I have a confession to make. Except for work, I actually rarely make the trek down to Suffolk.

Now, that still means I’m in the city five days a week. But the distance is just far enough for me to need a good reason to come down here. Blame the skyrocketing cost of gas or the fact that I’m attempting to lengthen the life of my car by not putting unnecessary miles on it.

Unfortunately this means that I don’t get to enjoy everything the city has to offer as much as I would like. And with all the unique food, shows and special events Suffolk has to offer, that’s a shame. But there’s one event in particular that I won’t be missing this year. It’s an event I’ve managed to miss every year by simply not being in the state. But not this year. This year, I will be partaking in all the delicious sights, smells — and especially tastes — this city has to offer. And it will all be in one area of downtown.

That’s right, folks: Taste of Suffolk is back, and it’s time to prepare yourself and your bellies for the culinary treats the creative chefs of Suffolk will be offering. And let’s not forget the musical entertainment, car show and variety of vendors that will be gathering on Main Street and Finney Avenue.

The problem with Suffolk is that the many eateries the city has to offer are far-flung, with the exception of a few clustered in downtown. This means that sampling their fares takes a bit of commitment, especially if you live across the city — or in my case, across a river and city lines — from them. So while I’ve consumed more than my fair share of jerk chicken from Jammin’ Jerk and carne asada tacos from Rosa’s Coffee Cantina, I haven’t been able to explore the offerings of such intriguing restaurants as Broken Egg Bistro or Al Forno Pizzeria.

But at Taste of Suffolk, you can sample locavore specialties from Harper’s Table, soul food from N’Dulge and finish it off with Italian ice from U3C, all in one meal. And then you can go back for a whole new set of food from other great restaurants without criss-crossing the city. And the offerings can be had at minimal pricing, meaning you can sample foods you might otherwise have been unable to try due to cost.

But the event doesn’t stop there. From watching people cry through the jalapeño-eating contest to dancing to the tunes of ‘80s-themed band The Deloreans, there’s something for everyone.

Don’t miss this event. Not only will you support Suffolk, you’ll support the incredible food culture the city has been developing. And your stomach will thank you for it.