Media Release
CONTACT:
Jim Luttjohann
jim@lovecatalina.com
310.510.7643
20th Annual Taste Around of Avalon Winners Announced
Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority is pleased to announce the winners of the 20th Annual Taste Around Avalon, held on Thursday, May 28, 2026. This year's event featured 18 participating establishments showcasing a total of 34 food and beverage "Tastes" throughout Avalon.
The 2026 event was the largest Taste Around Avalon in the event's 20-year history, with more than 1,000 residents and visitors participating, making it the highest-attended Taste Around to date. Guests spent the evening strolling through town, sampling delicious food, desserts, cocktails, and specialty beverages while voting for their favorites. Many enthusiastic participants even completed the full Taste Around experience by visiting all 18 participating locations.
First-place winners in each category receive a $100 award, and the top three finishers will be recognized in the 2027 Catalina Island Visitors Guide, on LoveCatalina.com, and across Love Catalina's social media channels. In addition, everyone who submitted a completed Voting Card was entered into a drawing for a $50 Catalina Island Gift Certificate. Congratulations to Michelle Knight, this year's bonus raffle winner!
New for 2026, Love Catalina also presented an honorary Best Visual Presentation Award to recognize the outstanding creativity and effort businesses put into their food and beverage displays. With so many impressive and thoughtfully designed presentations this year, the award was added as a special recognition category. Due to its popularity and positive feedback from participants, Best Visual Presentation will become an official voting category at the 2027 Taste Around Avalon.
2026 Taste Around Avalon Winners
Cocktail (Drink with Alcohol)
1st: Pier 24: The Lime in the Coconut
2nd: Maggie's Blue Rose: Guava Margarita
3rd: Topside by NDMK: The Day Off
Non-Alcohol Drink
1st: Catalina Island Brew House: Strawberry Matcha
2nd: Pier 24: Mango Tango
3rd: Avalon Grille: Dirty Soda
Food
1st: Steve's Steakhouse: Prime New York Steak, Jumbo Shrimp & Armenian Wedding Rice
2nd: Topside by NDMK: Pastrami Slider
3rd (TIE): Maggie's Blue Rose: Chicken Mole, Shrimp Poblano Enchiladas, & Spicy Mango Salad
3rd (TIE) Pier 24: Executive Fish Taco
Dessert
1st: Sailor's Delight: Mini Waffle Cone Oreo Sundae
2nd: Catalina Cone: Buffalo Milk Soft Serve
3rd: Catalina Island Brew House: Catalina Carrot Cake
Honorary Best Visual Presentation Award
Jack’s Trattoria by Original Jacks
"Seeing more than 1,000 residents and visitors come together to support our local restaurants and businesses made this year's event especially memorable," said Jim Luttjohann, President & CEO of Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority. "Taste Around Avalon continues to showcase the creativity, talent, and hospitality that make Avalon such a unique culinary destination."
Congratulations to all of this year's winners and participants. A special thank you goes out to the restaurants, bars, cafés, and food and beverage establishments that made the event possible, as well as the residents and visitors who came out to support local businesses and help select the Best Tastes of Avalon.
Save the date: The 21st Annual Taste Around Avalon will be held on Thursday, June 3, 2027. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another evening of great food, drinks, and community celebration.
About Love Catalina Island
Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority is the Island's official source of visitor information. Originally founded in 1949, the nonprofit is comprised of approximately 230 member organizations, working closely with city officials, local businesses and the community at large to attract visitors and support the local economy. Love Catalina Island is governed by an elected board of directors and is funded in part through the collection of Transient Occupancy Taxes. For more information, please visit www.lovecatalina.com. Travelers can also join the conversation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lovecatalinaisland) Instagram (@LoveCatalinaIsland) and Twitter (@LoveCatalina_).
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