Community Supports Project Self-Sufficiency at A Taste of Talent

Hundreds of patrons poured through the doors of Perona Farms on Monday night to help support Project Self-Sufficiency at the 22nd annual A Taste of Talent, a fundraising event which offered guests the opportunity to sample appetizers, entrees and desserts from more than 50 area restaurants while mingling with the chefs.  Patrons were also invited to bid on Tiffany’s-themed tabletop creations of several local designers.  Proceeds from the event benefited Project Self-Sufficiency’s programs for low-income families in Sussex, Warren, and Hunterdon counties. 

Beverly Gordon, President of Project Self-Sufficiency’s Board of Directors, remarked, “We would not be able to offer this event year after year without the unwavering dedication of the restaurateurs and chefs in our community.  We continue to be indebted to them for their enthusiastic participation and creativity.”

Participating restaurants included Perona Farms; Andre’s Restaurant & Lakeside Dining; The Barrel House; Beebe’s; Between the Bread; Bistrot Leo; Black Forest Inn; Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse; Café Pierrot; Caffe NaVona; The Carriage House; The Chatterbox Drive In; The Chocolate Goat Gift Shoppe; The Clay Oven; Cliff’s Ice Cream; The Committed Pig; DeBragga, New York’s Butcher; Ellias; Felina Restaurant; Forager’s Market & Table; Fossil Farms; Front Porch Organics; George’s Wine & Gourmet Gallery/ Fran’s Farmhouse Kitchen; Gourmet Gallery; Hayek’s Market; Hudson Valley Foie Gras; The Inn at Mill Race Pond; Jesse Jones, Chef to the Stars; Krave Café & Caterers; L’Amico NYC; Lorraine’s Cake Shoppe & Tea Room; Mama’s Café Baci; Milk Street Distillery; The Pasta Shop; Pattycakes Bake Shop; Pearson’s Crawdaddy’s; Pig & Prince; Ristorante il Porto; Ken Salmon Catering; Tim Schafer “The Brew Chef” North Carolina; South + Pine; Springhouse Creamery; St. Moritz Grill & Bar; Stone Water; Tanti Baci Caffe; Texas Smokehouse BBQ; Town Bar & Kitchen; and wheelhouse Craft Kitchen + Bar.

Guests were also invited to stroll through the cavernous kitchen at Perona Farms and witness a cooking demonstration by Caffe NaVona President and Executive Chef Marco De Filippis who served as the Culinary Chairperson of this year’s event.   “It’s important to support A Taste of Talent because it benefits a great cause,” remarked De Filippis, “Helping women and families in need is a cause close to my heart.”

The entryway at Perona Farms was transformed into a showcase featuring the wares of local designers, including Patricia Bruterri, Sweet P.E.A.’s; Holly George, Holly George Interior Design; Jacky Murphey, Victory Frame Shop; and Alicia Shearer, Alicia Shearer Interior Design.  Patrons bid on table designs which featured place settings for eight, art objects, and decorative items designed to highlight the event’s theme, “Dinner at Tiffany’s.” All items were sold at a Silent Auction, with the proceeds benefiting Project Self-Sufficiency.

“A Taste of Talent directly benefits our Sussex County neighbors in need, and is the cornerstone to our annual campaign,” noted Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.  “We are exceptionally grateful for the time, talent and resources provided by the chefs and the designers who have contributed to this event year after year, and to the entire community for their support of our programs for low-income families.”

Supporters of the event donated funds at several levels, ranging from individual tickets priced at $200 to contributions of $25,000.  Those sponsors who pledged at the Silver Circle level included Francesca Fazzolari, James Alexander Corporation; Dolores and Jim Fernandez; Beverly and Bruce Gordon; Hilary A. Kruce, Esquire, and Vincent Signorile; Greg and Sue Murphy; The Honorable Lorraine and Dr. Tim Parker; Selective Insurance Company of America; and Rhoda and Norman Seider.

Those who pledged their support at the Chairman’s Table level were Friends of Project Self-Sufficiency and Don Williams.

The President’s Club was comprised of Franklin Mutual Insurance Company, John Marchioni, and J.P. Perry, Henry O. Baker Insurance.

