Bon appétit: Taste of Pelham brings local flavors and family fun

Published 12:04 am Tuesday, April 8, 2025

By Dave Domescik

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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – Friends, family and fellow culinary enthusiasts from across Pelham congregated at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena on Thursday, April 3 for the 2025 Taste of Pelham.

Dozens of restaurants from across the area showcased unique and delectable items for sampling, with a wide array of food and beverages for attendees to choose from. Along with the 23 food and beverage vendors at the event, four community nonprofits also connected with guests to share their mission.

While each vendor brought a unique flavor, six won awards for their service. Millie Lorraine won Best Entrée, Meats and Sweets won Best Side/Vegetable, Brownie Fusion won Best Dessert and Chef Christina Coffey of VenuWorks won Best Overall Bite. Texas Roadhouse and Margarita Grill Pelham won the evening’s Perfect Attendance Awards.

The following vendors showcased their culinary craft at the 2025 Taste of Pelham:

 

  • Taco Mac
  • Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes
  • Smiley Brothers Specialty Foods
  • Brownie Fusion
  • Creekside BBQ
  • Half Shell Oyster House
  • Carrabba’s Italian Grill
  • Publix
  • VenuWorks Of Pelham
  • Trunk Tea Spirit-Free Cocktails
  • Joe’s Italian
  • Toya’s Delectable Treats
  • Jake’s Soul Food Café
  • Gumbo To Geaux
  • Sweet Treats By Hayley
  • Texas Roadhouse
  • Tasty Bakes
  • Bama Burgers 2
  • Meats & Sweets
  • Margarita Grill
  • Millie Lorraine

 

 

The following organizations were also present and had their own spaces during the evening:

 

  • 99.5 Radio
  • The Arc of Shelby County
  • The Pelham Library Guild
  • Pathways UMC and Grace Klein Community
  • The Community of Hope Health Clinic
  • Support Committee for the Alabama National Cemetery

 

Live music from The Jazz Project was also featured during the evening. Complimentary wine was available from Vineyard Brands Wine, while La Gran Riviera provided complimentary margaritas. Complimentary water, lemonade and iced tea were also provided for guests.

 

The event’s sponsors were as follows:

  • Shelby County Reporter
  • Pelham Dental Care
  • Junior Davis Associates
  • Roland Milling Law LLC
  • The Rotary Club of Alabaster Pelham
  • Mobley Development
  • Graham & Associates CPA
  • First Horizon Bank
  • The city of Pelham
  • Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena

 

The event serves as a fundraiser for the Pelham Public Library, with funds going toward infrastructure and technological upgrades at the library. Mary Campbell, the director of the Pelham Public Library, detailed the level of planning that goes into putting on Taste of Pelham on an annual basis.

“It takes several months (to plan), although we have been known to do it in a less amount of time,” Campbell said. “We start advertising that we’re looking for vendors, start selling tickets and go from there.”

Campbell also explained the overall allure of the event and why it’s such a fan favorite for Pelham residents.

“I think the community loves it just because it’s a great night to get out and get together with other community members and neighbors… they haven’t seen in a while,” Campbell said. “It’s kind of just a big party.”

With the event’s party atmosphere, Campbell hopes attendees were filled with good times and good food.

“I hope they (attendees) leave very full,” Campbell said. “I hope they leave with at least three restaurants and caterers that they might go and eat at… (Taste of Pelham) is also a fundraiser for the library, after this we’ll use some of those funds to add conferencing technology to one of our meeting rooms.”

For more information on Taste of Pelham and the Pelham Public Library, visit Pelhamlibraryal.gov/900/Library.

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