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s e r v i n g m i d va l l e y & u p pe r l ac k awa n n a va l l e y thevalleyadvantage.com | nov. 4, 2016
The Daraja Childen’s Choir of Africa performs in Dickson City |PaGe 2
Valley View’s cheerleading squad has wrapped up its season |PaGe 8
A local business has made a donation to the Greater Scranton YMCA |PaGe 22
Have a TasTe!
The Carbondale Chamber throws a flavorful bash
by Christopher Cornell
ADVAntAGe eDitor
The Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce will present its fourth annual Our Taste of the Town event on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2 to 5 p.m. in the Carbondale Grand Hotel and Conference Center, 25 S. Main St. in Carbondale. It will feature live cooking demonstrations with Chef Robert Miller of Plate d’Azure, pastry Chef Debbie Travos of Little Nikki’s at the Ben Mar and a special seasonal cocktail with mixologist Chanel and Heather of the Carbondale Grand Hotel. As the event’s name suggests, a wide variety of samplings from eateries, confectioners, wineries and breweries will be on hand. Attendees will have an chance to win a trip for two to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York City. Taste of the Town was originally the brainchild of the women’s auxillary of Marian Community Hospital and when the hospital was no more, so was the event. “The auxillary did this many years, and did a phenomenal job,” chamber executive director Laure Carlo said. “In 2013, I became executive director and the Grand Hotel was on the cusp of opening, I thought it would be a great idea to bring back this community event.
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Carlo did not use a complex process in selecting Chef Miller to appear at the event. “No. 1, he is a chef and No. 2, I enjoy his restaurant, Plate d’Azure, which is on Main St. in Carbondale directly across the street from the Carbondale Grand Hotel,” she said. “Chef Miller not only serves breakfast and lunch but he really pulls out all the stops with his dinner menu on Friday and Saturday evenings.” Miller came to the Carbondale area from Philadelphia, were he spent much of his career working in various intimate and fine dining establishments. He’ll be preparing a winter squash rissotto. Carlo said pastry chef Debbie Travis was chosen because of her fabulous desserts that she serves at Little Nikki’s at the Ben Mar, on Main Street directly across from the Greater Carbondale YMCA. “Debbie’s more than 20 years of experience at local establishments and her attention to detail brings out the decadence of all her desserts,” Carlo said. Travis will be preparing a tiramisu. Mixologists Chanel Conrad and Heather Cianflone “are both skilled at mixing cocktails and other drinks,” Carlo said, adding that in their time at the Grand Hotel, they’ve get various requests from a standard dry martini to creating signature seasonal drinks, — such as the apple spice martini they’ll be mixing up at the event. Among the other area companies taking part are: Ambers (in the Grand Hotel), BANKO Beverage, Beer Guy Pizza, Capra Collina Winery, Chocolate
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From left: Chanel Conrad, Chef Robert Miller, and Heather Cianflone.
Creations, Crystal Pines Restaurant, Elegante Restaurant & Pizzeria, Foliage Chinese Restaurant, Little Nikki’s at the Ben Mar, Lucchi Wine Cellar, McDonalds, PersoNellized Cakes & Cafe, Pettinato’s Restaurant, Stephen Pendrak Winery, Weiss Market and Around the World Travel, who’ll be arranging that trip to Radio City for the lucky winners. There’s also a serious side to the event: partial proceeds will go to the Womens Resource Center (WRC). “The reason I chose the WRC for this year’s nonprofit is due to the respect I have for executive director Peg Ruddy,”
Carlo said. “She manages a team of compassionate and specially trained advocates, lawyers, counselors and professionals who work tirelessly and fervently to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault gain their personal and financial independence.” Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 on the day of event, and are available by calling available by calling 570-282-1690. Sponsors of the event include Grimm Construction, The Anthracite, Gentex Corporation, Wayne Memorial Hospital, New York Life, Community Bank NA, The Carbondale Grand Hotel and Price Insurance.