Kiwanis Club of Medford to host Taste of Italy in Carzo Cage today

The Kiwanis Club of Medford will be hosting its 10th annual Taste of Italy -- Medford, which will feature 30 local restaurants, music and more at the Cousens Gymnasium’s Carzo Cage this evening from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. according to President of the Kiwanis Club of Medford Rita Cornelio.

The attending eateries, which come from cities including Medford, Somerville, Saugus, Revere and Winchester, include local Italian restaurants as well as others, including Yoki Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar and Not Your Average Joe's, in addition to bakeries such as Modern Pastry, ice cream stores such as Colleen's Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop and wine distributors, according to Cornelio.

"You just basically go to each restaurant and try some of their local food then come back and sit down or continue and try three or four restaurants, have some wine," she explained.

The event will also feature raffles and a DJ and will be hosted by Boston radio and television host Billy Costa, Cornelio added. There will be seating for close to 400 people at round-tables and high-tops. Special admission for Tufts students with their student ID is $25, while normal admission for the event is $40.

"It's a fundraiser, so all the money that is raised will go to Medford Kiwanis to help so many local sports ... food shelters, there's just many, many things that we do for Medford," she said.

The Kiwanis Club of Medford, which was founded in 1925, is a civic organization in Medford that focuses on helping children through initiatives such as  sports programs. Cornelio said she has been the chairperson of the Taste of Italy event since it started.

"I actually brought it to Medford in 2001 to open and celebrate Medford for Italian Heritage Month," she said, adding that she then brought it to the Kiwanis Club of Medford in 2004, after joining.

In previous years, the Kiwanis Club hosted the event at the warehouse of Accardi Foods in Medford, but the event began to grow too large for the venue.

"I really wanted to do it at Tufts to open it up to the Tufts students, and hopefully some of you will just come and check it out," she said, noting that she hopes the event will continue in years to come.