The Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce’s restaurant showcase returns this year with a new way to enjoy all of the area’s favorite flavors.Â
The chamber’s Tastefest this year comes in two segments. An in-person Tastefest launch party is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center in Conroe.Â
This evening featuring approximately 60 food and drink vendors kicks off a timeframe of tastings at participating restaurants from March 27 through May 31.Â
For the first time, a TastePass ticket for the event and tastings is digital and in one platform on the ticket holder’s mobile phone.Â
“We’re transitioning to the digital TastePass this year. With the digital TastePass you can purchase it on your phone, carry it on your phone and transfer it to other people when you buy it,” said Riley Borchgardt, director of special events for the chamber. “It also gives the vendors who are participating data about who has redeemed the pass and what days it was redeemed. There is a lot of helpful information for them to see the value in (the digital format).”Â
She said the ticket will live on the holder’s phone as an app widget on a website platform. When information is updated, the new information will go out instantaneously to the participants. A digital Tastepass also eliminates the paper ticket being lost or the restaurant logos wearing off the ticket.Â
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What is Tastefest?Â
The history of Tastefest goes back to the 1990s almost 30 years, according to Chamber President Scott Harper. The name of the event has changed several times over the years, but the goal of showcasing the best of Conroe’s restaurants has remained the same.Â
Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the difficulties for local establishments, the chamber wanted to support those restaurants beyond a one-night event so multiple weeks of tastings became a component of Tastefest drawing customers into the restaurants.Â
Now a hybrid event with the in-person launch and the time period to visit the restaurants allows owners and managers to customize their Tastefest experience with some businesses participating in person, through the tastings or by doing both.Â
The Launch PartyÂ
Thursday night’s launch party offers a one-night, all-under-one-roof sampling experience where tasting-size bites will be available from the food and beverage vendors.Â
Borchgardt said this will be the largest event in several years with 60 vendors. Some of the vendors represent newer Conroe restaurants like Eggs Up Grill and Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen.Â
Nine weeks of food fun
Following the Tastefest launch party Thursday night, the digital TastePass will activate unlocking tastings at 30-plus Montgomery County restaurants including ones on Lake Conroe, the Montgomery area, Willis and Oak Ridge North.Â
A tasting description is a smaller portioned sample size of a larger dish but in many cases its still enough to tamp down an appetite. A sample could also be a special drink, appetizer or dessert that the restaurant wants to showcase.Â
Some of the unique offerings include different crepes each week at the new Crepes of Brittany, a buffet at Conroe’s Incredible Pizza Company, a 24-ounce smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe or a Wing N Tender basket from Wings N More.Â
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How to participateÂ
A TastePass is available on the chamber’s website or stop by the chamber building at 505 W. Davis for a walk-through of the new platform. After purchasing a TastePass on your phone, an email or text will be delivered to the phone. The pass can then be saved to the phone’s home screen for easy access.Â
When visiting a participating restaurant, present the phone to the server for the free tasting.Â
The cost is $35 for chamber members and $50 per pass for non-chamber members.Â
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