BLUE RIBBON SMILES… There three young ladies who represented Blue Ribbon Diner at the Taste of Home Gala on February 19, 2022, were all smiles as they served up their tasty treats. (PHOTOS BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
The parking lot at St. Caspar Parish of Life Center in Wauseon, Ohio was packed on Saturday evening, February 19, 2022 for the Wauseon Chamber Taste of Wauseon Gala. Three hundred tickets were sold at $40 per person or $75 per couple to attend this fundraiser from which a portion goes to benefit the Fulton County Heart Radiothon.
Heart Beat Business Awards are given to “anyone who either builds a new building, occupies a new space or puts on a new façade, because they have helped change the look of Wauseon.”
Chamber of Commerce Director Bill Drummond pointed out that Wauseon is called, “The city you take to heart” and so they have connected that thought with these awards.
Following a few hours of “grazing” tasty samples from local restaurants, with background music provided by Lee Warren (and his wife Kelsey for a few songs), the Chamber announced the award recipients.
Each one was given a small crystal plaque and asked to stay up front till all were announced by Emcee for the evening, Maxwell Smith, owner and operator of WMTR & The Buck. The crowd applauded their efforts to beautify the city and they willingly posed for pictures.
The recipients for 2020 included All In Athletics, Cordy Insurance Agency, FCHC Rehab Center, Junk and Disorderly, Marshall Tanning, the State Bank, Warrior Wings and the Wauseon Beautification Team.
For 2021 the following businesses were recipients: A Touch of Magnolia, Bargain Bin, Ironwood Golf Course, Marcos Pizza, Red Rambler/Ramblin’ Reds, Smiles of Ohio, Special Grounds and TDC-The Dance Complex.
Ohio State Senator Theresa Gavarone, who is running against Marcy Kaptur for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, was welcomed to the stage to greet the guests and then to hand out the Heart Beat Awards. Since COVID stopped the event from being held last year, there were sixteen awards given out this year.
The Sponsors this year were Andres, O’Neil & Lowe, Agua Fria financial Group, Aquatek Water Conditioning, Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Starkweather & Sons Roofing and Siding, Blue Ribbon Diner, Toledo Edison, McNeill Chevrolet Buick, The State Bank, Black Swamp Boots, Continental Plaza, Fulton County Health Center, Terry Henricks Chrysler, Terry Henricks Ford, Edward Jones, Schultz, Huber & Associates, Don’s Chevy, Buick-GMC & Hummer, Barber, Kaper, Stamm, McWatters, Whitlock & Maloney, Passion 4 Fashion Boutique, Triangular Processing, Red Rambler Coffees/Ramblin’Red’s Brewing Co., and the City of Wauseon.
The evening began when the doors opened at 6, and tasting went from 6:30-8:30 with 14 food and drink grazing stations.
Those present and serving their delicious wares were American Winery, Biggby Coffee, Blue Ribbon Diner, Das Essen Haus, Fortune Kitchen, Los Marianchis, Ramblin Red’s Brewing Co., Ryans Restaurant, Sauder’s Barn Restaurant, Special Grounds Coffee, Sullivan’s Restaurant, Sully’s Bakery and Bistro, Warrior Wings and Sullivan’s Bar.
A wide variety of food was served along with smiles from the servers. Singer Lee Warren was on stage from 6-8 and following the awards ceremony, MoJo and The Outlaws, from Adrian, Michigan took over for the rest of the evening, which was scheduled to go till 11 p.m.
With a cash bar and live music, there was a dance floor prepared for anyone interested in enjoying some dancing.
This event is a kick-off for “Restaurant Week” which runs from February 20th through Sunday, February 27th.
Customers can pick up a ticket at any participating restaurant and when they have five stickers, they can turn it in to be included in a drawing.
Once again, the Chamber will be giving away a 50” Samsung Smart Big Screen TV, as well as 20 gift certificates from the participating restaurants.
The restaurants taking part this year are: AKA Designs, American Winery, Azteca, Biggby Coffee, Blue Ribbon Diner, Das Essen Haus, Fortune Kitchen, Los Mariachis, Marcos Pizza, Pizza Hut, Red Rambler-Ramblin Reds, Ryans Restaurant, Sauder’s Barn Restaurant, Special Grounds Coffee, Sullivan’s Restaurant, Sully’s Bistro and Warrior Wings.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com
