Taste of Lantern Village returns September 16

By CLARA BEARD

The Taste of Lantern Village returns to La Plaza Park on Wednesday, Sept. 16, bringing together bites from a dozen Dana Point restaurants to raise money for scholarships benefiting Dana Hills High School students.

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Photo by Clara Beard

The Taste of Lantern Village will be held on September 16 at La Plaza Park

Organized by the Lantern Village Association, the event will run from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Taste supports area businesses while raising money for the association’s scholarship program – which is reserved for Dana Hills High School students who live in Lantern Village.

“We have so many restaurant people here who are such good community people,” said Robin Valles, president of the Lantern Village Association.

Unlike some tasting events, participating restaurants do not pay a fee to be included, Valles added.

“Restaurants come in free, and they provide bites,” she said. “They’re all only Dana Point restaurants.”

Participating businesses include Bon Appétit Bistro, Carlos Mexican Restaurant + Cantina, Casanova Ristorante, Hennessey’s, Hook & Anchor, Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern, Lúa Asian Fusion Eatery, Lupe’s Mexican Eatery, Shelter Distilling, The Coffee Importers, The White Rooster and What a Dish Café. Shelter Distilling will offer both food and beer.

The association awarded two $2,000 scholarships this spring, including one to a student who arrived in the United States at the start of high school without speaking English.

“He graduated all college-prep classes, all A’s and B’s,” Valles said. “We were delighted to give him some support.”

The scholarship program supports students pursuing technical training, two-year programs and four-year institutions. It is the Lantern Village Association’s top priority, Valles said.

“We’re hoping that this year we’ll make enough money that we can give even more,” she said.

Founded in 1991, the association continues to focus on supporting local merchants and residents, as well as projects including the preservation effort for the Blue Lantern Gazebo.

Tickets for the Taste of Lantern Village are available here.