Kingston Residence (7515 Winchester Road, Fort Wayne) will hold its fifth annual “Taste of Waynedale” on March 19, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with proceeds benefiting Community Harvest Food Bank and Fort Wayne Trails – Waynedale Initiative.

Carole Klaehn waits her turn at the tables.

The popular event features samples of food and beverages from more than 25 local restaurants and businesses, including seasonal dishes, new menu items or a house specialty. In addition, vendors will provide coupons and literature about their eateries.

Vendors that plan to participate include Azar’s Big Boy, Bandido’s, Belmont Beverage, Captain Ron’s Corral, Casa Ristorante Italiano, China Palace, Dairy Queen, Ellison Bakery, Gimme Diner/Mike’s Donuts, GFS Marketplace, Hall’s Original Drive In, Hill’s Market, HoneyBaked Ham, Kingston Residence, Nine Mile Restaurant, Olive Twist, Penguin Point, Phoenix Dragon, Pizza Hut, PopCotton Flavored Popcorn, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Spyro’s, The Stand, Subway, Waynedale Bakery and Waynedale Cafe.

Vendors offer food samples to huge crowds.

Other businesses that are providing support to the event include The Waynedale News, JW Signs, and Hair Affair; these places are also selling tickets, which are $15 each if paid in and $20 the day of the event. There will also be more than 60 Silent Auction items to bid on that have been donated.

Please RSVP to 260-747-1523, CGarrison@kingstonhealthcare.com, or stop by between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to pick up your tickets.

• 

Paula’s on Main, located at 1732 West Main Street, is a Fort Wayne restaurant institution.  If someone says seafood in Fort Wayne you will hear the name Paula’a shortly thereafter.

Paula’s is on the slow end of Main Street in downtown Fort Wayne. It occupies two store fronts and includes a fully stocked fish market, two bars, two downstairs dining areas and one loft dining area.  The dining spaces are airy and the lighting is thoughtful.  The walls are covered with paintings in various themes and sizes and the ladies’ restroom is filled with random vintage hats.

Paula’s is famous for its clam chowder and crab cakes. This acclaim is for good reason, both are super tasty.  If you are planning for a special dinner at home or just aren’t feeling social, you can buy Paula’s crab cakes at the fish market in the restaurant lobby. Speaking of the fish market, if you didn’t know it was there you would never detect it. The staff does a great job of keeping any “fishiness” out of the market and the dining room. It is a top notch operation.

In addition to clam chowder and crab cakes, Paula’s offers a diverse menu of options, from fried walleye to seabass to salad. If you can’t decide, there is, of course, a combo platter. The restaurant also offers daily specials written up on the chalkboard as you enter – there you can always find interesting options whether it be sushi or a nice piece of swordfish.

If you are in the market for delicious seafood, a great menu, and solid service in Fort Wayne then Paula’s on Main should be your next stop.

• 

If you’re looking to book a social or business occasion in Fort Wayne, you have several quality options for catering. Here are some of the most well known in the community:

The Landmark Conference & Reception Centre: The Landmark, located on the southwest side of town and conveniently close to the highway, provides both on and off site catering. They provide the staff and all the supplies you could possibly need for your event. On the business side, they cater to corporate, non-profit, and trade show events.  They can handle most any social event you can think of. You can submit an initial booking request here.

The Landmark can accommodate your business or social needs.

Ceruti’s:  Ceruti’s Cateringis a family-owned full-service catering company in Fort Wayne that operates five locations. Their services include: On and Off Premise Catering, licensed alcoholic beverage service, complete event planning and design, party rentals, and decorating services with floral design. Ceruti’s will cater to any location from Indianapolis to Southern Michigan, seven days a week. Ceruti’s caters to Fortune 500 Companies, small companies, dignitaries, celebrities, entertainers, not-for-profit organizations, and any social event from weddings to birthday parties. Contact their sales department for a quote.

The Philmore on Broadway: The Philmore is perhaps Fort Wayne’s newest venue. Located just west of downtown, the theater works exclusively Club Soda, Catablu Grill, and The Oyster Bar. Once known as the Broadway Theater, this historic jewel was restored as a jazz club/event venue in 2010 as The Philmore on Broadway. Guests will be delighted by the experience in an intimate venue. Marbled floors, a bar area, professional lighting and sound and spacious seating are a part of its appeal. The balcony level provides a bird’s eye view of the stage and main level happenings with elevated seating, additional full bar, intimate lounge area and separate restrooms. Contact them to book your next event.

Think The Philmore for a historical ambiance.

Whether business or pleasure, you can’t go wrong with any of these options.

