No excuse for hunger at 8th Annual Taste of Gainesville on the Docks

GAINESVILLE - If you attended Saturday night's Taste of Gainesville on the Docks and did not get enough to eat, it was your own fault.

Fifty-five area eateries put their best foot forward, actually their best food forward, for an estimated 1,300 people at the Olympic Venue on Lake Lanier.

Visitors enjoyed everything from pizza to grouper fingers to fudge brownies as they listened to the Northwinds Jazz Ensemble.

People who don't know what area restaurants have to offer got a first hand lesson at Taste of Gainesville.

Cathy Vitti said the event gives the restaurants a chance to showcase their specialties.

"It's a great opportunity for people to see what it is and see that it's good quality food," Vitti said.

Event Co-Chairman Frank Hynes said Taste of Gainesville has grown.

"At the first one, we had maybe 20 or 30 restaurants, now we're up close to 60, Hynes said.

LLRC president John Martiniere said proceeds benefit the Lake Lanier Rowing Club including equipment purchases and youth programs.

"Our mission is to promote the sport of rowing and maintain the Olympic legacy," Martiniere said.