Hundreds of people tasted dozens of dishes Sunday afternoon to determine what restaurant serves up the best grub on the Southcoast.

The 10th annual Taste of Southcoast, presented by Downtown New Bedford, Inc., took place on Pier 3 on New Bedford’s working waterfront.

The event is produced by Downtown New Bedford, Inc. with the help of local volunteers and sponsors. Ten years is a major milestone for the event and all those involved.

"Ten years of a lot of hard work, a lot of volunteers," said Diana Arsenault, Executive Director of Downtown New Bedford, Inc.. "A lot of people come together to make this happen because Downtown New Bedford, Inc. is a very small part-time organization so obviously we need all these other people, all these volunteers, all these sponsors, all this help to put this together."

Attendees scored each dish in three different categories: best food, best dessert and best booth presentation.

Mary's Steamed Cheeseburgers won Best Dessert, Dorothy Cox Candies, Inc. won Best Booth Presentation and first-time participants DNB Burgers took home the honors of Best Food.

Amelia Ruvich, co-owner of DNB, views events like Taste of Southcoast as a way to shine the spotlight to the growing downtown food scene.

"What I want to do is sort of create a Mecca downtown for food and I think things like this create exposure for us and that is great," Ruvich said. "It's bringing people in from all these surrounding communities to try the food that we're putting out there."

DNB's line was nearly the length of the tent during the three-hour tasting period.

Aside from the food and drink, there was plenty of fun for the whole family including face painting and musical performances by Miss Massachusetts Outstanding Teen Alyssa Maitoza and Samantha Johnson.

Pier 3 will also host the 11th Annual New Bedford Chowder Festival this September.

People's Choice Best Food

  1. DNB Burgers (New Bedford)
  2. Brew Fish Bar & Eatery (Marion)
  3. Cotali Mar (New Bedford)

People's Choice Best Dessert

  1. Mary's Steamed Cheeseburgers (New Bedford)
  2. Mad Good Cookie Co. (New Bedford)
  3. Emma Jean's Bakery, Cafe, Candy & Ice Cream Shoppe (Fairhaven)

People's Choice Best Booth Presentation

  1. Dorothy Cox Candies, Inc. (Fairhaven)
  2. Cotali Mar (New Bedford)
  3. Fay's Restaurant & Knotty Pine Catering (South Dartmouth)

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