial Cutting Equipment, Massey Electric, Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, Master Services, Cherokee Distributing, DENSO and Shanks & Associates. Additional sponsors are Prince Technologies, Lindsey Plyler State Farm Insurance, Hyperion Networks, OYSK3 Architects, Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, Todd Mills Edward Jones, Dunkin’, Regions Bank, Tennessee Mountains Realty Group, Y12 Federal Credit Union, BARBERMcMurry Architects, Tap Truck Knoxville, Creative Spark Art Studio and Star 102.1.
2021 Taste of Blount People’s Choice Winners
Best Appetizer: REO Cheesewagon
Best Sandwich: REO Cheesewagon
Best Beverage: Crafted Jolt
Best Main Course: Rocky’s Jamaica Sunrise
Best Dessert: Blount County Bakery
Best Presentation: REO Cheesewagon
Best Overall: Pistol Creek Eats
2021 Taste of Blount Culinary Excellence Award Winners
Best Appetizer: RT Lodge
Best Sandwich: REO Cheesewagon
Best Beverage: The Colonel’s Coffee Company
Best Main Course: Pistol Creek Eats
Best Dessert: Between the Slices