Taste of Bethesda to Include 51 Tasting Tents

What takes 100 pounds of rice, 120 pounds of chicken, 60 pounds of mushrooms, 105 quarts of mushroom stock and 12 liters of extra-virgin olive oil?

The famous paella that restaurant Jaleo makes in a 10-foot paella pan at the annual Taste of Bethesda, held this year on Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at downtown Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. 

This year, the festival—which attracts more than 35,000 people each year—brings more than 50 restaurants and five stages of entertainment to Woodmont Triangle.

Restaurant tasting tents will line Norfolk, Fairmont, St. Elmo, Cordell and Del Ray avenues. A children’s area will feature art and craft activities, balloons and face painting, according to the Bethesda Urban Partnership, which organizes the event.

"Taste of Bethesda is the most exciting and delicious day in downtown Bethesda," Dave Dabney, executive director of the Bethesda Urban Partnership, said. "We’ve been celebrating downtown Bethesda’s eateries for nearly 25 years and are thrilled at the continuous support and patronage of our restaurants from the local community."

Taste of Bethesda, by the numbers (according to the Bethesda Urban Partnership:

• Hard Times Café prepares 20 gallons of chili and 200 pounds of French fries.
• Haagen-Dazs goes through more than 60 gallons of ice cream.
• Mamma Lucia serves over 800 slices of pizza.
• Spring Mill Bread Company serves 1,000 slices of apple pies, brownies, cookies and breads. 
• Jaleo uses 100 pounds of rice, 120 pounds of chicken, 60 pounds of mixed mushrooms, 105 quarts of mushroom stock and 12 liters of extra virgin olive oil to make paella in its famous 10-foot paella pan.

Admission is free, and tickets are sold on-site to sample different foods. Four tickets cost $5, and a food serving costs one to four tickets.

How to get there: 

The event is located three blocks from the Bethesda Metro station. Free parking is available in downtown Bethesda’s public garages, and the free Bethesda Circulator will transport visitors to and from the Bethesda Metro station and public garages.

Participating restaurants:

• 4935 Bar & Kitchen
• The Barking Dog
• Benihana of Tokyo
• BGR The Burger Joint
• Blackfinn American Saloon
• Boloco
• Brasserie Monte Carlo
• Café Deluxe
• Chef Tony’s
• Domino’s Pizza
• Dunkin’ Donuts
• Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle
• Flaxella
• Freddy's Lobster & Clams
• Georgetown Cupcake
• Haagen-Dazs
• Hanaro Restaurant & Lounge
• Hard Times Café
• Haven Pizzeria Napoletana
• Himalayan Heritage
• Honest Tea
• Jaleo
• Jetties
• Kabob Bazaar
• Kadhai Boutique Indian Cuisine
• Kraze Burgers
• Lilit Café 
• Louisiana Kitchen & Bayou Bar
• Luke's Lobster
• Mamma Lucia
• Mia’s Pizzas
• Mussel Bar & Grille
• Naked Pizza
• Olazzo
• The Original Pancake House
• The Parva
• Passage to India
• Penang Malaysian Cuisine
• Quartermaine Coffee Roasters
• Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
• Roof Bethesda
• Ruth's Chris Steak House
• Shangri-La
• Share Wine Lounge
• Smoke BBQ
• Smoothie King
• Spring Mill Bread Co.
• Tandoori Nights
• Tout de Sweet
• Uncle Julios
• Union Jack's

11 a.m.: 19th Street Band (Country/Bluegrass)

1:30 p.m.: Joker’s Wild (Swing)

St. Elmo Stage

11:15 a.m.: 8 Ohms Band (Funk)

1:45 p.m.: Texas Chainsaw Horns (Blues)

Cordell Avenue Stage

11:15 a.m.: Sahel (African)

1:45 p.m.: Alma Tropicalia (Brazilian)

Norfolk Avenue Stage

11 a.m.: Rhythmaya Dance Company (South Asian)

12 p.m.: Olu Yemisi Dancers (African/Caribbean)

1 p.m.: Soul in Motion (African)

2 p.m.: Dance Asia (Malaysian)

3 p.m.: Nomad Dancers (Middle Eastern)

Veterans Park

11 a.m.: David Klein Jazz Trio

1:30 p.m.: Angie Miller & Meg Murray (Pop-Rock)