Area restaurants are ready to compete in the eighth annual Taste of Wrightsville Beach on Nov. 6, benefiting Weekend Meals on Wheels of New Hanover County.
 
With 20 participating restaurants, a handful of local and regional breweries and wineries and a list of celebrity judges, the limited-capacity event is gearing up to be a highly anticipated event – especially after last year’s cancellation.
 
“Restaurants are really excited about this,” said Myra Webb, Weekend Meals on Meals chairperson. “They get so keyed up over winning this prize. There’s definitely some enthusiasm. They’re competitive down there on the beach.”
 
The event, to be held from 5 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of Bluewater Grill, is limiting capacity to 500 from its usual attendance of roughly 700 for safety. Patrons must also provide proof of a COVID vaccine or negative COVID test to enter.
 
“With this type of event, a tasting event and sampling beer and wine, how can you have masks on?” Webb said. “We also serve our most vulnerable people with the elderly. So people at this event could be the next day delivering to an 85-year-old shut-in.”
 
Weekend Meals on Wheels has suffered like many other nonprofits in the past 18 months, as it relies heavily on civic organizations and volunteers who were no longer gathering and supplying food. As a result, the group had to purchase a lot of the meals it typically receives as in-kind donations from volunteers.
 
The number of clients Weekend Meals on Meals serves also increased as senior centers shut down and the elderly were advised to stay home.
 
“Our community really came out and helped with funding and lots of grants; it was amazing,” Webb said. “And we didn’t get to have our annual fundraiser, which typically carries us through the year, so the community really stepped up to help our seniors. It’s just so sweet.”
 
Tickets to the event are on sale for $25 for those under 21 and $75 for those over the age of 21.
 
They are being sold online or purchased locally at Lighthouse Beer & Wine, Robert’s Grocery and Marine Max. Entrance also includes live music by Smokey Dunes, food and beverage tastings and a charity silent auction.
 
Celebrity judges will rate the participating vendors’ dishes with Best in Show, Best Savory and Best Sweet dishes, and participants will help select People’s Choice, Best Beer and Best Wine.
 
Participating restaurants include Beach Bagels, Bluewater Waterfront Grill, Ceviche’s, Dockside, East Oceanfront Dining, Flying Machine, The Green House, Gulfstream Restaurant, Mellow Mushroom, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Oceanic, Ocean’s Restaurant, Poe’s Tavern, SurfBerry, SUNdays, Tower 7, Waterman’s Brewing Company and Wrightsville Beach Brewery.
 
For more information, go to weekendmealsonwheels.org/taste-of-wrightsville-beach or contact event co-chair Lisa Weeks at [email protected].