Celebrating 24th Annual Taste of Hampton Roads

G N I T A R B E L CE

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S D A O R N O T P M A H OF

For 24 years, Taste of Hampton Roads has taken a ‘bite out of hunger’

RAMONE PHOTOGRAPHY/RAMONE PHOTOGRAPHY/HOWARD RODMAN

Dear Friends: FOR THOSE WHO ATTENDED the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore’s 24th Annual Taste of Hampton Roads event on March 5, we thank you for your support. It was a great evening!

Through your partnership for the 2013 event, we can provide more than 603,000 meals to those struggling with hunger in our community.

We couldn’t have taken a “bite out of hunger” without you.

The evening was filled with great food from 30 favorite area restaurants, an iron chef-style competition, a great casino experience, musical entertainment and amazing décor. The “Farm to Fork” theme of the

evening was evident in fabulous local foods featured by our restaurants as well as the secret ingredient used in the iron chef-style competition.

As we gear up for our 25th annual Taste of Hampton Roads in 2014, we hope that you will join us once again for an incredible evening.

If you missed the event this year, we invite you to join us next year and help us provide much-needed meals to those who are hungry in Southeastern Virginia and on the Eastern Shore.

Again, thank you for your investment in our mission to lead the effort to eliminate hunger in our community.

Together, we can solve hunger.

Sincerely, Kenneth J. Thomas, President, Board of Directors Joanne E. Batson, Chief Executive Officer

Foodbank is big winner when local chefs hash it out

HOWARD RODMAN/RAMONE PHOTOGRAPHY/HOWARD RODMAN

Savor the moment

BY LORRAINE EATON

The Virginian-Pilot staff epicure

What were they doing with those sweet potatoes? Just as the timer started ticking, local Foodbank Iron Chef competitors accepted burlap sacks of sweet potatoes and got to chopping, mashing, dicing and dredging.

Sweet potatoes were the mystery ingredient at this year’s Taste of Hampton Roads – that annual, ballroom-sized smorgasbord to benefit the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia.

Competing chefs from four local restaurants got right to work, spinning a pantry of local ingredients into an amazing variety of dishes.

In no time flat, knives were down and the food was presented to judges, (including lucky me!).

Mannino’s Italian Bistro turned the sweet potatoes into gnocchi and served them alongside pan-seared duck breast, warm caramelized fennel and bacon vinaigrette, all set off with a perfect

sweet potato chip.

Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas turned out Rockfish Queen Elizabeth, flaky seared rockfish over Surryano ham with sweet potato hash, sweet potato beurre blanc and vanilla-saffron cream sauce. The dish was crowned with a tangle of sweet potato frites.

The Whole Foods chefs went another direction, creating a Thai red curry dish with sweet potatoes, tofu and green beans over brown rice.

And Passion: The Restaurant presented a plate of pretzel-encrusted rockfish topped with sauteed arugula and a Dijon tarragon butter sauce, with a side of sweet potato-pecan gnocchi.

A tough field to judge, for sure.

And the winner was … Chef Michael Farrell from Still in Portsmouth. Congratulations!

Meanwhile, more than 30 eateries and culinary schools competed in a separate ballroom on the first floor of the downtown Norfolk Marriott for a constellation of honors.

A version of this article first appeared in The Virginian-Pilot.

VIP RECEPTION PARTNERS Presenting Partner Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc. Culinary Presenting Partner Morrison Healthcare Foodservice Media Partner Inside Business

THE WINNERS • Chefs’ Choice Distinctive Gourmet • Most Memorable Brand Sweetwater Cuisine • Best Dessert Art Institute of Virginia Beach • Most Artistic Culinary Presentation Fin Seafood • Most Unique Taste Atlantic Shores Retirement Community • People’s Choice Mannino’s Italian Bistro But the night’s biggest winner Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. Proceeds will provide more than 603,000 meals to those struggling with hunger.

A taste of this year’s event and years gone by

Tradition FOR NEARLY A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia’s Taste of Hampton Roads event has provided funds for the purchase of food to help feed the hungry in our community. As we gear up to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2014, we would like to share our fond memories of your support that has taken place on this one special night each year for the past 24 years.

Thank you for your continued partnership and helping us lead the effort to eliminate hunger in our community. Together, we can solve hunger.

2013 TASTE OF HAMPTON ROADS CULINARY PARTNERS 80/20 burger bar Art Institute of Virginia Beach Atlantic Shores Retirement Community Bardo Carolina Cupcakery Culinary Institute of Virginia Distinctive Gourmet The Exclusive Caterer of the Virginia Beach Convention Center Fresh Events by Farm Fresh FIN Seafood Freemason Abbey Restaurant Gosport Tavern Incredible Edibles Bakery Mallards at the Wharf Mannino’s Italian Bistro Mona Lisa’s Pizza Ocean View Nawab Indian Cuisine Norfolk Catering Company Norfolk Coffee & Tea Co. Passion The Restaurant Rajput Indian Cuisine Shula’s 347 Grill Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas Swan Terrace Sweetwater Cuisine The Chesapeake Bay Catering Company Tidewater Community College - The Culinary Arts Department TradeWinds Restaurant Unique Sweets & Accessories Whole Foods Market Wicker’s Crab Pot Seafood

