11th Annual Taste of Hudson provides escape from September heat

During a hot Labor Day weekend, the 11th Annual Taste of Hudson was a refreshing way to spend some time off of school and work with family and friends. Ranging from local restaurants to artists with roots all over Northeast Ohio, historic downtown Hudson was full of people searching for comfort food and cool drinks to escape from the heat.

Walking in through one of the many entrances, mouths watered at the sight of Akron’s Cilantro Thai & Sushi Restaurant. For those who were seeking a sweet and cooling dessert, Cilantro’s menu included a fried banana served with rich coconut ice cream. Noses were filled with the aroma of nutritious Lebanese-American food, including hummus, baba, tabouli and falafel from Hudson’s very own Aladdin’s Eatery.

The Taste of Hudson really represented tastes from all around the world. Not only were Lebanese and Thai food served this weekend, Stancato’s shared its Italian traditions with samples of its salad dressings and pasta sauces. Based in Parma, Stancato’s has been making and selling dressings and sauces “straight out of the jar” since 1971, without preservatives and additives. Throughout the weekend, 19 restaurants were selling delicious meals to share the diversity of tastes all over Northeast Ohio.

Although the main attraction to Hudson this weekend was the grub, live music and art were also huge parts of the entertainment. The most prominent entertainers included Hard Day’s Night, a Beatles tribute group, and Mark Angelo, a comedian and juggler based in Hudson who has also appeared on David Letterman’s show. Both performed on Sunday night in the Wine and Beer Garden. As musicians provided entertainment, local artists showcased their talent through photography, jewelry and many other unique forms of art.

Perusing through the Taste of Hudson’s Art Fair, attendees could find the Chris Deighan Art booth with Deighan’s designs screen-printed on t-shirts, Mariano Design’s jewelry being made right under the tent for people to see, along with many other enticing displays.

“I only pick decent shows [to attend],” admitted Annie Berry of Zensational Organics, with Hudson’s Labor Day event being one of them. Berry shared that it was her first time making an appearance at Taste of Hudson with her organic skincare products, but that it was a good opportunity for her company. Last year’s Taste of Hudson attracted roughly 35,000 people, but this year was a bit slower for local businesses due to the heat, according to Berry.

Amidst the 19 restaurants, 19 artists, over 60 free music acts, an auto show and numerous local businesses, the sweat and smiles of families spending quality time together were the most important sights to see in Hudson this sweltering Labor Day weekend.