Gourmet bites and craft brews are among the enticements offered for attendees of this year’s Taste of Home, the inaugural event in the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association’s 37th annual Parade of Homes.
 
Described as a “progressive dinner party” in a press release, Taste of Home will invite the community into eight model homes in Riverlights’ new Model Row from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on April 28. At each home, attendees can enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres from Middle of the Island Catering along with a craft beer pairing from Wilmington Brewing Company.
 
In addition to wine tastings at each of the model homes, the menu for the event includes:  

• Asparagus and Asiago cheese in phyllo dough with crab-stuffed mushrooms and Taco Life Mexican Lager.
• Bourbon Boursin Chicken with Caprese skewers and American Amber Ale.
• Macaroni & cheese bar and Tropical Lightning IPA.
• Mini lump crab cakes and Bier Garden Kolsch.
• Prime Rib and Tropical Lightning IPA.
• Pulled pork sliders and Jalapeno Saison.
• Shrimp & grits and Bier Garden Kolsch.
• Strawberry spinach salad and Jalapeno Saison.

 
After touring each of the eight stops for the event, attendees can stay for live music by Port City Shakedown and dessert by Chocolate and S’more food truck, which will be serving salted caramel and strawberry cheesecake s’mores. The strawberry preserves used for the latter are made with local berries from Lewis Nursery and Farms.
 
The model homes featured during the Taste of Home are being introduced for the Parade of Homes. Representing the next phase of development in Riverlights, the models were designed to “optimize an indoor/outdoor lifestyle, with interior finishes, fixtures, design and amenities that appeal to today’s eclectic design styles,” according to the release. Charter Building Group, Legacy Homes by Bill Clark, New Leaf Builders, Pulte Homes and Trusst Builder Group are among the local home builders highlighted on the new row of models.
 
The Parade of Homes will take place over two weekends: Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30; and Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7, with homes open from noon to 5 p.m. each day. An annual offering of the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association since 1986, the event showcases the work of home builders in communities across the region.
 
Timed tickets for the Taste of Home event cost $75 and can be purchased online.
 
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