Taste of Downtown Burbank featuring Top Chef Nikki Cascone October 7, 2010

Taste of Downtown Burbank, featuring Top Chef Nikki Cascone, is a food festival that highlights sustainability and green culinary practices -- and it's a culinary experience you don't want to miss! 100% of ticket sales benefit the Burbank Community YMCA's financial scholarship fund. Featured will be many of Burbank's finest restaurants with cuisines from around the world and samples that include bruschetta, burgers, sushi, steak, tapas, tacos - every flavor under the sun!

The event happens outdoors on San Fernando Boulevard between Orange Grove and Magnolia Boulevard in Downtown Burbank. It will feature more than 40 restaurants and eateries and will have recycling stations and compostable serving materials.

So eat a bite, enjoy the open-air beer and wine garden, see a sustainable and organic cooking demonstration by Nikki Cascone, popular "cheftestant" on Bravo's Emmy nominated show Top Chef, and last but not least, take pleasure in continuous live entertainment and a swinging dance floor!

A $25 ticket gets all you can eat, per person. The $35 ticket includes the Beer & Wine Garden. Children 12 and under are $10. Tickets give access to unlimited food samples, chef demos, competitions and live entertainment. Dine & Unwind hotel spa packages at the luxury boutique Hotel Amarano, Residence Inn Downtown Burbank and the Holiday Inn are also available if you want to make it a night on the town.

Vendors have been briefed on sustainability practices, including foods that can be eaten by hand as opposed to non-recyclable packaging. The goal is to reduce waste by 75% compared to any previous year!

Two major partners include the Burbank Green Alliance and the Burbank Recycle Center. Recycling staff will distribute compostable and environmentally friendly plates, cups, and utensils to attendees, setting up recycling and compost stations throughout the event.