Area Restaurants Tempt Locals' Taste Buds at Annual Event

Residents and out of towners came out in force Tuesday to sample the best food and drink area Seekonk restaurants have to offer. The special affair was the 16th Annual Kiwanis Taste of the Town.

One of the largest tables at the event belonged to , the restaurant within the Johnson and Wales Inn that is run by students from Johnson and Wales University.

Audrey’s was showing off its expanded brunch menu, which runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. every Sunday.

Janee Howard of Audrey’s said the event was a great opportunity for students to expand their knowledge and their experience in the restaurant industry.

“We have a great staff on hand," Howard said.

, which is located at 540 Central Avenue, brought a selection of their restaurant's specialty: chicken wings. The owner is Seekonk resident Carnig Ashchian.

“We’re definitely known for our wings,” said Ashchian, who said they sold over 2,500 pounds of wings this past Super Bowl Sunday and have over 40 flavors.

Rehoboth House of Pizza, which is located on 503 Winthrop Street in nearby Rehoboth and delivers to locations throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is a family-owned pizzeria run by husband and wife Michael and Fatima Benjamin. The couple also employs their son, John, and daughters, Brook and Mackenzie.

“We like to make the extra effort for our customers,” said John Benjamin, adding that they have delivered to as far as Cumberland, R.I. and often get ideas for new specialty pizzas from their customers.

They also noted that while they are currently a delivery business, they are looking to expand their dining room to provide a sit down experience as well.

In addition to the variety of food on hand Tuesday, attendees were able to wash down their samples with a large selection of wine and beer from local vendors.

Robert Hammel and Vinnie Auciello of Quality Beverage in Taunton showed off their selection of Shocktop beers and the new Bud Light Platnium.

Brian Leary of Yiannis Distribution shared four different beers that were brewed in nearby South Hampton, MA. Patrons tasted a lager, a light beer, a blueberry flavored beer and an IPA.

“We specialize in craft beers,” said Leary, who said the beers can be found at  on Route 6 in Seekonk.

The $30 entrance fee to sample these foods went to benefit the Kiwanis Club of Greater Seekonk. Kiwanis is a global organization of community service volunteers.