"Food, Glorious Food." That's the theme of this year's Taste of the Town.
It's about time we found something to rave about. Gasp - $4 gas has the economy falling like a souffle at the bowling alley and the Dodgers are on pace to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs by August. No wonder fleeing to the haven of comfort food makes sense.

But we shouldn't let our need for familiarity drive us into a Grand Canyon-sized rut. Trying a new restaurant is like going on a blind date - you never know what's in store and you really can't trust your well-meaning friends' recommendations. But for some reason we shy away from gustatory exploration like it was an arranged marriage, not just a night out.

There's an easy way to jump start your edible journey. An afternoon at Child & Family Center's Taste of the Town promises to bring your taste buds more flavors than a guest tasting stint at the Jelly Belly factory. It's like edible channel surfing. If you don't like what's on channel seven, hit the "next" button and move on to the next booth. With over 40 restaurants, caterers, wine merchants and micro-brewers on hand, this is better than HD cable and you don't have to wait for a house call between the hours of 8 and 4.

A sad truth of our national culture revolves around our meals' numbing uniformity. Where once a cross-country trip meant sampling countless cuisines, today national chains line the interstates serving the same bland pabulum in New York as in New Orleans. If it weren't for special holiday burgers at the drive-thru, most of us would get more varied meals in solitary confinement at San Quentin. Taste of the Town fixes that.

This isn't some uppity affair for cork-sniffing snobs. There's no need to decipher the purpose of half a dozen spoons and you won't find an array of glassware forcing you to negotiate with your neighbor just to get a sip of water. These aren't the types of restaurants that require a credit check just to order an appetizer. Still, the fare ranges from everyday eats to elegant evenings.

As if the food weren't enough, the day includes cooking demonstrations by local chefs, including the Daniel Otto of The Oaks Grille and Maru Sushi's Jason Park and Tonino Cardia of Cavi Cucina Italiana, men that make Emeril Lagasse look like an overdramatic, spice-flinging fry cook. And you don't want to miss the diamond drop - for a mere $25 you could win a one-carat diamond; they'll even throw in a glass of champagne to help lubricate your rooting. You might even win a Princess seven-day Caribbean cruise if you spring for the $100 ticket. Platinum-record-winning recording artist Mark LeVang & Friends will also take to the main stage for your listening pleasure.

This event benefits the Child and Family Center, our local organization devoted to school-based counseling and children's mental health. Maybe you figure that "my kid got a gold star for letting the teacher sleep" bumper sticker on the back of your SUV immunizes you from worrying about your kid's mental health. We hope so. But the Center's focus on early problem detection affects us all - how many more accolades will your child bring home after the kid at the next desk starts acting out? Maybe a little preventative care is just what the doctor ordered. With programs running at 28 SCV campuses, chances are you're already benefiting from the Center's good work. Let's support it in a fun way.

Child & Family Center's Taste of the Town offers the most edible excitement since you sampled your college roomies' funny brownies. For a mere $75 ($85 at the door) you'll easily stuff twice that much food in your system. $100 offers "reserved seating" and buys you a cozy spot under an umbrella-topped table.Trying to do this on your own would cost more in gasoline alone.

TASTE OF THE TOWN SAMPLER
All Corked Up
An Affaire Extraordinaire
BJ's Restaurant
Cavi at Big Oaks
Cavi Cucina Italiana
Clarice's Cake & Candy Supplies
COC Culinary Art School
Earl of Sandwich
Frankies NY Italian Restaurant
Freshers
The Garden Spot
Indian Wells Brewing Co.
JamWest Caribbean Foods
Jasmine Thai BBQ
Jill's Cake Creations
LA Trends Catering
The Loose Goose
Maru Sushi
Nardone's
Newhall Coffee
New Moon Restaurant
Off Broadway Bistro
Philly's Best
The Pita Pit
Raven Oaks Vineyards
Roast House Restaurant
RSVP - The Catering Company
Salt Creek Grille
Sisley Italian Kitchen
Spumoni Restaurant
Tandoori Grill
The Tea Gardens
The Oaks Grille at TPC Valencia
Trader Joe's
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Very Posh Concoctions, Inc.
Vines Restaurant & Bar
Vino 100
Whole Foods Market
Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co.