Beverage vendors Associated Distributors Hoffman Beverage William Grant & Sons Pepsi Products

In-kind partners

It takes a lot of support to put on an event like this

Bon Appetit

Astro Entertainment ESI - Electronic Systems Inc. Astro Entertainment Gourmand

RAMONE PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOS

Creative Impressions Distinctive Event Rentals Dunmar Exhibit Services Pepsi Beverages Co. Foodie

True dedication

BY MARIANNE SMITH VARGAS

Chief Philanthropy Officer, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore

Lights-camera-action! Just like on a movie set, the presentation of an event sets the stage for the guests’ experience. One may ask how you transform an elegant hotel ballroom into an atmosphere resembling a farm where you can share a story of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore’s work to procure local fresh produce and foods. Enter the event professionals and the antique tractor.

The International Special Events Society, known as ISES, partnering together with independent event businesses, committed to the mission of leading the effort to eliminate hunger in our community. Debbie Mergi, corporate outreach manager for the foodbank, was responsible for producing the Taste of Hampton Roads event.

“It all begins as we share our concept and they find the most creative, exciting ways to tell the story,” Mergi said. “Their services come from every aspect of the industry – rental supplies, floral designers, ice sculptors, food service equipment, props, audio-visual, designers, specialty entertainers, vintage rentals, draping, graphic artist, printers, coordinators, photographers, special effect lighting and many more.”

The Hampton Roads Chapter of ISES was founded by Kelly Coronel, who is now serving as the Northeast Region Vice President for ISES International. Coronel took the lead in

designing the Taste of Hampton Roads 2013 presentation.

“ISES chapters around the country typically choose one charitable organization in their area to support,” Coronel said. “We believe in giving back to our community.

“The foodbank helps feed people who have difficulty feeding themselves. In current times, I think we all have realized that at any time any one of us may need the services of this organization – you just don’t know.”

Tom Johnson, president of the Hampton Roads Chapter of ISES, supported this year’s event.

“Using our talents and resources to ultimately help feed the hungry is very important,” Johnson said. “We are delighted to support this important organization and make an impact.”

“As the 24th consecutive year of our Taste of Hampton Roads event closes, we know we could not have provided the record number of meals generated by this year’s event without the support of all these generous and talented individuals,” said Marianne Smith Vargas, chief philanthropy officer of the foodbank. “We realize that our event shines brightly among others hosted in the region because they make it memorable. This sentiment was expressed by many who attended.”

The foodbank’s board of directors, staff and customers thank the many vendors and volunteers who made the 24th Annual Taste of Hampton Roads one to remember.

They encourage all in the community to support the businesses listed at right as they support the foodbank.

Bloom the Art of Flowers Crest Foodservice Equipment Inspired Events

by Kelly Ramone Photography Studio River Design Vintage Furniture Rentals Stage Right Lighting The Board Walk Photo Booth Co. The Bridal Dish Verizon Wireless Foodbank Friends

Alsco Howard Rodman Photography Nauticus Panera Bread Donations

Cabot Creamery Cooperative Ice Art Quail Cove Farms Inc. Wingfield Farm Inc.

Thank you Taste 2013 Partners for your support

Presenting Partner

Facility Partner

Epicurean Partners

Media Partners

VIP Reception Partners

Connoisseur Partners Bon Appetit Partners

Gourmand Partners

Elizabeth River Crossings First Potomac Realty Trust Harris Teeter, Inc. TowneBank

Bank of Hampton Roads Food Lion KRAFT Foods

Marketing Partners Red Chalk Studios Sauce Designs

Culinary Partners Best Ink Store Credit Management Advisory Services, LLC (CMAS) Diane Hill, Bank of America Grand Furniture HDM Associates Norfolk Truck Center Old Dominion University Office of Community Engagement Retail Alliance Sam’s Club - Taylor Road Sam’s Club - VA Beach Blvd Williams Mullen

Foodie Partners ABNB Federal Credit Union Alpha Dog Marketing, Inc. Applied Management Engineering Associated Distributors Fulton Bank Hoffman Beverage Independence Construction Co. of VA Payday Payroll, Inc. QVC ServiceLink LoanCare Servicing STIHL

Foodbank Friends Beach Eye Care Dr. Richard Manolio & Ms. Karen Fritz Ellie and Paul Lipkin Langley Federal Credit Union Old Point National Bank - Corporate Landing Old Point National Bank - Hampton Unilever Lipton Waypoint Advisors

SAVE THE DATE!

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Virginia Beach Convention Center March 4, 2014 •

Together, we can solve hunger

BECOME A PARTNER -

opportunities begin at $500 \HDUV RI KHOSLQJ RXU F RPPXQLW\

Visit us online at

TasteofHamptonRoads.org or call (757) 314-4554 and join us in the fight against hunger