Monday, December 6, 2010 4:04 PM
Rob Kinnon
Taste of Playa 2010 - Bueno - Bonito - Barato!
I'm hoping this is a good thing as several people have approached me in the grocery store (people I do not know) and said "Taste of Playa, si?" gesturing toward my ever present TOP baseball cap. "Bueno, bonito, barato!" they exclaim enthusiastically! I smile in return and nod my head. "Si, si. Gracias por venir." I reply in my very best, most polite Spanish. This is always my downfall, the perfectly executed reply. It often welcomes a follow up barrage of rapid fire Spanish, questions and comments, launched with the assumption that I can actually hold my own in a regular conversation. This is, more often than not, NOT the case. At 8:00 in the morning, no matter how many cups of coffee I have downed, I am just not ready to discuss possible locations for next year's event, or explain why restaurant XYZ was or was not participating or consider someone's cousin's friend's band for entertainment.
I'm just not prepared. In Spanish. In the middle of Walmart. With my ice cream melting.
But this has been my lot in life for the past two weeks and honestly, I am thrilled that so many people seem to have an opinion about Taste of Playa. I am more thrilled that the opinions are overwhelmingly positive. The event grew so fast so quickly, that the day of, it was hard for me to step back and really evaluate the experience of the participants or of the average attendee. The feed back that the committee has been receiving, whether it be from the surveys we distributed or random conversations in parking lots, is all being logged and analyzed in order to make 2011 an even better event for everyone.
So, thanks, everyone for all your nice compliments, objective criticisms and well thought out suggestions for next year's event. The input is welcomed and appreciated because it means you all care as much as we do.
Here are some of my favorite photos from the day. For some, the day will be all about the food but for me, Taste of Playa is all about the people. This is what I will remember best about Taste of Playa 2010.
These are just a handful of my memories from Taste of Playa 2010. For a real treat, check out the album from our official photographer Rafael Lizarraga. See Taste of Playa 2010 through his lens!