SUZY STUMP: TASTE IT >>>

It would be hard to determine what Tacoma tastes like. For starters, where would one sample the soil most indicative of the City of Destiny?  Commerce Street? Or would the most-telling turf be found at higher elevations like Hilltop? And what would that flavor be like? You can be sure the topsoil would smack of scandal â€" but it would probably also taste a bit like Heidelberg. Deeper down, there would be traces of Indian blood intermingled with a salty prospector tang. Then there'd be all that fossilized dinosaur crap to contend with. When you think about it, Tacoma would probably taste pretty disgusting. Fortunately, the good people at Taste of Tacoma do the thinking for us, presenting a more palatable annual survey of the city's best cuisine.

This year is no exception. More than 30 vendors â€" including Asado, Masa, Katie Downs, Southern Kitchen, Katie Downs, Famous Dave's BBQ, Jazzbones, Joeseppi's, and Federal Way’s Pac Island Grill â€" along with live entertainment will plant roots at Point Defiance Park this weekend.

Sure beats eating dirt.

[Point Defiance Park, June 27-28 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., June 29 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., $7 and less an entrée, 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma]