The 13th Annual Taste of the Marianas is one feast for all the senses that you must not miss. Overnight, the usually quiet American Memorial Park was transformed into a bustling food city teeming with food and drinks and entertainment, your ideal destination for the remaining Saturdays of the month where you can have your pick of the best that local restaurants and hotels offer.
Take a peek at the food stalls and see what they have to offer for the whole month:
Hyatt Regency Saipan
Check out its gourmet carnival menu including the famed barbecued Louisiana pork spare ribs with country coleslaw and rice pilaf for 6 tokens, chicken shawarma, sausage platter, grilled flat bread sandwich, and mouth-watering desserts such as blueberry cheese cake, rich chocolate cake and strawberry roulade at 3 tokens.
Herman’s Modern Bakery
A wide selection of Filipino and Chamorro menu, including pork or beef fritada, bbq, kadon pica, chicken kelaguen, dinuguan, beef caldereta and more, and delectable cakes, pastries, cookies, pies and island favorites.
Hafadai Beach Hotel
BBQ shortribs bulgogi, squid bbq, yakitori, yakisoba, oden, beef rice bowl, kimchi, bbq corn, spiny tuna/salmo, bbq set, and desserts such as custard pudding and cream puff.
Fiesta Resort & Spa
Check out their combination meals or ala carte menu of red rice, chicken, squid, pork ribs and corn on the cob, and more.
Canton Restaurant
Wide assortment of delicious Chinese dishes and all-time favorites, such as fried chicken wings, sweet and sour pork, fried shrimps, and more.
World Resort Saipan
Soy marinade beef short rib, pancit, lime-flavored Norwegian salmon steak, spicy squid, Chamorro sausage, baked potato, and a combination set for 5 tokens.
Elegance Café
Taste a wide selection of local and Filipino favorites including chicken or pork barbecue, lechon, pancit, and more.
Pacific Islands Club
Southern style bbq pork ribs, yellow fin tuna poke, habib chicken curry with nan bread, beef or chicken fajitas, Korean marinated brisket bento, homemade cookies, tapioca pudding, mango smoothie. If you can’t decide, go for the combo meals which contain a little of everything, all from 3-6 tokens.
Mariana Resort Club
Don’t miss their tempura shrimp, California roll and corn dogs, and other delicacies.
Capricciosa’s and Tony Roma’s
The famed rib set, seafood and steak, lasagna and rice croquette, and more.
Poon’s Restaurant
You get five choices for five tokens such as spiced chicken, beef with broccoli, sweet and sour pork, fried prawns and more.
Thai House Restaurant
Taste the best of of Thai cuisine at very affordable prices.
Hula Girl
Your destination for native favorites such as empanada, apigigi, chicharon, cassava cakes, coconut candies and more.
To quench your thirst, check out Sierra’s Pearl Shakes & Treats, and Tropical Chill Pearl Shakes and Chillers, or check the beverage booths such as the one manned by the Marianas Bartenders Association for tropical drinks, cocktails, beers and other beverages.
I went home with a full plastic bag of assorted food I bought from different booths — corn on the cob from Elegance, a lemongrass-roasted baby chicken from the World Resort booth, apigigi and turon from Hula Girl, fried chicken wings from Canton Restaurant, and other delicacies from the festival and feasted on my loot with my hands — some feast indeed.
See you at the festival grounds next Saturday, and the remaining Saturdays of May!
