‘Taste of East Moline’ feeds people, helps community

East Moline was a foodie paradise Thursday night, April 18. Hundreds of food fans were lined up inside The Rust Belt to try ribs, cornbread, ice cream, beans and rice – lots of pizza – and much more. “People have been hearing about our chicken spinach pizza for some time, so that’s been going like […]

East Moline was a foodie paradise Thursday night, April 18. Hundreds of food fans were lined up inside The Rust Belt to try ribs, cornbread, ice cream, beans and rice – lots of pizza – and much more.

1 of 7

“People have been hearing about our chicken spinach pizza for some time, so that’s been going like crazy,” said Kasaundra Martin, general manager of The Palace Tavern of East Moline, which was among the businesses offering their food creations to guests. All that great food was being offered as part of the third annual Taste of East Moline fundraising event at The Rust Belt, 522 12th Ave., East Moline. The event featured more than 15 local  restaurants and businesses serving bite-sized portions of favorite menu items. There was also live music, cash bar, and raffle prizes.  The money raised helps support the work of the East Moline Community Fund. The fund, founded in 2011, is a non-profit group created to build charitable resources dedicated to strengthening the community. Some of the nonprofits it supports include: Habitat for Humanity, Spring Forward Learning Center, East Moline Public Library, Children’s Therapy Center, and Christ United Methodist Church’s food pantry. The East Moline Community Fund has provided more than $180,000 in grants to support local nonprofits over the past decade. Organizers of the Taste of East Moline said they hoped the event attracted several hundred people and would raise at least $15,000 – the amount raised at last year’s Taste.  “I hope people enjoy all this good food. …. But we also want people to know what the community fund does and that we are helping the community. There is so much happening in East Moline. We want to keep the momentum going,” said Jennifer Von Kaenel, one of the event’s organizers and the secretary of the East Moline Community Fund. Helping with that momentum were the event sponsors. The presenting sponsors of the event were: East Moline Glass Co., Townsquare Media and The Rust Belt. The supporting sponsors included TBK Bank, IHMVCU and Top of the World Advertising. Some of the area restaurants and businesses participating included: Catfish Charlie’s, Cattlemen’s Meat Market, Country Style Ice Cream, Hy-Vee, Godfather’s Pizza, The Palace Tavern, Jewel-Osco Grocery Store, G’s Gourmet Popcorn, Rudy’s, Plate Me, Midwest Ale Works, Steel Plow, Revive Cafe and Happy Joe’s. The businesses at the fundraiser were placed at a series of tables on two sides in The Rust Belt’s main room. By 5:30 p.m. – when the Taste of East Moline officially opened to the foodies – hundreds were already going from one table to the next to try their favorite dishes or discover a new, tasty delight. “What’s my favorite? Oh, all of this side and that side of the room,” Mike Laufenberg, one of the attendees, said as he laughed and pointed to the many tables of food. Mr. Laufenberg added that he especially liked the ribs, ice cream from Country Style Ice Cream and the charcuterie samples offered by Plate Me. Taylor Jamison, owner of the Plate Me catering business, was kept busy at the fundraiser serving up her charcuterie samples in clear, plastic containers. “It’s been a lot of fun. The people like it. … I’ve been here all three years of Taste of East Moline and it has been getting bigger and better every year,” Ms. Jamison added. Other tables attracting crowds on Thursday included The Palace Tavern table with its three types of pizza and a spiked ice tea called Hoop Tea. Rudy’s table also had a crowd with its beans and rice dishes. It was also serving up small glasses of margaritas, which appeared to be especially popular. At the G’s Gourmet Popcorn table, everything, of course, centered around popcorn. Some of the popcorn treats included caramel, cheddar cheese and kettle. In addition to the food, hundreds also crowded around four tables filled with raffle items. One of the most popular was a Caitlin Clark package that included a box of cereal called Caitlin's Crunch Time, photos, caps and gnome decor fashioned to look like Iowa Women’s Basketball superstar Ms. Clark. Other raffle items included a “Paw-ty with the Pups” basket filled with dog treats, a blanket and much more; and a “Kit for the Kitten” package with cat food, toys and kitty litter. Connie Dowsett, chair of the East Moline Community Fund, said she was happy with the community support. In addition to the good food, she said people at the event were getting to better know each other and the businesses in the community. “We’re so pleased with the restaurants that are here and have helped us. But, in addition to the food, there’s a lot of networking going on tonight,” she added.