For 26 years in a row, the Taste of Tacoma has been encouraging gluttony in the park - and this year is much of the same. Friday kicked off the event at Point Defiance, and I was there to test the food for all of you and make sure the waters were safe. Good news-they are totally safe and delicious.

After perusing both the official Taste of Tacoma guide (available throughout the event grounds) and taking a walk around the food area, I chose three items to sample: Pho Cyclo Café's tofu bahn mi, Delicious Asia's egg rolls, and Jasper's BBQ's BBQ chicken sandwich. My favorite this year - hands down - was the bahn mi (a Vietnamese sandwich), both for tastiness and portion bang for my buck.

While supping upon my sandwiches, I enjoyed two musical performances. The first was a band I have seen here before-The BGP, a "Blue-eyed Soul Dance Band" according to the official guide.

Their music is peppy and fun, but as I settled in as the band set up, a man nearby turned to me and said, "Have you seen these guys before?"

"No," I said, forgetting that I had.

"They were just on America's Got Talent! And they made it past all the judges."

Cool, I thought... but lo and behold, it was actually true. This Tacoma band is going to the Las Vegas round of America's Got Talent! - so make sure to check them out if you bother to watch summer network TV.

The other band I caught was The Ongoing, a Christian alternative rock band. While this sort of music is not usually my thing, I did appreciate the Coldplay vibe to their sound.

Taste of Tacoma also features the usual spread of vendors (jewelry, henna, arts and crafts) to check out, as well as some rides. I'm convinced the Taste is running a scam. Both the Starship and Zero Gravity are devices designed simply to spin humans - perhaps present and ready just to make you hork up all your well-deserved tastes. Beware.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jen Cook-Asaro

Taste of Tacoma

Friday, June 24-Saturday, June 25 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 26 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Free admission, free live music and more than 30 tastings for purchase - choose the "just a bite" option at any food vendor for $3.75, or go big with an item from their regular menu.
Point Defiance Park, 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma
tasteoftacoma.com