tasteofdowney DOWNEY (Via The Downey Patriot) – What does Downey taste like? And don’t say “chicken” … unless we’re going to Toyitos—and you’re buying. Otherwise, it kind of depends on what you’re in the mood for. And if you can’t make up your mind, simmer down until Sept. 30, when the area around city hall will be transformed into the second Taste of Downey.

For $20, visitors receive a ticket which entitles them to 10 food samples from participating restaurants. Food booths will be set up in the roundabout area in front of City Hall with the stage and seating areas near 3rd Street.

This week the Downey City Council took formal action to close portions of Civic Center Drive and 3rd Street accommodate the food festival. Last month the Council hired a professional event planner—at a cost of $65,000—l to organize and market the Taste of Downey which last year attracted about 1,500 visitors.

Until this year, the Downey’s culinary fame was probably all the fast-food history within its city limits, from the old McDonald’s on Lakewood Blvd. to the former Johnnie’s Broiler/now Big Boy on Imperial Hwy. to the first Taco Bell on … I’m saying … Firestone Blvd.—it’s now called Guadalajara, I believe.

But the arrival of Porto’s (on Firestone, in downtown) has rearranged everything, including my knee-jerk negative reaction to massive gifts of public funds to private businesses. In late 2008, the Downey City Council voted to use $750,000 as an incentive to lure Porto’s, which of course leapt at the cash, and then fell far behind its construction schedule—the place took nearly two years to open, in Nov. of 2010. Since the day it did, however, it doesn’t seem as though there has ever not been a line to order. The place is always busy … oh, and by the way, excellent.

Meanwhile, all that new downtown traffic necessarily passes by other restaurants, which has opened our eyes to places like Granatos Italian, Narai Thai, Ichiban Sushi, Veracruz and … sorry, but I enjoy Mimi’s.

Tickets for Taste of Downey can be purchased starting Sept. 6 at the first floor Planning counter at City Hall, the Barbara J. Riley Community and Senior Center and the Downey Chamber of Commerce.