The first-ever Taste of Los Gatos, held on Saturday, Sept. 14, proved a resounding success.
The street food festival, which closed down North Santa Cruz Avenue from Main Street to Bachmann Avenue, transformed downtown Los Gatos into a bustling crowd of hungry attendees. Locals and visitors alike flocked to the event to sample from over 20 local restaurants. Participating eateries ranged from long-standing favorites like The Pastaria and Willow Street Kitchen, to newer additions such as Gardenia Los Gatos and Breaking Dawn Brunch.
The event, conceived as a one-time, end-of-summer celebration of Los Gatos’ growing culinary scene, was inspired by the beloved Thursday night Promenades from 2022.
Despite the Promenades’ popularity, the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce deemed the weekly events too expensive to sustain. The organization brainstormed Taste of Los Gatos as a way to keep the celebration of community and local cuisine alive.
Attendees purchased tasting tickets online for $45 each. Despite being a first-time event, the event sold out the night before.
“We sold 800 tasting wristbands, which exceeded our 500-750 estimate,” said Chamber of Commerce CEO Jennifer Lin.
Fortunately, those disappointed by the sold-out tickets could still enjoy the free, open-to-the-public portion of the event, which included outdoor games, children’s activities and live music from local bands like Rusty Rock n’ Roll and Masterpiece.
Wine and beer booths, hosted by the Chamber, offered drinks to all attendees, regardless of ticket status, with part of the proceeds supporting the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.
Some of the most popular tasting booths drew steady queues of eager attendees. Restaurant and bar staff efficiently handed out samples while offering brief descriptions of each dish.
One standout location was Ambrosia India Bistro, serving generous portions of butter chicken with rice and freshly made naan.
Another highlight was Centonove’s Fiocchi di Pera, a tortellini filled with pear and asiago in a gorgonzola cream sauce.
Many locations also paired their culinary samples with signature drinks. The gin-based cocktail from Lexington House stood out not only for its stunning lilac hue and edible flower garnish, but also for its memorable flavor. We Olive’s balsamic peach spritz was refreshingly innovative and tangy, making it an ideal companion for a picnic or a hot summer evening meal.
The event, however, wasn’t without its hiccups. The limited availability of tickets left some attendees disappointed, as the Chamber’s marketing efforts suggested that tickets would be available for purchase on the day of the event.
“We wish we didn’t have to disappoint some people who walked up to the event and could not buy tasting wristbands due to our selling out the night before,” Lin said. “We’ll do a better job reminding people to buy early because historically our major events are incredibly popular and do sell out.”
Because there was no visit limit to each booth, among other factors, some restaurants ended up running out of food before the event officially ended.
While this shortage underscores the enthusiasm surrounding the festival, it also highlighted areas for improvement.
“Now that we’ve had our inaugural Taste of Los Gatos under our belt and confirmed high demand and excitement for this street festival, we can discuss with our restaurants whether there is capacity to make more bites and sips,” Lin noted. “If yes, we can increase the number of wristbands offered next year.”
Despite these minor setbacks, the inaugural Taste of Los Gatos set a high bar for future iterations. With its blend of local culinary talent, community spirit and lively atmosphere, it’s clear the event struck a chord with residents while drawing in visitors.
*The reason some restaurants ran out of food has been updated.
