Taste of Safety Harbor 'Keeps Growing Every Year'

Dining halls filled with food and drink, tables lined with silent auction items, residents commingling with the mayor and a bevy of belly dancers.

Yes, it's safe to say the Taste of Safety Harbor had it all.

The latest edition of the annual event drew a large gathering of patrons, participants and sponsors to the Safety Harbor Spa & Resort, much to the delight of Chamber of Commerce president Marie Padovich.

"This is the seventh edition of the event, and it continues to be a very strong one for us," she said. 

"I would say this is one of the better turnouts we've had. It keeps growing every year."

Sixteen restaurants and bars made up the list of contributors this year, highlighted by local establishments like Nantucket Bucket, Bar Fly Saltwater Grill and Besa Grill, each of which won a People's Choice award.

Guests were treated to a wide variety of delectable items, from ice cream to wings, beer to bisque, all served with smiles from restaurant owners and employees.

"We're debuting our new 'Nantucket bucket' here," said Russ Latimer, owner of the popular downtown seafood eatery. "We'll have them on sale at the restaurant starting tomorrow."

But the night wasn't all about food and drink.

Guests were able to bid on silent auction items that included gift baskets, getaways and artwork, and local entertainer Jennifer Trieste and members of her MetalGypsy Productions performance troupe put on a mesmerizing display of belly dancing.

It all combined to make for a filling evening at the Spa.

"It's great to see all these people coming out to support our local businesses," Mayor Joe Ayoub said. "This is a great turnout."

"Just another strong event for the city of Safety Harbor."

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