Partners included Denise Current, Stocker Bus Company; Jay and Judy Dunn; Kathy and Lou Esposito; First Hope Bank; Joanne Friedman, Gallant Hope Farm; George’s Salvage Company, Inc.; Frances Gould Naftal and Marvin Naftal, Flatbrook Farm; Hudson Farm Foundation; Mark Maruska, Gravity DesignWorks; the McNamara Family; Luke Olenowski, Sr., Denville Line Painting, Inc.; Vince Perella, The Printing Center; Ronetco Supermarkets, Inc.; and the Soldoveri Foundation.

Anniversary Celebrant-level donors included Larry and Mary Ann Condit; Janney, Montgomery, Scott; RonDee and Brian Lockwood; Elsie J. Lorber; Harold and Lois Pellow; Thorlabs, Inc.; and John P. and Gemma White.

Supporters at the Patron level included Caristia, Kulsar & Wade; Mark and Karen Cummins; Paris and Virginia Eliades; Friends of Project Self-Sufficiency; Gordon and Teri Gaudet; Janet Gusman, Gilbert Tweed International; Hautau & Sons, LLC; David Inkeles, MD; Kevin and Susie Jenkins; Keystone Plastics, Inc.; Julie Killen; Lakeland Bank; James and Leslie Moore; Chuck and Lora Musilli; Newton Medical Center; Nisivoccia, LLC; the Nothstine Family; Diane and Basil O’Connor; and Barbara O’Neill and Gene Bronson; Sylvia and Ronald Petillo; John and Peggy Post; Smith-McCracken Funeral Homes; Sparwick Contracting, Inc.; Salvatore Sciascia and Kathryn Kaplan; Dr. Donald Stelluto, School Board Services, Inc.; Paula Tarzan, in Fond Memory of My Young Friend, Allyson Boolbol; and Bill and Laura Cowan, Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating, Inc.

Sponsors included Elise and Thomas Adams; Dr. Pamela Alberto and Dr. Sung Cho; Martin and Jeanne Apryasz; Lana and Jim Ayers; Steven Bartow; Diane Berry and Ron Yaniero; Marjorie Bresler; Anonymous; Christian Canzoniero, M.D.; Cliff’s Ice Cream; Judge and Mrs. N. Peter Conforti; Deacon Homes, Inc.; Delade Brothers Electric, Inc.; Robert Mike Dolan, Weichert, Hamburg; Farmside Landscape and Design, Inc.; Robert and Antonia Fox; Freedom Business Machines, Inc,; The Hardware Store; Kathleen Huber; Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Huber; Janice Illingworth; Linda and Bruce Jorritsma; Pat and John Kennedy; Brian and Leigh Lytwynec; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McGinn; Linda and George Miller; Gail and Richard Miner; Bill Moynihan; Kathy and Tom Nauta; Nmj Properties, Inc.; Northern Rain Irrigation, LLC; Carl Ohlson; Senator and Mrs. Steven Oroho; County Clerk Jeff Parrott and Lisa Parrott; Dr. James Porter, Advocare Sussex County Pediatrics; Carolyn Proulx; Susan Stark; Sterling Financial Planning; Kenneth E. Syberg; Louise VanderHaeghen; Dr. Richard Vaz; Sheila and Peter Ventricelli; Rich and Faith Vohden; Wood Funeral Home; Steve and Tracey Woodhead; and Fred and Renee Zierold.

Music was provided by a variety of individuals and groups, including the Joan Kiedes and Christopher Notarnicola, Colofonia Ensemble; Meant to be Jazz Trio; cellists Aimee Nishimura and Tina Kehoe; the North Warren Jazz Ensemble; harpists Merinda Meresca and Katie Pachnos; the Pro Tempos; piano students of Elisa Schaffer; students from the Sparta High School Strings program; the Skylands Dulcimer String Band; and the Sussex Brass Quintet.

Project Self-Sufficiency is celebrating its thirtieth year of 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 through the achievement of personal and economic self-sufficiency and family stability.  Since 1986 Project Self-Sufficiency has served more than 25,000 families.  To make a contribution to Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.