• 

I am a food snob. I can’t help it. Life is too short to waste time eating something that doesn’t taste delicious. And, when it comes to burgers, I am particularly snobby. I won’t tolerate a wimpy burger. Fortunately, Fort Wayne knows how to do burgers. Here are my top 3 choices for best burgers in town, followed by the top 3 crowd sourced from Twitter.

1-    Henry’s Burger

Made to order with a plethora of topping choices, including avocado, bacon, blue cheese, jalapenos, sprouts, and several varieties of cheese, this burger is classic in every sense of the word. A thick, juicy burger served on an onion bun, it’s absolute perfection. If you’re looking for a great burger served in a comfortable neighborhood setting, this is the one for you.

Dash-In to this downtown favorite.

2-    Dash In’s Ciderhouse Burger

Black Angus beef, charbroiled to order and served with Crispin cider glazed onions, bacon and Gouda cheese on a toasted onion roll. My mouth waters just typing that description. The tangy sweet flavor from the Crispin Cider onions pairs well with the mild Gouda and the savory Black Angus beef. And of course, it has bacon. Need I say more?

3-    Kaysan’s 5^th Down’s Bulgohgi Burger

I am a big fan of mixing traditional American fare with international flavors. Bulgogi sauce is a traditional Korean marinade made with soy sauce, sesame seeds, oil, garlic and a little sugar, lending a unique and powerful flavor to any meat. This burger is Certified Black Angus marinated in Korean spices and served on your choice of onion or Kaiser roll. I am partial to the onion roll, but you simply can’t go wrong either way.

Crowd sourced:

1-    Five Guys’ Bacon Cheeseburger

Known across the nation for their stacked and loaded burgers, Five Guys soared to the top of the list when I reached out to Twitter for feedback. The Bacon Cheeseburger comes loaded with lots of gooey cheese and a generous serving of bacon. The fries are pretty famous too; a natural fry with the peel still on, they are typically stuffed into the bag.

The Big Buster: A Fort Wayne Tradition

2-    Hall’s Big Buster Burger

Perhaps the most well-known burger in town, the Big Buster Burger is a must-try for anyone visiting Fort Wayne. It’s a sizable double decker hamburger with cheese, shredded lettuce, and Don Hall’s famous sauce. Though not the fanciest on this list, it’s definitely a classic.

3-    Red Robin’s Royal

This monster burger combines two of my favorite things: burgers and breakfast! Crowned with a fresh fried egg and topped with hardwood smoked bacon, American Cheese, crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes and mayo. I am not kidding when I say it’s monster. You won’t be leaving hungry if you give this one a try.

Honorable mentions, solely because they aren’t offered all the time: Bravas Burger Nights and Tuesday Burgers at The Oyster Bar. If you get a chance to try burgers from either place, I highly recommend it.

• 

I can’t think of any other business besides Buffalo Wild Wings – restaurant or otherwise – with a name that no one ever uses. I’ve never heard a single person say, “Hey, let’s eat at Buffalo Wild Wings tonight.” Even with the word “wild” in the title, that name’s a bit too stuffy. So you should call it what folks in the know call it: B-Dubs. If you love sports, if you love bar food, if you love spending time with family and friends, then B-Dubs is the place for you.

Buffalo Wild Wings – or B-Dubs!

This is a great place to watch a game or to bring the team after they’ve played a game of their own. Obviously, the menu is built around wings, and with a line-up of 16 sauces, there’s one (or five) to appeal to everyone’s tastes. But I’m not here to talk about wings. No, I’m here to talk about one of my favorite things – the Big Jack Daddy Burger. I’m not even going to bother putting this into my own words. Direct from the menu: “We pile hickory-smoked pulled pork, fried onion rings, cheddar jack cheese and our signature Honey BBQ^™ sauce on an already mouth-watering burger.” It. Is. Delicious. I don’t eat burgers much anymore, but when I do, the Big Jack Daddy Burger has become my top choice.

B-Dubs also has a variety of sides from which to choose, but you can’t go wrong with the Buffalo Chips (and who doesn’t get the giggles ordering something with a name that could be mistaken for poop). Add cheese and Cajun spices and you’ve got a perfect complement to the sandwich. Too hungry to wait? Try the Mini Corn Dogs or the Soft Pretzels with queso sauce and spicy mustard (or one of their many other sauces or dressings).

B-Dubs is a great place to hang out year ‘round, but it’s almost March – where better to catch a little Madness? Be sure to visit one of Fort Wayne’s three locations:

1425 West Dupont Road

10524 Maysville Road

5519 Coventry Lane

And in nearby Auburn:

1071 Smaltz Way

Click here for more information.

•