By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

Reaching for a plate, Cindy Doerfler paused to evaluate the spread of hors d'oeuvres stretched out in front of her.

"This is like the Food Network," she said.

A variety of cheese balls and dips covered the table, partnered with various crackers and pretzels.

For Doerfler and many others Tuesday night, dinner would last about two hours. Along with her friend, Jane Frenzl, she was setting out to visit several Main Street businesses as part of the fifth annual Taste of Downtown Hays.

Nearly 150 people braved cold temperatures and a light drizzle for the event, sampling a variety of appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks from 10 vendors competing for the title of "Most Tasteful Downtown Business."

Attendees were equipped with ballots and were asked to vote for their favorite at the end of the evening. The winning business, the Bakery Shop and Fox Pavilion, will receive the Golden Fork award.

Many businesses were repeat contestants, but it was the first time for Redz Design to participate.

The beauty salon offered samples of dips and cheese balls from downtown's Bildschon Haus, 1100 Main. Owner Kristina Pasek said she and other employees enjoyed attending last year's event so much they decided to host their own.

"We really enjoyed it and just thought it was kind of a nice way to get new people introduced to our salon that have never been here before," Pasek said.

Down the street, Cynthia Pfeifer was serving up homemade butternut squash bread with fruit spreads from Dwayne's Designs at her new business, Crystal Memories, 1008 Main.

The bread was a perfect ending to an honest mistake -- she had intended to plant spaghetti squash, but accidently purchased the wrong kind.

"I don't know what to do with butternut squash," Pfeifer said with a laugh. "I tried baking it, I tried barbecuing it. I tried everything."

The final result was an abundance of sweetly flavored bread, which was a big hit with visitors Tuesday. In fact, she even was selling it by the loaf.

"I tried to get the recipe out of her, but she wouldn't give it to me," Tom Kotch said. "So I'm going to have to experiment."

This year was Kotch's first time to attend the annual event. He and his wife, Pat, were making their way from west to east, pausing for quick bites along the way.

"The food right now has just been awesome," he said. "We both work during the day, and this is a great thing to go to and to see all the people."

"And to do early Christmas shopping," Pat Kotch added, hoisting a recently purchased gift.

A few blocks west, staff at Coffee Rules, 1011 Elm, also were celebrating a new beginning. Their flavor for the evening was freshly smoked brisket and pulled pork.

The dishes received rave reviews and soon will become a permanent addition. The business already has expanded well beyond coffee, also offering up a bar, wine-tasting events and burritos.

Customers often reminisce about the building's former occupant, a barbecue restaurant. Thus, it seemed appropriate for the business to expand yet again, General Manager Matthew Musgrove said.

A new chef also is on board. John M. Bird has been busy crafting recipes, including "super secret" marinades and barbecue sauces. Bird also was keeping busy Tuesday, serving samples of the meat as a way to introduce the business' new line.

"It's just to give people a taste of it; to give people something different," Musgrove said. "That's what the Taste of Downtown Hays event is about. It's about every business chipping in to have something unique about downtown Hays. And this is our contribution."