Taste of Hartford brings people to the city during the slow summer period for the restaurant industry.
Food lovers have a chance to savor unique culinary dishes from over 30 restaurants in the capital city as the annual Taste of Hartford continues.
"We want to provide an opportunity for people who don’t typically come out to Hartford," said James Stone, general manager of Trumbull Kitchen. "Now they have a reason to come down to the city, try great food, and enjoy different atmospheres."
It's not just about the culinary experience. It's also about experiencing the city of Hartford. "Hartford is a tough market," said Marinka Buckley, general manager of Morton's The Steakhouse. "It is a small city, and people don’t tend to live here, so they scatter. This is a way to really bring people into the city, and it helps our economy, and all these businesses."
Other participating restaurants, as well as full menus and phone numbers, can be found online. Taste of Hartford is part of Connecticut Restaurant Week, which holds restaurant-oriented events throughout the year for various cities throughout the state.
During this season, Taste of Hartford is beneficial in bringing people back to the city, as summer is a slower period for the restaurant industry, according to Buckley. "It brings [people] out when they wouldn't normally be out," she said. "I think it reaches out to people that wouldn't necessarily say [Morton's] is their typical place. It does bring in a new crowd."
Stone said he, too, hopes to appeal to a new demographic with Taste of Hartford. "Hartford can be a task to get to once a while," he said. "This hopefully is a great opportunity for people to come down and enjoy themselves, and celebrate something unique in the city."
Taste of Hartford runs through August 4.