ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — With lots of great antiques to view, a silent auction that featured something for both Alabama and War Eagle fans, and a Chinese raffle filled with interesting items to bid on while the band “Cool Change” played almost made you forget the main attraction — the food.

More than 30 restaurants, caterers and food vendors were offering the hungry crowd tastes of what they offer their patrons through the year. There was plenty for everyone, and some visitors didn’t make it all the way around the food vendors that formed a rectangle in the center of the Baldwin County Coliseum July 23.

“This is our fourth year,” said Darlene Vice of Robertsdale’s Hickory House BBQ restaurant.

“We really enjoy the event and there’s always good attendance,” Vice said as she set up the beef brisket and pulled pork the restaurant would be serving from its table.

For Lisa Bates of Sandra’s Place the chicken salad was paramount.

“We’re known for our chicken salad,” she said, adding that this was the second year the Fairhope restaurant has participated in the annual event.

“Its a commitment to the community,” said Bates.

And for those who commented, that the event seemed “bigger” than last year’s, you were right.

“This was our best Flavors of the South to date. We had more food vendors with a greater variety of foods to sample, and more attendance from the Baldwin County community. The band was terrific, the atmosphere was lively and the food was just plain delicious,” said Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marion Mason in an e-mail. “Flavors” is a fundraiser for the organization.

Peggy Graham was watching the Vitolli’s Pizza booth for her daughter and son-in-law. She was also keeping an eye on some kitchen accessories, a cutting board, sifter and rolling pin, that once belonged to her grandmother.

“They started their own business two years ago,” she said. “Everything is homemade.”

Avery Lowery, 12, a student at Central Baldwin Middle School, was spotted as his family placed bids on various items at the “Silent Auction.”

“The food was really good,” Lowery said as he watched the crowd, He said he especially liked the pulled pork that was offered.

For Rita Hardy of Robertsdale, whose son, Jamie Hardy, is the chairman of the CBCC,. the “food has been great.” She singled out Ivey’s Fine Dining and their shrimp and bread pudding as one of the high points of the evening. She liked the food at all the booths, but with 2-year-old Ansley bouncing in her lap, that’s all she could remember at the time.

“The idea is that people can have a taste of what our vendors offer and patronize them,” said Mason.

Here are the vendors who made “Flavors” possible: Budweiser, Buffalo Rock, Burris Farm Market, Cain’s Hurricane Market, Coca-Cola, Domino’s Pizza, Farm Fresh Meats, Gulf Distributing, Hickory House BBQ, Hub City Seafood, International Wines, Ivey’s, Johnson Brothers, Julwin’s, Katy’s Catering, Kentwood, M& J Wines, Magnolia Blossom Cafe, Mama Lou’s, Mary Ann’s, Olivia’s, PaPa’s Place, Pepsi, Perdido Vineyards, Rousso’s, Sandra’s Place, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, Stagecoach Cafe, Stapleton Catering, Vitolli’s, Waters Corner, and Winn Dixie.