The streets of Gorham came to life on Sunday afternoon as hundreds of people treated their palates and learned a little something about the town during the first annual Gorham Taste Walk.

People walked through the village streets stopping to taste the dishes that 10 local eateries displayed during the two-hour event that showcased food ranging from mocha freezes to pumpkin ravioli in a sage cream sauce.

The event, however, wasn’t just about the food. It was also about showing people what Gorham had to offer.

“It really gives us a chance to get a good look at downtown,” said Jan Robinson, who has lived in Gorham with her husband Jim for 10 years. “It’s a great community and a lot of these places we haven’t been to.”

Gorham Diner, Gorham House of Pizza, University of Southern Maine, Treehouse Cafe, Amato’s, Gorham Grind, Mr. Bagel, Hannaford, Lucky Thai and Sebago Brewing Co. each offered an item of food from their menus.

“It’s an in expensive way to spend our 29th wedding anniversary,” said Janet Kuech of Gorham, who was enjoying the walk with her husband Robert. “The timing was perfect for us.”

While the official head count and money raised for the Gorham Educational Foundation, Gorham High School Key Club, Gorham Community Endowment and the library from the $5 tickets was not available by the American Journal’s Tuesday deadline, Matt Mattingly, owner of PineCrest Bed and Breakfast and the event’s organizer, said most of the eateries reported that between 250 and 350 people stopped by to sample their food.

“I heard a lot of people say that they had always wanted to try this or that, but never found the time to do it,” Mattingly said. “While I don’t know the official numbers yet, I do think it was a success and we will do it again next year.”

Mattingly said the idea developed when the Gorham Summer Festival folded after a 12-year run. He said the walk would re-introduce people to restaurants, cafes and shops in the village.

That’s exactly what the event did, said Brad Monarch, owner of Sebago Brewing Co., which entered its wild mushroom ravioli.

“It’s building local awareness,” he said. “It also gives us a chance to turn people on to our signature food that they might not have known existed.”

Michel Salvaggio, who owns Treehouse Cafe on 29 School St., with his brothers Angelo and Marco, said a lot of people were surprised that the cafe offered a full menu of specialty sandwiches.

“A lot of them didn’t realize that we really weren’t a cafe but a deli,” Salvaggio said. “Now they know we’re here and they can tell more people about what we have to offer.”

The Treehouse Cafe also won the Golden Spoon, which was awarded based on participant votes for the best dish served that day. The cafe served the Poppy Deal, a sandwich with sweet poppy seed dressing drizzled over breaded chicken breast, with red peppers and Asiago cheese on foccachia.

When the walk ended, the festivities continued at PineCrest for the first annual musical festival on the inn’s lawn.

The day also featured a bakeoff, won by Susan Robie, who entered a blueberry cake.

Gorham savors first taste walk