Orange is the lucky color this year for those selected as food judges. We gather at 11 am at the Hampton Inn and put on our shirts!

Jim and Jill Fink are the Chief Justices who give the marching orders: hit the streets and be back with the ballots by 2 p.m.

Is this any kind of weather for the country's second largest food festival? Well... yes. The show and the eating must go on!

My first 'taste' of the day - a Roast Beef Sundae from Red Osier Restaurant. Different and good -- what a breakfast!

Food judge Larry Norton from 97Rock was sharing 'fun by the forkful.'

Erie County Executive Chris Collins was a first-time judge this year. Here, he's talking politics at Carmine's Restaurant. Carmine's won the Best Seafood category for their Shrimp Cargo. Excellent!

Katlyn Snow of Lancaster got a little help with her food.

Michele McClintick anchored Weekend Wakeup and then headed down to Delaware Avenue.

Michele McClintick and videographer Matt Ersing were multi-tasking -- judging the food AND preparing a report on the 'Taste' for News Four Buffalo.

Joe's Deli won the Chairman's Choice award in 2008 for their Muffaletta Sandwich. We see why. And their Mediterranean Hummus Wrap won a Healthy Choice award today. Great, fresh food

Find Joe's Deli at Hertel and Colvin, the former Mastman's Deli location. Joe Lyons is the owner. His wife Rachael Rossitto, a dentist, was graciously serving us today.

With all this food to taste, it helps to bring along some 'muscle.' My son, Michael, is extremely organized and is always in charge of the judging clipboard. We were happy to see that Cecelia's Ristorante won in the Best Vegetarian category for their Fried Ravioli with Red Sauce.

Here's a great find for us this year. It's the first time in the 'Taste' for Papi's Family Restaurant, 690 Hertel Avenue (right across from the Post Office). Owner Railley Betances is shown here with his nine year old daughter, Jessly, and the enthusiastic crew from Papi's. Everything they served tasted like award-winners- Roasted Pork, Spanish Rice with Green Peas, Chicken Empanadillas, and (non-alcoholic) Pina Colada Slushies.

Tom Muscarella is Chairman of the 2009 Taste of Buffalo. We caught up with him tending to any one of a thousand details he will tackle during this long weekend. Believe it or not, his day job is with the Erie County Health Department as Senior Public Health Sanitarian. Seems like the right man for this mission!

News Four's George Richert and Chief Meteorologist Don Paul joined me outside the Channel Four booth where visitors could spin the prize wheel for a dollar. All money raised goes to Gateway-Longview, Inc., serving the needs of local children and families.

By 3 p.m., most of the rain had passed, the sun made an appearance, and the streets were suddenly teeming with people. On with the Taste of Buffalo 2009!