The Rahway Arts and Business Partnership, looking to remain engaged with faithful foodies and area restaurants as the Covid-19 pandemic persists, is offering passports to its annual “Taste of Spring” wine-, food- and aperitif-tasting extravaganza.
This year’s event has been reconfigured as a “passport” program due to Covid-19 restrictions. In a press statement, Amy Garcia Phillips and Ann Marie Williams, managing directors of the Rahway Arts and Business Partnership, explained that hungry fans can purchase $5 Taste of Spring passports from one of four passport locations during four weekends in April, in order to become foodie “tourists,” visiting participating Rahway-area establishments during scheduled times.
Passport Purchase Locations
Passport purchases are cash only. Purchase your passport at any of the following locations:
- Beana’s Para Siempre: 988 St. George’s Ave., Rahway
- Northfield Bank: 1515 Irving St., Rahway
- The Rahway Recreation Center: 3 City Hall Plaza, Rahway
- Witty’s Fine Wine and Liquors: 870 St. George’s Ave., Rahway
“Tourists can present their passport and pay only $5 for a special Taste of Spring feature,” Garcia Phillips said. “Tasters will be treated to many of the same delectable desserts and enticing cuisine that is a signature part of Rahway’s annual event. You will even be able to vote for your favorites.”
The passport schedule runs Thursday through Sunday, on the following weekends:
- April 8-11
- April 15-18
- April 22-25
- April 29-May 2
Garcia Phillips said details of participating establishments and their locations are available on the website RahwayIsHappening.com.
Food and drink from passport samples are meant to be enjoyed “on the go.” Garcia Phillips encouraged taste tourists to be mindful of indoor dining limitations, mask wearing and social distancing protocols brought on by the pandemic. “However, if the passport fare tickles your palate, feel free to head back in and order a full meal,” she said.
Participating Establishments
Rahway establishments participating in the passport program include the following:
- Beana’s Para Siempre
- The Coffee Box
- Cook’s Kitch’n
- CubaNu Restaurant and Lounge
- Dairy Queen
- Dervish Kabob and Grill
- Gyros Corner
- Hugo’s Peruvian Cuisine
- Il Forna a Legna
- The Irving Inn Social
- Juice Hub
- La Malinche
- The Lounge at Watt Hotel
- Luciano’s Ristorante
- Madina Halal Platter
- Melao Cafe and Creamery
- Michelino’s Pizza
- Mr. Subs 3
- Nancy’s Townehouse Pizza
- Olivia’s Catering and Dining
- Rahway Bagels
- Rahway Fried Chicken
- Rahway Nutrition
- Sabor Peruano
- Uruguma Herbalife
- Wet Ticket Brewing
- Wheelie Good Pierogi
- Witty’s Fine Wine and Liquors
- The World Famous Waiting Room
Establishments from the surrounding area include the following:
- Bahama Breeze (Woodbridge)
- Chevys Fresh Mex (Linden)
- Climax Brewery (Roselle Park)
- Cooks Kitch’n Express (Menlo Park Mall/Edison)
- Havana Central (Menlo Park Mall/Edison)
- La Bon Bakery (Woodbridge)
- Meson Tropical (Linden)
- Railside Cafe (Fanwood)
- The Tavern at Ash Brook (Scotch Plains)
The Taste of Spring event typically is held at the Rahway Civic Center, but concerns over the coronavirus have shuttered the indoor gathering. Ever optimistic, Garcia Phillips encouraged food tourists to save the date for next year’s Rahway’s Taste of Spring, planned for April 8, 2022, when the event is slated to return to the city’s recreation center.
According to information posted on the Rahway Arts and Business Partnership website, the mission of the group, which was established in 2009, is to “create a diverse, vibrant and economically and socially sound community within Rahway; develop activities and programs that encourage the long-term success of the art community; promote awareness of the value of the arts and directly support arts programs that encourage the diversity of Rahway citizens and businesses and their participation in the successful development of Rahway; and create and encourage an atmosphere that builds strong arts organizations and increases the community and business appeal of Rahway.
