Above and at front, a performance by The Mike Torres Band was among the highlights of the inaugural Taste of San Joaquin.

You really can't go wrong with a meatball and some Latin funk.

At least that's how it felt Oct. 11 at the inaugural Taste of San Joaquin in downtown Stockton. Organized by the Downtown Stockton Alliance and sponsored by 209Vibe, the event featured 17 restaurants serving samples of their fare as well as some great Latin and blues music.

Several of the restaurants brought their A game, most notably Jackson Rancheria's Lone Wolf (which offered cocnut-frief shrip), Papapavlo's (chicken and vegetables), Beach Hut Deli (serious huge sandwiches) and M&W Dutch Bakery (fudge brownies, among other goodies). Each serving cost $6 or less.

The 209Vibe stage, meanwhile, featured performances by Luvtaxi, Dezu, The Great Oglee Moglee Band and The Mike Torres Band. Dezu was impressive, bringing their energetic Latin ska sound to a diverse crowd.

But the musical highlight proved to be The Mike Torres Band. The Stockton group got the crowd up and dancing with covers of music by artists ranging from Santana to The Sugar Hill Gang.

Taste of San Joaquin is slated to become an annual event.

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