Bite Into The Region’s Flavors At The Taste Of Mystic

This afternoon restaurants and food vendors with the help of the will begin transforming Cottrell Street into a food lover’s paradise.

The Taste of Mystic kicks off at 5 p.m. and continues to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9. The three-day event features food and entertainment from around the region. This year’s Taste will include booths from 32 restaurants and food producers. Many of the vendors are familiar faces to the Taste, but seven of the 32 are either new to the event or back after a long absence.

“We are so excited to be able to participate in the Taste of Mystic this year!” General Manager of the Laurie Trainor said. “It’s a great event that brings people from surrounding communities to one spot to try all the great restaurant selections from southeastern Connecticut.”

Also new to the event this year is , which Patch is sponsoring. Beginning when the Taste starts you can text your vote for your favorite dish right from your phone before you’ve even finished eating.

Throughout the three-day event Patch will post periodic updates on the vote so you have an idea of what places are winning, and which one of your favorites could use some extra help. You can vote as often as your like until the Taste ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday. We’ll announce the winner on Monday morning.

During the 2011 Taste of Mystic, , walked away with the People’s Choice Award. The dishes the Foxwoods restaurant brought to last year’s Taste included Cedars lobster bisque with sliced lobster claw with batonnets, chives, and creme fraiche and Creme brulee tartlets, torched on site and topped with whipped cream and strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Cedars Steak House will be back this year, but there are plenty of other contenders for the People’s Choice.

Owner Florence Klewin bets you can’t eat just one of the Mystic restaurant’s flounder sliders, and personal chef says her can’t miss dish is coconut chicken bites with tangy strawberry sauce. believes any of its dishes including street tacos and a fajita bowl could win, although Patrick Dowling of Margaritas Management Group said one of the restaurant’s favorite participants is the Voodoo Grill.

The restaurants and food vendors participating are: , , David Burke Prime, , , High Rollers, , , , Munchies Food Truck, , , Mystic Rotary Club, , On the Spot Catering, Shrine, Thai Jasmine Inc., , The Bridge Restaurant, The Harp and Dragon Pub, , , , , , Ye Olde Taverne Catering, , Octagon, , and Chef of All Trades.

Throughout the weekend musicians such as The Cartells, High Times and Eight to the Bar will have live performances.

Cottrell Street in Mystic. Sept. 7, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 8, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sept. 9, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tweet about Taste of Mystic using the #mystictaste.