The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (UPG) hosted the 18th annual Taste of Westmoreland event sponsored by the Congregation Emanu-El Israel on Sat., Mar. 13. The Taste, held in Chambers Hall on the UPG campus, brought local caterers and restaurants together to showcase the fine eclectic cuisine that the Westmoreland area has to offer for an evening of food and fun.
By Stephanie Isacco
Staff Writer
The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (UPG) hosted the 18th annual Taste of Westmoreland event sponsored by the Congregation Emanu-El Israel on Sat., Mar. 13. The Taste, held in Chambers Hall on the UPG campus, brought local caterers and restaurants together to showcase the fine eclectic cuisine that the Westmoreland area has to offer for an evening of food and fun.
Congregation Emanu-El Israel also provided door prizes and hosted a silent auction featuring items from local merchants, salons, shops and supermarkets. Randy Bish from the Tribune Review was on location to do caricatures.
Similar events are held in cities all over the country, including Cincinnati, Boston, Tacoma and Dallas, putting Greensburg “in a very elite group of communities who realize the value of such an event to the growth and sustainability of their communities.”
“The National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education (NCCHE) supports Taste of Westmoreland as part of our outreach to the local Jewish community. In addition, developing Catholic-Jewish relations is integral to Seton Hill University’s (SHU) Mission which is ‘rooted in Judeo-Christian values . . . in the tradition of Elizabeth Ann Seton,’” said NCCHE Director Wilda Kaylor.
SHU’s students and NCCHE have experienced excellent relations with the Congregation Emanu-El Israel over the past few years. “The members of Congregation Emanu-El Israel, who sponsor this event, have always been very welcoming to our students, faculty and staff,” said Kaylor. “Rabbi Sara Rae Perman, who serves as vice-chair of our Center’s Advisory Board, is a valued friend.”
Last year, the Taste featured wares from 30 caterers and restaurants in the area and had over 1000 people in attendance, according to Joe Last, an organizer of the event.
According to the event webpage, “The Taste is a tremendous asset to our community, one which increases commerce, encourages tourism and showcases the quality of life right here in our hometown.” People from all over the Westmoreland area, young and old, attended the event, including a handful of SHU Students. Junior Melissa Kaufold was among them and had a great experience: “Even though we were smashed like sardines, I got to eat a lot of food that I haven’t been able to eat in one place on a regular day,” she said. “One of the best times I’ve had in Greensburg; I’ll be full for a week.”
“Even activities like The Taste of Westmoreland afford opportunities for interfaith dialogue and learning. In particular, it’s a way to promote understanding and mutual respect,“ Kaylor said, noting the significance of the cooperation between the community and the Congregation Emanu-El Israel.