Taste of Lockport judges, from left, Peter Robinson, John D'Onofrio, Demetrius Grant, and Mayor Anne McCaffrey enjoy selections from the "Best Entree" category at the outdoor patio at Lock 34 Bar and Grill. The Shamus Restaurant took the category with its porkbelly. (ENP STAFF PHOTOS)

By +Scott Leffler 
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

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The Pleasant Valley Tavern took the "People's Choice" award on their first foray into the Taste of Lockport.

The Pleasant Valley Tavern won the coveted "People's Choice" award for best dish this afternoon at the 15th Annual Taste of Lockport.

The tavern's first time at the taste was capped off with a victory for its homemade peanut butter pie. Bar manager Simon Chavers said it won't likely be their last Taste.

In the "Best Entree" category, The Shamus Restaurant took first place for its porkbelly. Taste judges oohed and ahhed over 10 options as they judged the category before deciding the Shamus' dish to be the best.

Lock 34 Bar and Grill took home two ribbons with awards for Best Pizza for their steak arugula flatbread and Best Sandwich for their pot roast sandwich.

Likewise, Lake Effect Ice Cream won twice — for Best Dessert and Best Healthy Choice. The dessert was a maple bacon sundae. The healthy choice was a watermelon freezie pop — or icicle as the ice cream shop calls them.

Baby Ribs' collard greens took the award for Best Appetizer, scoring the highest combined score of any of the 50 foods judged throughout the day.

The highest score overall, though, went to a wine: Marjim Manor's Cherry Concerto was widely praised by the team of judges, winning the "Best Sweet Sip" category. Meanwhile, Flight of Five Winery's Canawler Red took the "Best Dry Wine" category.

The wine categories were new this year, as was Best Pizza and Best Hometown Flare, which went to Mericana's Buffalo-style frog legs.

It took 21 judges to judge the foods, with most judging multiple categories at the outdoor patio at Lock 34.

AJ Amherst, singer for Whiskey Reverb and first-time Taste of Lockport judge summed it up: “Everything in my life has led to this moment.”

No one went away unhappy.

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