Community Supports Project Self-Sufficiency at A Taste of Talent

More than 500 patrons poured through the doors of Perona Farms on Monday night to help support Project Self-Sufficiency at the 23rd 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 a silent auction curated by interior designer Holly George and participate in a raffle of exquisite jewelry and collectibles donated by J. Thomas Jewelers and agency Board Member Dolores Fernandez.  Honorary Chairperson Julie Killen and Honorary Culinary Chairperson Andre de Waal, Executive Chef, Andre’s Lakeside Dining, spearheaded the event.   Proceeds 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.”

This year, participating restaurants will include Perona Farms; Andre’s Lakeside Dining; 403 Broad; Between the Bread; Bistrot Leo; Black Forest Inn; Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse; Café e Dolci; Café Pierrot; Caffé NaVona; The Carriage House; The Chocolate Goat Gift Shoppe; The Clay Oven; Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream; Fenwick Catering & Events; Fossil Farms; Front Porch Organics; George’s Wine & Gourmet Gallery/Fran’s Farmhouse Kitchen; Gourmet Gallery; Hayek’s Market; The Hummingbird House; Hunter’s Lodge; Jesse Jones, Chef to the Stars; Krave Café & Caterers; Lake Mohawk Country Club; L’Amico NYC; Lorraine Cake Shop & Tea Room; Mama’s Café Baci; Mr. Crabby’s Craft Kitchen & Bar; North Shore House; Pattycakes Bake Shop; The Pasta Shop; Pies on Wheels; Portofino Ristorante; Ristorante Il Porto; Ryland Inn; St. Moritz Bar & Grill; Slamwich Scratch Kitchen; Stone Water; Springhouse Creamery; Sussex County Community College Culinary Institute; Tanti Baci Caffe; Texas Smoke Barbecue; Two Teaspoons Bakery & Cake Studio; Ventana’s Restaurant & Lounge; wheelHouse Kitchen & Bar; White Birch; Windy Brow Farms; Yetter’s Diner; and others.

Guests were also invited to stroll through the cavernous kitchen at Perona Farms and witness a cooking demonstration by Andre’s Lakeside Dining Executive Chef Andre de Waal who served as the Honorary Culinary Chairperson of this year’s event.   “We have been involved with A Taste of Talent for years, because It’s important to us to support the community,” commented de Waal. 

“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 Holly George, Andre de Waal, Kirk Avondoglio and all of the chefs 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; James and Dolores Fernandez; Beverly and Bruce Gordon; Hilary A. Kruce, Esq. and Vincent Signorile; Greg and Susan Murphy; The Honorable Lorraine Parker and Dr. Tim Parker; Selective Insurance Group, Inc.; and Rhoda and Norman Seider

The President’s Club was comprised of Friends of Project Self-Sufficiency; Franklin Mutual Insurance Co.; John Marchioni; and J.P. Perry, Henry O. Baker Insurance.

Partners included Denise Current, Stocker Bus Company, Inc.; Denville Line Painting, Inc.; Jay and Judy Dunn; Kathy and Lou Esposito; First Hope Bank; Joanne Friedman, Gallant Hope Farm; George’s Salvage Co., Inc.; Frances Gould Naftal and Marvin Naftal, Flatbrook Farm; Hudson Farm Foundation; Mark Maruksa, Gravity DesignWorks; The McNamara Family, Safety Scaffolds; Vince Perrella, The Printing Center; Ronetco Supermarkets, Inc.; and Robert Soldoveri, John L. and Grace P. Soldoveri Foundation.

Anniversary Celebrant-level donors were Larry and Mary Anne Condit; Julie Killen; Ellen and Arnold Lieber; Harold and Lois Pellow; and Thorlabs, Inc.

Supporters at the Patron level included Jim and Lana Ayers; Joe and Ronnie Biondo; William and Laura Cowan, Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating, Inc.; Mark and Karen Cummins; Paris and Virginia Eliades; First Energy Foundation; Gordon and Teri Gaudet; Hautau & Sons, LLC; Marie K. Hogarty; Janice Illingworth; David M. Inkeles, M.D.; Kevin and Susan Jenkins; Lakeland Bank; Ron and Jeri Lewandowski; Ron-Dee and Brian Lockwood; Linda and George Miller; James and Leslie Moore; Morris, Downing & Sherred, LLP; Chuck and Lora Musilli; Anonymous; Friends of PSS; Nisivoccia, LLC; Northern Rain Irrigation, LLC; the Nothstine Family; Diane and Basil O’Connor; Barbara O’Neill and Gene Bronson; Sylvia and Ronald Petillo; The Plifka Family Fund; John and Peggy Post; Kathryn Kaplan and Sal Sciascia; Smith-McCracken & Wood Funeral Homes; Sterling Financial Planning, Inc.; Paula Tarzian, in memory of Harry Tarzian; and Louis J. Weber & Associates, Inc.

Sponsors included Elise and Tom Adams; Dr. Pamela Alberto and Dr. Sung Cho; Jeanne and Martin Apryasz; Elenora L. Benz, Esq.; Marjorie Bresler; Jacqueline and Gregory Buckalew; Cardiology Associates of Sussex County; Caristia, Kulsar & Wade; Andrew and Sally Chernati; Brian and Beth Chrobock; Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream; Judge and Mrs. N. Peter Conforti; Marion and William Curcio; Dave and Cyn’s Epic Adventure; Ddb Contracting; MaryAnn and Phil Deacon, Deacon Homes Inc.; Delade Brothers Electric, Inc.; Robert “Mike” Dolan,Weichert Realtors, Hamburg; Eastern Logistics; Brian and Melissa Fagersten; Mark and Samantha Fagesten; Farmside Landscape & Design; Kirsten and Ralph Flaherty; Robert and Toni Fox; Freedom Business Machines, Inc.; Virginia and Ron Graves; The Hardware Store; Kathleen Huber; Russell C. Jones; Linda and Bruce Jorritsma; Kelly & Ward, LLC; KG Solar & Renewable Energy, LLC; A Friend of Project Self-Sufficiency; John Kweselait; Robert Levy, In Memory of Michael J. Holub; Brian and Leigh Lytwynec; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McGinn; Gail and Richard Miner; NMJ Properties, LLC; Jacqueline O’Donnell, Esq., O’Donnell Law Firm, LLC; Carl Ohlson and Melissa Bogert; Dr. James Porter, Adovcare Sussex County Pediatrics; SB One Bank; Sparta Trades Kitchen & Bath; Dr. Donato Stelluto, School Board Services, Inc.; Michael and Barbara Stieglitz; Ken and Cheryl Syberg; Dr. Richard Vaz; Sheila and Peter Ventricelli; Wellness Center Pediatrics, LLC; and Fred and Renee Zierold.

Music was provided by a variety of individuals and groups, including pianist Lou Andres; the Colofonia Ensemble; Meant to be Jazz Trio; cellists Rachel Kline and Aimee Nishimura; guitarist John Pachnos; the Pro Tempos; piano students of Elisa Schaffer; students from the Sparta High School Chamber Club; the Skylands Dulcimer String Band; the Sussex Brass Quintet; and the Sussex County Youth Orchestra.

Project Self-Sufficiency has improved the lives of low-income families residing in northwestern New Jersey for more than 30 years.  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.