“A Taste of Talent” will be held at Perona Farms on behalf of Project
Self-Sufficiency on Monday, April 7th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. In addition to sampling hors d’oeuvres,
entrees and desserts from 34 area restaurants, patrons will be invited to bid
on table arrangements created by several local designers. Each table may contain place settings for
eight, art objects, and decorative items designed to spotlight popular
television programs. The highest bidder
will take home the contents of the entire table. Now in its 18th year, “A Taste of
Talent”, will benefit Project Self-Sufficiency, a local non-profit agency
specializing in services for low-income families in Sussex, Warren and
Hunterdon counties. Sponsorships for the
event range from $500 - $25,000, and a limited number of individual tickets are
available at a cost of $200.
Stations from 34 of the area’s finest restaurants will be placed
throughout Perona Farms, allowing patrons to meet and mingle with the chefs
while sampling some of their most renowned dishes. Guests will be invited to stroll through the
cavernous kitchen at Perona Farms and witness a cooking demonstration by Executive
Chef Kirk Avondoglio.
Project Self-Sufficiency Leadership Council member Lois Pellow and her
husband, Harold, will be serving as Honorary Chairperson of the 2014 A Taste of
Talent. Lois notes, “I have been
involved with Project Self-Sufficiency since the beginning, because I thought
it was such an outstanding idea to help women and children who needed specialized
assistance. It’s a grass root project
that grew and grew until it became what it is today. It’s a wonderful organization and I don’t get
involved with anything unless I think it’s worthwhile! A Taste of Talent gives you a chance to
sample food from different restaurants, which is wonderful.”
Pete Freund, owner of Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream, will be volunteering as
the Culinary Chairperson for this year’s event.
“A Taste of Talent is a wonderful experience, it’s a wonderful cause. You get some of the best people in the food
and restaurant business gathered in one location for an evening.”
Participating restaurants will include Perona Farms; A Chocolate Lab;
Alice’s Restaurant; Andre’s Restaurant & Wine Boutique; Black Forest Inn;
George Mandakas III, Blue Olive Market; Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse; Café
Pierrot; Caffe Navona; The Chatterbox Drive In; The Chocolate Goat Gift Shoppe;
Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream; Uwe Toedter, Faculty House, Columbia University; De
Bragga & Spitler; Forno Italiano; Fossil Farms; George’s Wine & Gourmet
Gallery; Hayek’s Market; The Inn at Mill Race Pond; Jesse Jones Cuisine
Catering; Ken Salmon Catering; Krave Café & Caterers; Main Street Grille;
Mosefund Farm; Pizza Bistro; Ristorante Il Porto; Riviera Maya Mexican
Restaurant; Ryland Inn; Salt Gastro Pub; Salt Studio; Springhouse Creamery,
LLC; Tante Baci Caffe; Triomphe Restaurant; and Charles Ventre.
“A Taste of Talent is our signature fundraising event and the cornerstone
of our annual campaign,” noted Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of
Project Self-Sufficiency. “We are
delighted by the support we continue to receive from the restaurateurs and
designers in our area. Project Self-Sufficiency is in need of the
community’s support now more than ever. Due
to the current economic situation, there has been a dramatic increase in the
number of low-income families requesting assistance. ‘A Taste of Talent’ provides a unique
opportunity for people to reach out and help their neighbors at this difficult
time.”
Esteemed local designers who will be participating in “A Taste of Talent”
include Patricia Bruterri, Sweet P.E.A.’s; Alicia Shearer, Alicia Shearer
Interior Design; Holly George, Holly George Interior Design; Jacky Murphey,
Victory Frame Shop; Melissa Bogert, Iroquois Antiques; Debbie Devenney; and
Honey Smith. Table designs will feature
items associated with the television programs Downton Abbey, Fantasy Island,
Keeping Up Appearances, Mad Men, and Project Runway.
As usual, music will be an integral part of A Taste of Talent, with
ensembles and soloists set up in just about every room at Perona Farms. The “Meant to be Jazz” trio will perform
throughout the evening, along with musical siblings Katie and Andrew Van Varick,
and musical artists Carol and Gary Kraemer.
Project Self-Sufficiency is a private non-profit community-based
organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income families residing
in northwestern New Jersey. The agency’s
mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and
comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents,
two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to improve their lives and the
lives of their children while achieving personal and economic self-sufficiency
and family stability. Since 1986 Project
Self-Sufficiency has served more than 19,500 families, including over 30,000
children.
Select donation categories are available for “A Taste of Talent,” ranging
from $500 - $25,000. A limited number of
tickets for individual donations are available at a cost of $200. Perona Farms is located at 350 Andover-Sparta
Road in Andover. To make a contribution
to Project Self-Sufficiency, to obtain tickets to “A Taste of Talent,” or to
find out more information about the programs and services available at the
agency, call 973-940-3500.
