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Thirty-eight restaurants, bakeries, wine and coffee shops from West Seattle and White Center set up tables and served scrumptious samples of their best stuff Thursday night at the Hall at Fauntleroy. The occasion was the annual Taste of West Seattle to benefit the West Seattle Helpline. Read about them here.

Since 1989 the Helpline has been offering financial aid and referral advice that can save residents from homelessness, hopelessness, and hunger. They are located at 6516 35th Avenue SW, # 204. (206) 932-4357.

Patrons were given slips at the entrance to vote on their favorite offering. And, as the cliche goes, most seemed to believe they were all winners, but Spring Hill Northwest, located north of the Alaska Junction, came in first place for their sliders. Second place had a three way tie, Blackboard Bistro, Fresh Bistro, and The Bridge.

Terry Burns of Gatewood volunteered near the door, is on the West Seattle Helpline board. "We sometimes overlap with the West Seattle Food Bank. These economic times have put a lot more people in jeopardy of utility shut-offs and not being able to pay rent."

Anna Fern is the outgoing director of the West Seattle Helpline. "This is a beautiful night, very exciting."

Tara Byrne is the incoming director, and grew up close to the Alaska Junction. "I start June first. I just finished a Masters degree in non-profit leadership from Seattle University. I spent time last year in Guatemala with a non-profit, and also did Teach For America and worked in Central L.A. I love West Seattle and feel great because I just got engaged and my fiance and I are buying a house in West Seattle."

"This is one of the better events in West Seattle," said Dave Montour of West 5. "We've been doing this for five or six years. We just love to see this growing. It's good for the West Seattle Helpline. We just love doing this. It's great energy today. It's a beautiful weather outside. I think we've got a record number of participating restaurants and record attendance. We're serving the famous West 5 Astro Mac and Cheese and our mai tai which is a wonderful drink. Come on in and have one."

"I'm wounded by that wing," said Jack Miller of the Husky Deli, who just ate a spicy Wing Dome wing. "It was really hot, but it was good. But it was really hot." His face turned red. He and Husky Deli have participated since the first Taste.

"This was a lot of fun," said Inaam Khazaal at the event's conclusion. She has the Phoenecia on Alki and was assisted by here daughter, Sonya. "This is our first time with this, I'll do it next time. I got a lot of hugs and kisses today." She said she served 600 pieces of pita bread and four tubs of hummus, three pounds per tub.