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Taste of St. John upcoming

Tracy Farnham | The News Herald

Kenneth Lawrence offers a sample of Italian meatballs to Peggy Chambers.

By Tracy Farnham | The News Herald

Published: October 30, 2009

MORGANTON - The first Taste of St. John was such a success that chefs are eagerly fine-tuning their recipes for the second annual event set for 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 7 on the upper level of the Collett Street Rec Center.
"We had over 100 people last year so we have a larger room this time," explained one of the cooks, Peggy Chambers.
Members of St. John's Holiness, divided into four groups of cooks, will whip up Italian, Mexican, Jamaican and American recipes. Each group will prepare two meats, two vegetables, desserts, salads and drinks.
People will be able to sample at least 24 different dishes, Chambers said.
"People are amazed at how much food you get as you go around to every table," said minister Kenneth Lawrence. He promised the Taste of St. John will send diners' taste buds on a culinary trip while letting them enjoy the decorations from various cultures.
Lawrence is heading up the Italian food table offering homemade lasagna, Italian meatballs in sausage sauce, parmesan rolls, pasta salad, green beans almandine, chicken cacciatore and Italian walnut butter cookies.
Authentic Jamaican food will be prepared by assistant pastor Diane Gooden's sister who is visiting from Jamaica.
"She will be making curried goat, jerk chicken, rice and peas, Jamaican vegetables, dessert and flavored sodas along with hard-dough bread," Gooden said.
The curried goat is a favorite at St. John's. It tastes similar to roast beef with curry seasoning, she said.
Chambers is cooking for the Mexican table with a little help from her friends.
"One of my friends is doing the rice for me. She is from El Salvador," Chambers explained. The same friend shared a favorite sauce recipe she will use with a chicken dish.
Also on the Mexican table will be Mexican chicken wings, mixed vegetables, cabbage with peppers, Mexican cornbread and wedding cookies.
Tickets cost $6 at the door, from church members or by contacting the church at 437-7279.