New Events, Record Number of Restaurants Highlight!
26TH ANNUAL TASTE OF COLLIER
April 20, 2009 – NAPLES, FLA. – If there ever was a time to save your calories for an afternoon of feasting, that day would be Sunday, May 3. It’s the 26th Annual Taste of Collier, a long-standing Naples tradition that this year brings a record 35 restaurants together in one spot to showcase their culinary craft. The afternoon of food and fun is from Noon – 4 p.m. at Bayfront, located at the corner of Goodlette-Frank Road and Fifth Avenue South. Free parking is available at the former Grand Central Station site.
“We made a few changes this year for the event. We’re featuring Chef Demonstrations throughout the afternoon. Mayor Barnett will be at the event to conduct a live auction of this year’s artwork by Nora Butler, which will be mounted on canvas,” said Ray Singer, Event Chairman. “Of course we’ll have the ice carving demonstrations and plenty of live music, so it will once again be a great afternoon of family-friendly fun.”
Admission is $5 per person, and children 5 and under are free. Food tastings are priced from $2 to $5 and proceeds will benefit the Collier County Chapter of the American Red Cross, St. Matthew’s House and area culinary/hospitality scholarships.
This year’s Platinum Sponsors include: Orion Bank, Sweetbay Supermarket, American Laser Center, Saturn of Naples and Benseron POS Systems. Gold Sponsors are: Bob 102.9 FM, Mix 104.7, Gator Country 101.9, 98.9 FM WGUF, Gulfshore Business, Gulfshore Life, Naples Daily News, Naples Bay Resort, explorenaples.com, Mona Lisa Graphic Design, Talent! The Agency of Choice, and WordPlay, Inc.
“We are especially pleased to be a sponsor every year for this event,” said Anita Tynski, Vice President, Orion Bank. “It’s a worthwhile, community-oriented event with something for everyone to enjoy.”
This year, a record 35 restaurants will offer samples of menu favorites: Bella Maria, Bianchi’s, Bonefish Grill, The Capital Grille,Costco Bakery, Dish at Hotel Escalante, Emack and Bolio’s, Fernandez the Bull, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, Foxboro Sports Tavern, The Greek Gourmet, HB’s on The Gulf, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Jet’s Pizza, The Keg Steakhouse Bar & Grill, Long John Silvers, M Waterfront Grille, McCormick & Schmick’s, Miller’s Naples Ale House, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Olio on the Bay, P.J. Skinny’s, Pinchers Crab Shack, Planet Smoothie, The Pub at Strada Place, Roy’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Sam Sneads Tavern, Shark’s Cavern, SMH Catering, Stoney’s Steakhouse, Tavern on the Bay, Tropical Ice, UFood Grill and ZiZi Restaurant.
With such a variety of participating restaurants, expect a sumptuous selection of treats, including: boneless chicken wings, baby back ribs, tacos, burritos, nachos, hurricane salad, roasted garlic purple mashed potatoes with Cajun shrimp, grilled chicken Caesar chicken salad shaker, a walking taco, crab and spinach dip, mozzarella caprese, sliced filet with cippolini onions and fig essence, lobster mac` n cheese, Maryland style crab cakes, Kobe burgers, cheeseburger sliders, Fenway franks, lobster salad slider, lollipop single bone lamb, seared scallops, lobster bisque and Southwest ribeye with black bean salsa.
Save room for dessert, including: chocolate hazelnut mousse, Mediterranean monster smoothie, chocolate raspberry mousse cup, Captain Jack’s buried treasure ice cream cake and baklava.
Additional information is available at tasteofcollier.org.
|
