The third Food Nation tasting event on Saturday highlights five restaurants from around Davis Square – American Flatbread, The Burren, Elm Street Taproom, Five Horses Tavern and Redbones – with free entry and a $30 all-you-can-eat tasting pass.
For those tempted to use that pass to the fullest extent a stomach allows, at least the eating can be done over six hours (the event lasts from 2 to 8 p.m.) with distractions and amusements between portions: live music, games and activities, community programming and a beer garden.
Sal Islam, executive director of The Somerville Foundation – the event’s organizer and primary sponsor – identified on Thursday some things to know about Food Nation.
It’s a party with no obligation. The public can come in and enjoy the live music, community programming or beer garden without having to participate in the all-you-can-eat food, though “once once you get in there, you’re probably going to buy a food fest because it’s going to smell good,” Islam said.
Runners benefit. The Somerville Foundation is collaborating with the Somerville Homeless Coalition to give a discount to anyone participating in its Somerville 5K Road Race that morning. Runners just need to show a bib or a photo of their bib at the Food Nation gate to get a dining pass for $20 instead of $30.
Restaurants share the revenue. One experiment by the foundation this year is to split revenue across participating restaurants – with a potential payoff being able to recruit restaurants next year with a working model for participation. “It’s always kind of been a big lift for them to do these kind of events. A lot of these restaurants don’t participate because it’s too expensive for them to dish out all that food and not get anything,” Islam said. Last year’s three-hour event raised an estimated $14,000 in ticket revenue at $20; growth to between $20,000 and $25,000 would mean each restaurant coming away with $5,000. “That’s us as a community foundation trying to do good by the businesses.”
Past events were on Thursdays because it was considered better for the businesses donating their time and energy; this year’s weekend festival is an effort to prove that restaurants can participate on a Saturday if there’s incentive. “It’s a proof of concept of how we can work together to see what’s best for Somerville,” Islam said. “No one organization has all the answers, and so this is a [coming together] of community partners – musicians, event organizers and businesses.”
Food Nation is 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday at 260 Elm St. Free, with a suggested $10 donation. Children 12 and under eat free when accompanied by a parent or guardian with a $30 Food Nation Pass.
