By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
August 27, 2014

NOTE: The date published in this week’s Northeast News for the Northeast Chamber’s Taste and Tour should be Saturday September 6th. The Northeast News regrets the error.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Drive around the Northeast and you’ll notice some international flare with its restaurants.

On the first Saturday of September, you’ll have a chance to taste the foods of many countries in one location.

The third annual Northeast Kansas City International Taste and Tour takes places from 5 – 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Don Bosco Senior Center, 580 Campbell Ave. Attendees will be able to sample foods from 20 area restaurants with international flavors from Ethiopia, France, Italy, Haiti, Mexico, Somalia and Vietnam.

Bobbi Baker Hughes, president of the Northeast Chamber of Commerce, said the biggest difference this year is the new location at the Don Bosco Senior Center. She said the change from the Sons of Columbus Hall, 2415 Independence Ave., was to provide more space.

“They [the Don Bosco Center] have an outdoor patio space that will accommodate some barbecue restaurants and grilling of foods,” Baker Hughes said.

Another change is the invitation of more restaurants from around the Northeast area. Baker Hughes said restaurants from the City Market and the 18th and Vine Jazz District were invited to “expand the boundaries of our world.”

“It’ll be exciting to see the new restaurants,” Baker Hughes said. “Its always restaurants with international flare.”

Along with various cuisines from around the world, the evening includes a social hour, trolley ride tours of the Northeast and music by area swing band Grand Marquis Band. Far too often, she said, when people drive along Independence Avenue, they they believe they’re driving through the Northeast. The trolley tour is a way to show-off the “hidden gems of the Northeast.”

“There’s much more to the Northeast than just The Avenue,” Baker Hughes said. “We’ll take folks on a trolley tour and share with them the entire Northeast district.”

Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. For more information, contact the Northeast Kansas City Chamber at 816-231-3312 or visit their website at www.nekcchamber.com.