Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Covering the best-known tasting event in Glen Cove has its perks. Here’s a list of must-try items we sampled at the 22nd annual Culinary Delights:
Pupusas from El Tazumal (6 Glen St.). Masa cakes stuffed with gooey cheese and flavorful stewed beans. Don’t skimp on the vinegar-based slaw and hot sauce that comes on the side for an added kick.
Pork buns from the Atria (146 Glen St.). Tender braised pork dressed with pickled veggies is both savory and crisp, in a soft, steamy bun.
Spring salad from Forest Ave Grill (170 Forest Ave.). A mix of baby arugula and spinach with mixed berries, mango salsa and cranberry goat cheese, finished with a tangy lime, olive oil and cilantro dressing.
Kombucha from AquaViTea, available at Rising Tide Natural Market (42 Forest Ave.). Refreshing fermented teas in a variety of fruity flavors. We recommend elderberry and strawberry sage.
Foodies from across the North Shore crowded the Glen Cove Mansion on Monday for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Culinary Delights event. For over 20 years, the chamber has brought together the best local restaurants, gourmet eateries, delicatessens, bakeries, chocolatiers, supermarkets, spirits purveyors and nutritionists, giving residents a chance to feast on the best food the community has to offer.
Walking through the gilded halls of the mansion during Culinary Delights is like being a kid in a candy store: It’s hard to know which treat to sample first. The air was sumptuously scented with flavors from all over the world, tempting taste buds even before guests took their first bites.
The evening’s offerings were varied and numerous — nearly 50 local eateries were represented. Diners were treated to freshly made salads from Forest Ave Grill, tuna tartare from the View, cheesy quesadillas from the Brass Rail in Locust Valley and tiramisu from St. Rocco’s Bakery.
The chamber created the event 22 years ago to promote its members and enhance the health and profitability of local businesses, explained Dr. Maxine Cappel Mayreis, who has chaired Culinary Delights for the past 15 years. “We appreciate the community coming to support the event and give their money to local businesses,” she said. “I thank the restaurants here. They just give of themselves, and without them we’d have a whole different character in our town.”
The event is more than a chance to delight in the culinary offerings the city has within and beyond its borders. A portion of the night’s proceeds benefited the North Shore Soup Kitchen and two Glen Cove High School seniors, who will receive scholarships from the chamber. “We’re like a big family here in Glen Cove,” Mayreis said, “and this event has only grown and marinated for all my life.”
City Councilwoman Pamela Panzenbeck — who is partial to the salads from Forest Ave — said the chamber’s hard work results in a wonderful community event that many residents look forward to. “This gives everyone here an opportunity to taste foods from all of our fabulous restaurants,” Panzenbeck said, “and hopefully the restaurants gain some business.”
Glen Cove Mayor Tim Tenke — who sampled a savory pupusa from El Tazumal — said the event offers a pure taste of everything the city has to offer. He also commended the chamber’s efforts. “They’re promoting their members,” he said, “and having one event that says, ‘You got to see what we have in Glen Cove’ is a great way to do it.”
“The local people showcase their wares to let the community know what’s available,” Mayreis said. The interaction between merchants and consumers helps residents better appreciate where their food comes from — and it helps the chefs, too.
Sharon Ellenbogen, the director of Culinary Services at the Atria in Glen Cove, said, “It’s a great way for us to focus on the techniques we can utilize, the creativity we have and the flavors we create to make our meals special for our residents, their families and visitors. It’s also fun to network and see what other restaurants are doing.”
The event was formerly held in the dining room of the Regency. Chamber members, Mayreis recalled, pushed the tables and chairs against the wall to make way for the vendors. And while the venue has changed — now spanning three large rooms at the Mansion — the event’s philosophy remains the same: “Eat until you explode, drink until you’re blind and go home happy,” she said.
The worldwide pandemic has threatened many of the businesses you rely on every day, but don’t let it take away your source for local news. Now more than ever, we need your help to ensure nothing but the best in hyperlocal community journalism comes straight to you. Consider supporting the Herald with a small donation. It can be a one-time, or a monthly contribution, to help ensure we’re here through this crisis. To donate or for more information, click here.
Sponsored content
Other items that may interest you