Win Two Tickets to A Taste of Talent

Northwestern New Jersey’s premier culinary fundraising event, A Taste of Talent, will be held at Perona Farms on behalf of Project Self-Sufficiency on Monday, May 1^st, beginning at 6:00 p.m.  In addition to feasting on samples of appetizers, entrees and desserts from more than 40 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.  The highest bidder will take home the contents of the entire table.  The theme of this year’s event is “Life is Sweet.”  Organizers are inviting area residents to submit a brief essay of 200 words or less, describing why their life is sweet; the winner will receive two tickets to the event.  Essays should be submitted to Project Self-Sufficiency, 127 Mill Street, Newton, New Jersey, 07860 or sent by email to pss@projectselfsufficiency.org.  Entries must be received by April 24^th in order to be eligible for consideration. 

“A Taste of Talent” benefits 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 - $30,000, and a limited number of individual tickets are available at a cost of $200.  Stations from more than 40 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 new Perona Farms greenhouse as well as the facility’s cavernous kitchen.  A cooking demonstration will be given by Perona Farms Executive Chef Kirk Avondoglio.  

Participating restaurants from the previous year included Perona Farms; Abril Cocina; Alice’s Restaurant; Andre’s Restaurant; Barrel House; Bistro 46; Black Forest Inn; Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse; Boro Hotel; Café Pierrot; Caffe NaVona; Casa Capri/Villa Capri; Charlito’s Cocina; The Chatterbox Drive In; Chef Jesse Jones; The Chocolate Goat Gift Shoppe; The Clay Oven; Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream; Debragga, New York’s Butcher; Emma Restaurant; Fossil Farms; George’s Wine & Gourmet Gallery; Gourmet Gallery; Hayek’s Market; Hummingbird House; Krave Café & Caterers; Orchard Beer Garden; Pattycakes; Pies on Wheels; Pig & Prince Restaurant & Gastro Lounge; PLATES World Cuisine; Restaurant Latour; Restaurant Triomphe; Ristorante Il Porto; Riviera Maya; Salt Gastro Pub; South + Pine American Eatery; Springhouse Dairy & Creamery; St. Moritz Grill & Bar; Stonewood Tavern; Tanti Baci Caffe; Upstream Grille; and wheelHouse Craft Kitchen & Bar.

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; and Jacky Murphey, Victory Frame Shop. 

“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.  “Funds raised by A Taste of Talent make it possible for Project Self-Sufficiency to provide the programs and services necessary for families in northwestern New Jersey to attain economic self-sufficiency.  We continue to be humbled by the support we receive from the restaurateurs and designers in our area.  A Taste of Talent presents a unique opportunity for people to reach out and help their neighbors as they navigate the road to a better life for themselves and for their families.”

As usual, music will be an integral part of A Taste of Talent, with ensembles and soloists set up in every room at Perona Farms.  The Meant to be Jazz trio will be joined by Katie and Andrew Van Varick; the Sussex Trio, made up of Gary Kraemer, Larry Supp, and Michael De Maio; three string ensembles from the Sparta High School; harpist Patti Spyer; the Skylands Dulcimer String Band; two students from the Bill Wright School of Music; the Sussex Brass Quintet; and pianist Elisa Schaffer and several of her students.

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 25,000 families.

Select donation categories are available for A Taste of Talent, ranging from $500 - $30,000.  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, visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org or call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500.  Essays must be submitted by April 24^th to pss@projectselfsufficiency.org or mailed to Project Self-Sufficiency, 127 Mill Street, Newton, NJ  07860.