Taste of Boca

Dear Editor,

This year's Taste of Boca Grande was a huge success in spite of inclement weather! Thanks to the ticket sell-out and the generous support from our sponsors, we will present a check for $ 37,600 to Harry Chapin Food Bank of Fort Myers. The delightful evening of food, fun, fellowship and charity has been an island event for seven years.

The beautiful facilities of the Boca Bay Pass Club, the lawn by the Gulf venue, their attentive wait staff all made the event possible. Our thanks to the capable management of Terry Bisset and his staff.

We thank our sponsors, Wynn Dixie Supermarkets, Italiano Insurance, Key Agency, McHugh-Porter Builders. Our sponsorship thanks also go to Coral Creek Club, Gasparilla Properties, Grande Aire, Rotary of Cape Haze, Safety Harbor Builders, Gulf-to-Bay Sotheby Realtors, Wachovia Bank, as well as to BRC Group, Gasparilla Pools, Parsley Baldwin Realty and Pirate Coast Magazine. Without their financial support, the Taste could not be the success that it is. We are also indebted to B n'T Liquors for their generous supply of liquors, to the Gasparilla Gazette for publicity and their restaurant brochure, and to Thoroughbred Golf Carts for their valet services. We could not have managed the cars without parking space, granted to us by the Gasparilla Island Park Service. Wines were supplied by Terry Seitz, Inc., Stacole Fine Wines, Augustan Wine Imports and Premier Beverage, purveyors to the Pass Club. Thank you all.

By their commitment to quality food and service, these fifteen restaurants were the gastronomic focal point of the evening: Boca Bay Pass Club, Boca Grande Banking Co., Boca Grande Club, Coral Creek, Eagle Bar and Grill, Farlow's on the Water, The Gasparilla Inn & Club, The Loose Caboose Restaurant, The Palmetto Grill, The Pink Elephant, PJ's Seagrille, Prime Time Steak and Spirits, South Beach Restaurant, The Temptation Restaurant and The Grapevine.

Thanks to you, our patrons, who attended this charitable event. The Taste of Boca makes a difference to our hungry and less fortunate neighbors.

Sincerely,

The Taste Committee

Nick Kaiser, Thor Johnson, Kathy Hawken and Brian Corcoran