Culinary delights will be plentiful Thursday at the University of Massachusetts Amherst during the 20th annual Taste of UMass collegiate food festival on campus at the Mullins Center.
The event is billed as the largest campus food show in the country, according to dining officials at the college, with an anticipated 8,000 attendees expected to gather for the 4:30 to 8 p.m. event. The creation of a 55-foot-long California sushi roll sponsored by Avocados from Mexico will be one of this year’s highlights.
The event will also serve as the locale for the finale of the UMass Voice singing competition hosted by radio station 93.4 FM. Eleven finalists will compete to be selected as the best voice on campus.
“The Taste of UMass is our way of celebrating culinary excellence here on campus,” says Ken Toong, executive director of UMass Amherst auxiliary enterprises, in an April 5 news release. “It brings together all elements of our dining program, and gives the campus and local community the opportunity to sample the best of what UMass Amherst has to offer.”
Food Network celebrity and Iron Chef America co-host Kevin Brauch is set to emcee the evening’s festivities, along with an appearance by Next Iron Chef finalist/Iron Chef America contestant Jehangir Metha. The New England Patriots’ cheerleaders will perform and sign autographs. Mascots Wally the Green Monster and Sam the Minuteman will visit with attendees. Raffle prizes will also be awarded.
During this year’s event, each of the UMass Amherst dining commons will close at 3 p.m. Berkshire and Worcester Dinining Commons will re-open at 8 p.m. with an enhanced special menu for the remainder of the evening. Seventy-five food booths, including the four dining commons and the Blue Wall cafe, will showcase the most popular dishes at UMass Amherst and will act as the main dining location Thursday night.
Special buses at each of the residential areas of campus will provide transportation for students to and from the Mullins Center.
The event is free for students who are on the college’s meal plan. The cost for faculty and staff members not on the meal plan is $13, and $15 for the general public.
Sarah Crosby can be reached at scrosby@gazettenet.com.