The Taste of East Windsor: A True Local Throwdown

There were no celebrity chefs.

There were not even any celebrity politicians.

They did not have to apply, because it was just a good old-fashioned local throwdown of food and family fun.

It was the third-annual Taste of East Windsor at Scout Hall on Abbe Road, sponsored by the East Windsor Republicans. Yes, it's a major event for the party, but Republican Town Committee Chairwoman Lois Noble said its roots run deeper than that.

"It's about building community spirit ... and giving our local restaurants a boost,'' she said.

The food took care of most of it. Kiyen Yeung of Mei Tzu Sushi Bar & Kitchen was working the crowd with samples of his spicy California roll, a crab and avocado sushi-style roll topped with a spicy mayonnaise.

Annkera Carlander and Natalie Moschetti of the Pickle Barn Deli were serving up a tasty pumpkin butternut bisque. They also shined with that theme at the annual cooking contest by placing second with a pumpkin mousse.

Gaily Anderson won the contest with her pumpkin sausage chili.

Jimmy Chen was piling samples of crab rangoon, dumplings, fried rice and General Tso's chicken from his restaurant into takeout containers for all who stopped by.

The atmosphere was intimate, but Noble said that's the East Windsor restaurant scene.

"East Windsor has some great restaurants, and not a lot of them are chain restaurants,'' she said. "Most of our restaurants are run by business owners who take a personal interest in the food.''

There was plenty to do on a full stomach too. Harrington Stables provided free rides on a horse cart and two tractors were running hay rides all day.

Games were set up for the youngsters and the music of Jeannie Pomeroy and O Brother kept everyone moving.