TRUCKEE, Calif. – This October will offer locals and visitors a new reason to explore Truckee’s evolving dining scene as the community launches its first monthlong restaurant promotion.

Taste of Truckee, a joint effort between Visit Truckee Tahoe and the Truckee Chamber of Commerce, will run Oct. 1-31, bringing together restaurants throughout the community with special menus, signature dishes and food-and-drink pairings.

“We’re trying to keep all of these reasonably priced and focusing on both getting our residents to enjoy our restaurants during slow time as well as bringing new visitors to the area,” said Jessica Penman, President and CEO of the Truckee Chamber of Commerce.

Restaurants have three options for participating. A tasting “Experience” menu which features a three-course, fixed-price meal; the “Taste of Truckee” offering a signature value item; and the “Pour & Taste” pairs a signature drink with a dish.

The format was developed after the Truckee Chamber surveyed restaurants in March about whether they would participate in a restaurant month, when it should be held and what types of promotions would work best.

That feedback helped organizers settle on October and create options flexible enough to include businesses ranging from coffee shops and breakfast spots to higher-end restaurants.

The flexibility was important because Truckee’s dining scene extends well beyond traditional dinner restaurants. Organizers estimate there are more than 80 restaurant-type businesses in Truckee and Northstar, a number they believe may surprise even longtime residents.

Part of the challenge, organizers said, is getting residents out of their usual dining routines. Taste of Truckee is intended to give people an incentive to try a restaurant they may have overlooked or one they previously considered outside their price range. The array of offers could provide all types of restaurant-goers a more accessible introduction.

The event also comes as Truckee’s food scene continues to evolve. While the community has long had its share of pizza and burger restaurants, organizers pointed to a growing variety of dining options, new restaurants and changing ownership as evidence of a broader culinary scene.

They also hope Taste of Truckee creates a stronger connection between diners and the local entrepreneurs behind the restaurants. Many restaurant owners live in the community, employ local workers and operate businesses that can be particularly vulnerable during Truckee’s shoulder seasons when visitor traffic slows, and supporting those businesses is an important part of the event.

In addition to the opportunity of introducing diners to some less obvious choices and experiences, Taste of Truckee will include incentives designed to encourage both visitors and residents to participate.

Visitors who stay two nights in Truckee during October can receive a $100 Sustainable Truckee gift card. The cards can be used at more than 70 participating retail, food and beverage, guide and service businesses around town.

Diners can also participate in a digital passport program without downloading an app where participants register with their name and email and can check in during Taste of Truckee by uploading a photo from a participating restaurant.

Each check-in provides an entry into a weekly drawing for a $100 Sustainable Truckee gift card. The more restaurants and Taste of Truckee experiences a person checks into, the more opportunities they have to win.

The digital passport will serve another purpose: helping Visit Truckee Tahoe and the Chamber determine whether the inaugural event worked.

“With our lodging discounts we’re able to see how many people convert and see if we’re driving overnight visitation in real demand,” said Jackie Calvert, Executive Director of Visit Truckee-Tahoe. “On top of that we wanted to make it really easy for people to discover the deals but also understand how many people checked into each restaurant and help our partners understand what really moved the needle.”

There are also less-tangible measures of success.

From the Chamber’s perspective, one goal is simply changing the conversation about dining locally by getting more residents talking about restaurants, trying unfamiliar places and consciously choosing to support local businesses during a slower time of year.

Organizers hope Taste of Truckee eventually becomes an annual event and could grow to include signature events highlighting the restaurant community.

For the inaugural year, organizers have been working toward approximately 30 participating restaurants and said they were nearing that goal ahead of the October launch. Restaurants can still join after the month begins, although later participants may not be included in printed promotional materials.

Ultimately, Taste of Truckee is as much about discovery as it is discounts – an invitation for residents and visitors to look beyond their regular favorites and see just how much Truckee’s restaurant scene has to offer.

For more information about the event, visit the VTT website at visittruckeetahoe.com/taste-of-truckee or if wanting to participate, call Penman at the Truckee Chamber at 530-587-2757.