THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE TASTE OF ANAHEIM

In support of more than 112,000 employees of Orange County restaurants, the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce hosted the 16th annual Taste of Anaheim presented by Anaheim GardenWalk. Tonight’s event featured 50 restaurants and three bands that entertained a crowd of over 5,000 patrons and 400 VIP guests including Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, Mayor Pro Tem Harry Sidhu, Councilmembers Gail Eastman, Lorri Galloway, and Kris Murray, and several other special guests.

“The Anaheim Chamber of Commerce is very proud to host this event each year as evidenced by this being the 16th year of the Taste of Anaheim,” said Todd Ament, president and CEO of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce. “Besides creating an atmosphere for people to meet their neighbors and celebrate our community, this event is really about supporting our local workforce. There are over 30,000 jobs created by the restaurant industry in Anaheim, which generates over $900 million in economic activity to Anaheim in gross sales.

“The California Restaurant Association estimates that every extra $1 million spent in California’s eating and drinking places generates an additional 27.2 jobs in the state, which is why these familiarization events are important to our local economy. By promoting Anaheim and putting our restaurants on display, we are driving traffic through their doors and creating more jobs for the city and Orange County.”

Taste of Anaheim is a partnership with the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce Restaurant Council co-chaired by Bill Yates, general manager of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and Kevin Curtis, general manager of Rainforest Café. “We love participating in this event each year,” said Yates. “It’s a great place for Ruth’s Chris Steak House to showcase our menu, promote our Party on the Patio, meet our patrons, and give back to the community.”

This year's Taste of Anaheim had more than 200 volunteers from the Anaheim Chamber Board of Directors, City of Anaheim staff, Anaheim Chamber Ambassadors, the Women's Division of the Anaheim Chamber, Leadership Anaheim, Youth Leadership America, and many other friends of the Chamber and residents of Anaheim.

Taste of Anaheim was sponsored by City of Anaheim, Anaheim/Orange County Visitors and Convention Bureau, Disneyland Resort, and dozens of other local businesses and partners.