Taste of Ramona patrons can nibble their way through Ramona’s restaurants, bars and coffee shops during the annual food tour.
The 11th Taste of Ramona will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at 15 locations around town. Some of the venues are partnering with other vendors for a total of 19 participants.
Taste of Ramona Chairperson Andrea Stykel said the walkable event hosted by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce will stretch across Main Street.
Four of the venues on the west side are located in the Stater Bros. shopping center — Jersey Mike’s Subs, L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Rise and Shine Coffee Shop and Rubio’s Coastal Grill.
Midtown venues are Marinade on Main Restaurant, Kit Fox Outfitters and Ramona Country Bakery.
On the east side are La Cocina Mexican Restaurant and Main Street Coffee.
“It’s a great way to try the restaurants in town and see what you like so you can go back afterward and have breakfast, lunch or dinner,” Stykel said. “We encourage people to invite their friends and families from down the hill to come up.”
One of the new participants this year is Rachel’s Cafe & Eatery, which opened just after Christmas at 668 Main St.
Owner Rachel Ludwig said the restaurant will be introducing a new menu that day and changing its hours to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for brunch and 4 p.m. to close for dinner seven days each week.
“We will be offering a few different things off of our menu throughout the day,” Ludwig said. “Most likely we will offer appetizers like our watermelon duo, chicken lettuce wraps, and honey ginger cauliflower.”
Rise and Shine Coffee Shop is another first-timer at Taste of Ramona while Rubio’s and Ramona Cafe are returning after a hiatus, Stykel said.
One of the fan favorites is Kit Fox Outfitters, an outdoors supply store at 780 Main St., Suite D, which usually offers freeze-dried food that is not the typical camping fare.
This year’s Taste of Ramona offerings are The Backcountry Bison Bowl made with bison meat in a creamy sauce with rice and beans with a buttermilk biscuit bite; Chicken Teriyaki with white chicken, rice and vegetables in a teriyaki sauce; and Three Bean Chili Mac, which is made with macaroni noodles, beans and vegetables in a sweet chili sauce.
Kit Fox Outfitters owner Stephanie Macdonald said the lightweight meals can be made in 10 minutes by simply adding less than 12 ounces of water. The meals are convenient for camping, hiking, hunting or biking and are good to have available during power outages or emergencies, she said.
Macdonald and her husband, Colin, have served the meals to more than 100 Taste of Ramona guests in each of the past four years, with a peak of 176 guests in 2023.
“I love getting all the surprised people in the store who are amazed about the taste of the meals,” said Stephanie Macdonald, who also gives out a s’mores treat during Taste of Ramona. “It’s fun to see their reactions.”
The camping meals can be followed with samples at the nearby Ramona Country Bakery, 733 Main St., Suite B, which will be serving Danish raisin bread with a protein and dessert.
Reds, Whites & Brews will be offering more than its usual wine and craft beer samples during Taste of Ramona. The venue at 629 Main St., Suite B is pairing up with Turquoise Barn Cider, which makes hand-crafted hard cider; Correcaminos Vineyard and Winery that will offer a sampling of wines; and Something Delicious Catering, which will be serving ooey gooey bars at that location.
Something Delicious will also be offering assorted savory pinwheels across the street at Rustic Interiors, a home decor store at 652 Main St.
Also partnering up at this year’s Taste of Ramona is Pamo Valley Winery and Toothacre Olive Oils. Stykel said Toothacre will offer samples of their olive oils, balsamic vinegars and Tapenades made at ToothAcre Ranch in Ramona on Pamo Valley Winery’s patio at 636 Main St.
Ramona Family Naturals Market at 325 Sixth St. will be sharing samples of avocado toast and strawberry spinach salad.
Aubry Brown, general manager of Ramona Family Naturals, said the grocery store and deli will host live music on its patio and run a Wellness Event at the same time as Taste of Ramona.
“It’s going to be a happening place with giveaways and product samples in addition to participating in the Taste of Ramona,” Brown said.
After Taste of Ramona ends, guests can listen to rock music performed by Ash & The Mondays Band. The musicians will perform from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Haybarn at Reds, Whites & Brews with no cover charge.
Proceeds generated by the Chamber’s annual fundraiser will go toward educational grants and of Ramona Unified School District programs, according to the Chamber. Sponsors include Justin Shaw of RE/MAX Direct, Ramona Cannabis Company, and Comfort Bros. Heating Air & Plumbing.
Tickets to Taste of Ramona cost $30 each and are available online at TasteOfRamona.com and RamonaChamber.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the Ramona Chamber’s office at 1306 Main St., Suite 103. Tickets that include a map of venue locations and a punch card can be picked up the week of the event at the Chamber’s office.
The day of the event tickets can be purchased at Cricket Wireless, 1664 Main St., Suite B.
Stykel said 350 tickets will be available for sale.
“This would be a great gift for Mother’s Day,” she said. “Taste of Ramona patrons can local businesses and go shopping.”
For more information, call the Chamber’s office at 760-789-1311.
