LIVINGSTON, NJ — Showcasing the diverse restaurants of the Livingston area, the 13th annual Livingston Sunrise Rotary Food Tasting on Monday at Livingston’s Westminster Hotel will once again benefit Rotary Charities and Saint Barnabas Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
On Monday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., a silent auction, tricky tray, and live auction on a number of items will accompany the many local restaurants that have provided food and drink for this event. In addition to the 35 food vendors, there will also be 38 tricky tray baskets to be raffled off as well as a pair of signed Alex Rodriquez shoes, which the baseball player wore specifically for training.
“This is the Livingston Sunrise Rotary’s largest fundraiser of the year and it has grown over the past 12 years to the extravagant food and wine tasting that it has become,” said Rotary member Monte Ehrenkranz. “We look forward to hearing from Nyla Edwards, Miss Pre-Teen NJ, who was a patient of the NICU when she was born.”
According to member Scott Maynard, the Rotary knew from the beginning that it would need a major annual fundraiser for a specific project. The Rotary chose the NICU as the recipient of their efforts because it is one of the top five NICUs in the country.
“We’ve given over $1 million to the neonatal unit since we’ve been doing this,” said Maynard. “It’s become a very well-known project that we’re continuing.”
With the first Rotary Duck Race this summer, the Rotary added a second major annual fundraising project, providing funds for several different charities.
Maynard said the Rotary expects more than 350 people to attend Monday’s event. Tickets are available for $80 each at the door or at one of the following locations: Coldwell Banker Realtors; Haven Savings Bank; Investors Bank; Jan Press Photomedia; Livingston Chiropractic; PIP Printing; Regal Bank; and Keller William.
The following restaurants will be represented at the 2016 food and wine tasting:
1) Anthony's Coal Fired
2) Baked Boquet
3) Boon Thai
4) Calabrias
5) Chef Sean Wilson
6) Coco Bella
7) Culinary /concepts
8) Dinosaur BBQ
9) Don Jose Mexican
10) Aru Sushi
11) Eppes Essen
12) Fan Bistro
13) Figenza Vodka
14) Godfather
15) Grato
16) Greek Taverna
17) Hakata Ramen
18) Jersey Spirits Distillery
19) Livingston Bagel
20) Lithos
21) Maize
22) Mark & Julie's Ice Cream
23) Neros
23) Olive Garden
24) Panevino
25) Pan & Grill
26) Porto by Antonio
27) Ritz Diner
28) Sedexo
29) Senoritas
30) Strip House
31) Super Duper Bagels
32) Tabor Road Tavern
33) The Landmark
34) Tutto Fresco
35) Wine Legend
For more information, call Monte Ehrenkranz at 973-767-0600 or visit www.livingstonrotary.com.
