A Taste of Hoboken

This event had a lot of potential but could use some work.
The space was big so that was nice, plenty of room to walk around but needed some more tables. All of the restaurants were friendly, had beautiful displays and from what I hear, were delicious. Unfortunately, I couldn’t eat a single thing because there was nothing vegan and there were very few vegetarian options. Lots of alcohol and drinks so that was fun!
They needed more tables and the food/​menu items needed to be labeled better. We’d often stand in line just to ask what they were serving because it was difficult to see the trays.
Overall, it was fun but my biggest quip was lack of veg options. My friend (who is not) really enjoyed all of the food and left completely full!

I would give A Taste of Hoboken six stars if I could. Everything was perfect. The gym at Stevens provided the perfect venue given the type of event and large number of people in attendance. I was very impressed with the quality and variety of food offered – basically anything I could possibly want to try was being served and the restaurants were generous with what they gave out. We made an actual list of restaurants to visit as soon as we got home that night! The drinks were certainly a highlight. How could you not love an event with an entire Moet table?! The Saint Germain and ginger ale cocktail I had was also pretty terrific.
In addition, Unilocal made its presence known with a photobooth and it was nice to chat with YoSteph. The jazz band played throughout the night and made it feel special. Also, the gym was decorated in a way that made it feel festive.
Overall, I strongly recommend A Taste of Hoboken and plan on attending next time!

«…it’s been a long time, we shouldn’t have left you, without a dope event to step to…»
Hoboken throws festivals with the power of Thor wielding his hammer and with the frequency of the Incredible Hulk getting angry… and this event was just about as spectacular as «The Avengers», if the film were a restaurant showcase. not even the fact that the temperature that evening was just a few hairs above absolute zero put a damper on it!
it has been many years since the last Taste of Hoboken was held, and it made a glorious return in 2013. as soon as it was announced, in fact, I told Caroline that it was IMPERATIVE that we attend. with all the proceeds going to charity (the Hoboken-​North Hudson YMCA), a rocking band kicking out tasty jams, and more samples of food/​drink than you could possibly dream of, the sticker price was actually a great deal ($ 60 or more, depending on when you purchased). and to make things even better, YoSteph was there repping for Unilocal Jersey!
the food? nothing was bad. sure, some samples were better than others (I think there were at least 5 places giving out short rib… eventually you find one or two that aren’t up to snuff) but everything was presented well, delivered with a smile, and the staff at each table were extremely chatty. I want to say about 40 different restaurants/​vendors were in attendance, but my memory’s a bit hazy…
…there was booze. so much booze. I don’t know who Saint Germain is, but his namesake liquor is a potent one and flowed like water. Giannone Liquor Store had samples of WAY TOO MANY beers, it was kind of frightening. definitely checking that place out when it opens and I need to head to a party in Hoboken!
Hurricane Sandy put a big damper on business in Hoboken, Jersey City, and the surrounding areas, but it was good to see both reliable culinary institutions and new businesses in the area. we came home with a list of places that require further investigation.
Walker Gym at Stevens was an excellent, large venue for this. ticket sales were limited and the vendors brought more than enough food, so you had plenty of space to roam, eat some snacks, chat with friends, and drink.
major props to everyone who pulled this event off (shout-​out to Holly!). I hope the momentum is carried and the event returns next year, because we will definitely come back.