Sample a Taste of Rio Rancho

Food from around the world will be on the menu at the Taste of Rio Rancho scheduled Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Rio Rancho restaurants featuring Italian, Chinese, Indian and Mexican cuisine are among the 16 eateries that will be offering samples of their specialties.

The $5 admission charge gives visitors to the event a chance to stroll around the Star Center concourse tasting the food while enjoying live music, then sit back and digest while watching the Mustangs ice hockey game against the Odessa Jackalopes.

	Taste of Rio Rancho When: 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 Where: Santa Ana Star Center, 3001 Civic Center What: visitors can enjoy samples from 16 Rio Rancho restaurants and an ice hockey game Participating restaurants: Applebee’s, Cafe Bella, Cazuela’s Mexican Grill, Dairy Queen, Dion’s, El Mezquite Market, Fat Squirrel, Hot Tamales, Joe’s Pasta House, Matheson Winery, Namaste, O’Hares Grille and Pub, Pizza 9, Tao Chinese Bistro, Turtle Mountain Brewing Co. and Venezia’s Pizzeria. Admission: $5

Tasting begins at 5 p.m. and the hockey game starts at 7:30 p.m.

Rio Rancho Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Matt Geisel called the concept an “event within an event,” with attractions that appealed to a broad audience.

The city and the Star Center collaborated in a similar way with the Winterfest last month that included a parade through the City Center, free ice-skating and fireworks.

Geisel said each restaurant will bring two or three items from their menu.

“It gives the restaurants an opportunity to expose their product to potential customers and gives people an opportunity to discover restaurants,” Geisel said.

This is the second time the Taste of Rio Rancho event has been held at the Star Center. Last year, about 1,500 people attended.

The event will also be an educational opportunity for culinary arts students at high schools in Rio Rancho. Through an arrangement with the Rio Rancho Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, the students will be able to tour the food preparation facilities at the Star Center and learn about careers in the hospitality industry, before the event starts.

Students will then act as greeters and help with cleanup during the event, Geisel said.