Residents get to sample Taste of Linden
LINDEN, Texas — Two visitors from Austin got it right when expressing their appreciation for Linden’s first food fare Saturday afternoon.
“It’s the right size. You can meet people. You’d have massive crowds in Austin. Not here and we’re enjoying it so much,” said Melanie Webb and Clare Wayne, friends of local resident Charmaine Ferguson.
The Taste of Linden event was an original suggestion by board members of the Linden Economic Development Corp. to precede the T-Bone Walker concert that evening.
“Let’s have a free sampling of food preparers downtown on the courthouse square. Promote what people can find enjoyable here to eat here rather than just go out of town,” LEDC Executor Director Christophe Trahan said the board decided in discussion.
“The idea is to build community, talk to one another. This is what makes a community strong,” Trahan said.
And one of the biggest features of the two-hour event was that the taste sampling was free. No need to bring money. Just walk around, sample and talk.
In this case, another successful element was the presence of the Kildare Male Singers, a group who sang gospel songs with fervor for the entire two-hour period. Some audience members got up and sang along.
A final note is that the Taste of Linden introduced a number of food suppliers and products that aren’t well-known. As For example, these included Dairy Queen’s dumplings, Miracle Mart’s rice and spaghetti, Venice Pizza House’s homemade dough, F and G Barbecue and More’s smoked meatloaf as well as several individual home preparers such as Sassi’s Sweets.
Judged by the seeming overall appreciation of those attending, Linden’s first food fare will not be its last.