There was more room to mingle, plenty of chairs and tables and, this year, water on the tables.
Taste of the Andovers was its usual big hit as some 300 nibblers enjoyed sampling the top tastes from 20 food establishments in Andover and North Andover. The event was held last Wednesday, Oct. 28. It was the second year for the event's new location at Wyndham Andover. Previously, the event was held for more than 10 years at the Old Town Hall, also known as the Town House at 20 Main St. The long line of nibblers hovering over a few bar tables is just a memory as the event has moved to the much more spacious Wyndham.
"You can sit down to talk and you have more elbow room. It's worked out really well," said Ron Hill of Andover, an Andover Chamber of Commerce member. "Everyone really seems to like it (the new location)."
"There used to be a parking issue. Now, there's plenty of room to park and plenty of elbow room," added Nancy Hargreaves-Pierce of Enterprise Bank who chaired the event with Maureen Pollard of Northmark Bank.
With a larger space, the event has been able to include food businesses from North Andover. Burton's, Fuddrucker's, The Meat House and Bollywood Grill made their first appearances this year. Goodies from the newbies joined the veteran offering such as the fish chowder made by culinary students at Greater Lawrence Regional High School.
"People walk in, smell the chowder and ask 'Where is it?' They love it," Hargreaves-Pierce said.
