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Annual ‘Taste of the World’ Food Festival Takes Place Next Weekend

via Taste of the World

Feb. 28, 2019 By Meghan Sackman

Forest Hills will show off its wide variety of local cuisine during an annual food festival set to take place next Sunday.

The Taste of the World festival, now in its eighth year, will take place at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 10.

The popular festival will feature dozens of international dishes provided by dozens of eateries from the Forest Hills neighborhood. Last year, the event had about 200 people attend and a record 38 vendors.

Confirmed vendors for this year include Violet’s Vietnamese Shoppe, Agra Palace (formerly Haveli Indian Restaurant), OBA Mediterranean Restaurant, Knish Knosh, La Dolce Italia Bakery, Cobblestone Pub, Layla’s Delicacies, Starbucks Coffee, and Compadre 77 Mexican Restaurant, among 23 others.

“[This festival] has become kind of a neighborhood tradition,” said Denise De Maria, Our Lady Queens of Martyrs Church Taste of the World coordinator. “The event draws the community together for the day to experience different restaurants. It’s something to look forward to.”

Tickets for the event can be purchased at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs or by calling the church at 718-268-6251. Advance tickets cost $25, with the price fixed to $30 at the door.

Sweepstakes tickets are also being sold, with the first place prize set at $1,500 cash, second place prize being a $350 JetBlue gift card, and third place prize set for $200 in cash. One ticket costs $60, while three are being sold for $100. Participants do not need to be present at the drawing to win one of these three prizes.

Raffle tickets for prizes like gift certificates and gift baskets from local establishments including Aigner Chocolates, The Wine Room of Forest Hills, Austin House Diner, and more will also be available at the event. The raffle proceeds will benefit the church.

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church is located at 110-06 Queens Blvd. The eighth annual Taste of the World festival will be held inside the church’s auditorium, which can be accessed through the parking lot at the back of the church on 72nd Road off Austin Street.

Restaurants in Forest Hills, Kew Gardens or Rego Park that are interested in participate are encouraged to e-mail rectoryolqm@aol.com. All participating restaurants will be featured in the event’s program and will receive an individual certificate of appreciation to display in their establishment. Tables and cutlery will be provided.

Interested volunteers can contact Denise De Maria at 718-361-3201.