By Olena Borkowsky

The sound of searing grills and the smell of spices and seasonings wafted into the afternoon air. People crowded around enjoying all of the flavors, sampling a little bit of everything offered. While the attendees visited the different vendors, the bands Blue Oyster Cult and Gin Blossoms each played a live set off to the side.

Overcast skies did not stop many from attending the 22d annual “Taste of Boston,” this past weekend at City Hall Plaza. The event, a compilation of local restaurants, caterers and chefs, provided food samples to a mixture of students and families.

The diverse selection ranged from edible fruit and chocolate centerpieces to Swedish meatballs. Customers bought taste tickets for one dollar each to purchase the meals. Most meals cost two to five tickets.

A popular vendor was Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse, a restaurant with over 30 locations throughout New England. Their motto, “fresh flavors from the Canadian Rockies,” seemed to strike a chord with famished attendees, including freshman physical therapy major Annie Yingling, who felt the meal was worth the three-ticket splurge.

“The beef was well marinated and melted in my mouth,” she said. “The mushrooms were the perfect accompaniment to the sirloin and I was pleasantly surprised that no one flavor overpowered the others. The dining hall is good, but you can’t beat a restaurant steak.”

Another popular spot was the Mexican restaurant, Andale, which offered a vegetarian choice. Saut