Taste of the Marianas tokens return; now for sale online

Tokens for the 24th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival & Beer Garden that begins this Saturday, June 3, are now for sale online.

The Marianas Visitors Authority is expanding the availability of tokens to online purchases via their official website at www.mymarianas.com. Tokens purchased via credit card, debit card, or PayPal via the website can be claimed at either the MVA office in Garapan in the afternoon or at the cashier’s booth during the festival at Garapan Fishing Base. To claim tokens, purchasers must show their QR code confirmation that they will receive after making an online payment. Festival vendor purchases will require tokens this year, and tokens can also be purchased at the festival with cash.

The Taste of the Marianas is the largest food festival in the Marianas and an annual signature event of the MVA. The festival offers affordable dishes from local hotels and restaurants, drinks from local vendors, live entertainment, and arts and crafts sales from 5pm to 10pm nightly and until 11pm on the final night.

“The MVA has used Taste tokens for over 20 years now. The use of tokens allows us to track the success of the event through sales and provide greater safety of sales revenue for vendors. It also adds a festival-like atmosphere that is common at food festivals around the world,” said MVA managing director Christopher A. Concepcion. “And now, for the first time, we’re pleased to offer Taste tokens for purchase via credit card, debit card, or PayPal using the link on our homepage. You can also pick up your tokens during the week at the MVA office, so you can skip the token line entirely at the festival.”

Tokens can be picked up at the MVA office at Gold Beach Hotel on Beach Road on Monday to Friday from 1pm to 4pm, except holidays. Alternately, at the festival grounds tokens may be claimed in the designated payment line at the cashier’s booth. In all cases, the QR code confirmation is required.

This year’s festival will include several special contests. The MVA is still accepting entries for its Kadun Pika Cooking Contest this Saturday. Registration is free, open to participants age 18 or older, and limited to 10 entries. Cash prizes for the top three winners are $500 for first place, $400 for second place, $300 and third place. Complete rules and registration forms are available on The Marianas Calendar at www.mymarianas.com/the-marianas-calendar or by contacting MVA Community Projects specialist Ray Villagomez at rvillagomez@mymarianas.com or 1.670.664.3200.

Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival & Beer Garden tokens. (MVA)

Another special contest is being organized for June 17 at the festival, and the Chamorro Bisteak Cook-off will be on June 24, jointly sponsored by the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands and Northern Marianas Technical Institute.

Participating food vendors this year are Bistro Boyz 670, Chagi Norf, Chow Time, Cristianos Kitchen, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Furusato Restaurant Saipan, Herman’s Modern Bakery, Island Grinz, Java Joe’s, Kamakazee’s, Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant, Saipan Cup Bab Restaurant Loco & Taco, Majesty Restaurant, Mariana Lighthouse, Matty’s BBQ, Pho Tam, Oh My Grill – OMG – Saipan, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Surf Club Saipan/Great Harvest Bread Co. Saipan, T-Bar CNMI, The Hut, Tyler’s Gelatte Stone, and Vi-lynn’s BBQ. Drink vendors are MARPAC, WESTCO and Napu Brewing.

The event is co-organized by HANMI. Platinum sponsors are Marianas Variety, Dave Electronics, and Turnkey Solutions. Gold sponsor is Hawaiian Rock Products. Silver sponsor is Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan. Bronze sponsors are EST Rental, Jonny’s Bar & Grill, New XO Market, Triple J Five Star Wholesale, M&C LLC Construction, and Northern Marianas Technical Institute. (MVA)