Taste of Huntington Beach is as good as it gets. Huntington Beach cuisine is very taste, but when combined with the spirits such as wine and brewery ale, the food becomes a meal as Taste of Huntington Beach, a fundraiser for Central Library.

Huntington Beach rolls out the red carpet for a very special annual food event called Taste of Huntington Beach. Each year an all star cast of local restaurants participates, bringing their best, easy-to-serve recipes to this afternoon fund-raiser that invites the public to sample delicious entrees, appetizers and desserts, plus wine spirits and beer (must be 21), in the Taste of Huntington Beach.

Unlike the nearby Newport Beach Taste of Newport, this Huntington Beach event allows you to pay one flat fee and try everything. Newport charges per sampling. The Newport Beach held in September differs in that its highlight or feature are the top name bands such as Styx in 2008. Huntington Beach does have live entertainment and prizes, but that isn't the highlight of this single afternoon of fun. Newport Beach's goes on for three days, on the other hand.

In Huntington Beach the event is normally held on a Saturday or Sunday in April and costs around $50 - 60/person. Growing so quickly, the once indoor event at a hotel (Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa), is now being held at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex with outdoor tents. This venue has been successful for several years and allows for easy parking, and plenty of breathing room for attendees. And, appropriately, it is hosted next to the library that will benefit from the proceeds, much like another event held in May/June, the HB Concours d'Elegance Car Show behind the library.

While a committee works to put this event together, there's one person who consistently has been involved and led the project to completion. Ron McLin of Longboard Pub is the man who steers the event and grows it annually. McLin is president of the Huntington Beach Restaurant Association, the event sponsor. Seeking to build a stronger network in the community for restaurateurs, McLin can be found leading the charge for a number of such events that market food and restaurants in a meaningful way, building brand.

The Taste of Huntington Beach is a special annual event that accomplishes more than just raising money. It brings awareness to tourists and local visitors, plus community residents that there are some really fine and flavorful foods available at local Huntington Beach restaurants. At previous events we've observed over 50% of the audience is people we simply we do not know, which is unusual in Huntington Beach where the same people tend to participate in most community events.

So stranger, saddle up to HB and ride the wave of this one-day only event that's a guaranteed success each year. The buzz is out there on various web sites and the reviews have nearly all been positive.

When you visit: Be sure to check out Huntington Beach beaches. Have a bonfire at the beach, take a walk, and enjoy the Main Street scene.

Where to stay: Hotels range from affordable hotels on Beach Boulevard such as Howard Johnson, and luxury resorts such as Hyatt Regency, Hilton, or the new boutique hotel, Shorebreak, a Joie de Vivre property.