Taste of Texarkana: Crowd enjoys good food for a good cause

Debo Ricks is served a tasty treat Tuesday from U.S. Pizza Co. at the annual Taste of Texarkana. About 40 vendors were on hand to help raise money for the Harvest Regional Food Bank.
Debo Ricks is served a tasty treat Tuesday from U.S. Pizza Co. at the annual Taste of Texarkana. About 40 vendors were on hand to help raise money for the Harvest Regional Food Bank.

Hungry diners lined up for a sample of Texarkana cuisine Tuesday evening at Harvest Regional Food Bank's 27th annual Taste of Texarkana.

More than 40 food and beverage vendors provided samples of their best dishes at Four States Fairgrounds, said Camille Wrinkle, Harvest Regional Food Bank executive director. Attendees could sample foods from all of the vendors and help out a worthy cause at the same time.

"We had about 2,000 people attend last year and think we have more this year," Wrinkle said. All of the ticket proceeds benefit Harvest Regional Food Bank programs such as food banking, food rescue, the Backpack Program and mobile pantry program. Harvest Regional Food Bank serves more than 55,000 people in 10 counties each year through a network of more than 100 partner agencies, pantries, shelters and soup kitchens.

"A lot of people don't realize how many food insecure people we have here in our own backyards. But one out of six people are food insecure and one out of four are children," Wrinkle said. This year's goal was to raise $60,000 with Taste of Texarkana.

Both Texas and Arkansas consistently rank in the top five for the highest incidence of hunger.

Local and regional food and drink vendors were excited to give away samples.

"It's a good way to connect with people and show them what we have," said Craig Forand, owner of Forand Family BBQ, a catering company located in Texarkana, Texas.

He said everyone cooks barbecue different and has their own secret recipes.

"It's an art form," Forand said.

James Denoyer, president of sales and marketing, for Lost Forty Brewing from Little Rock, offered suggestions to beer drinkers based on their tastes.

He said this is the third year in a row the company has attended Taste of Texarkana and always enjoy it. The company distributes beer in Texarkana, Ark., including Chubby Cheeks and Party Factory.

Other vendors included Naaman's Championship BBQ, U.S. Pizza Co., Texas Roadhouse, Pop's Place, El Chico's and numerous others.

Vendors also competed for several awards, including Best of Taste, Greatest Gourmet, Taster's Choice, Most Spirit, Crowd Favorite and Best Theme.

The Moss Brothers Band provided entertainment.

Wrinkle said Harvest Regional Food Bank appreciates its presenting sponsors Dr. Minh-Ly and Aaron Gaylor and McLarty Ford.

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