Culinary Delights set for Sept. 30

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For the 11th straight year, the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce is hosting Culinary Delights, a food tasting fundraiser that will benefit five local charities.


The event will be at the Carltun on the Park, in Eisenhower Park, on Monday, Sept. 30 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. About 30 businesses will be showcasing their food and drink specialties, and attendees can wine and dine as they wish, traveling from room to room for tastings, or walk along the gardens and listen to music.

The fundraiser aims to highlight local restaurants, bakeries, confectioners, and wine and beer distributors. The businesses hail from throughout Nassau County, with a large portion from East Meadow. Event proceeds will be distributed to the Nassau University Medical Center Pediatric Department, the Nassau-Suffolk Autism Society of America, the NY District Kiwanis Foundation Kamp Kiwanis, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and EPIC Long Island.

The fundraiser began in 2003 when Chamber member and past president Janine Kelly attended a similar event in Glen Cove. She brought the idea to then-Chamber president Alan Hodish, and about a month later, the first Culinary Delights was held in the Industry Night Club In Levittown, formerly known as the Shy Lounge, and raised funds exclusively for the NUMC.

It’s grown ever since, boasting between 300 and 400 attendees annually. It has been at the Carltun on the Park for the last four years, and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for various charities. “It’s been very successful over the years,” said Dolores Rome, the current president of the Chamber.

Tickets are $50 per person. The event will also comprise raffles, door prizes and a Chinese Auction. Those interested in attending can contact event chairpersons Adrian Campodonico at (516) 458-4241 or Will Miranda at (516) 581-2232.

The event, said Rome, is advantageous to the business owners, who get to promote their finest cuisines to the public, and equally beneficial to the community, who can enjoy a night of fine food while donating to charity. “What we always say is ‘shop locally,’” said Rome. “This is one stop shopping.”

Tickets are available at three locations: Taste of Home Bakery and Sweet Shop on 1992 North Jerusalem Road in Bellmore, East Meadow Florist at 2326 Hempstead Turnpike, and the Empress Diner, at 2490 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow.

Business owners who have a commitment on Sept. 30 but still want to be involved can donate a basket for the raffle, by creating or ordering one from East Meadow Florist. Anyone interested in sponsoring the event can call the East Meadow Chamber at (516) 794-3727.

Food and drinks will be showcased by:

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