The Taste of the South Shore 2026: A Night to Help Kids Grow

The 29th annual Taste of the South Shore brought our community together for an unforgettable culinary celebration, raising critical support to provide more kids the opportunity to grow in spirit, mind and body at the South Shore YMCA.

On May 6, 2026, the South Shore’s most talented chefs, bakers, and beverage masters gathered for one purpose: to help kids thrive. From fighting food insecurity to building confidence through sports, camps, and early learning, every “taste” and every “sip” fueled opportunity for families and youth who need it most.

“Our Y is a safe and vibrant reflection of our community where kids find role models, friendships, and they discover who they truly are,” said South Shore YMCA President and CEO Trevor Williams as he welcomed guests. “Every kid deserves to have that experience, whether their family can afford it or not.”

A Field House Transformed: A Mission on Full Display

Hosted in the Hale Family YMCA branch field house, which is normally alive with basketball, pickleball, table tennis, and indoor track runners, the space was transformed into a one-night-only showcase of local flavor and local impact.

Leaning into the 2026 theme of growth, the evening featured fresh vegetable centerpieces donated by Stop & Shop. In a perfect reflection of the Y’s mission, those vegetables were later donated to the food pantry to help feed families and children.

Throughout the night, nearly 750 guests mingled and sampled creative sips and tastes while moving through “impact towers,” where Y staff and volunteers shared how support fuels real outcomes, from the food pantry and farms to early learning, camps, and sports.

“So many kids need help to discover their full potential, which is why we are here tonight,” shared Kennedy Elsey of Mix 104.1, who served as host alongside longtime Y supporter and master of ceremonies, David Lombardo.

“The Y is a safe place for teens to share, to grow, to thrive,” she added. “These kids need our support now more than ever.”

“This is the best event on the South Shore, and this place feels like family to me,” said David Lombardo, capturing the spirit of the evening.

Over 30 Culinary Partners: One Shared Purpose

This year’s Taste featured over 30 participating chefs, bakers, and beverage masters, many of whom return year after year, forming friendships, camaraderie, and a deep commitment to the Y’s mission. Together, they donated their time and talent to create an event that is as joyful and personal as the cause it supports.

Chef Paul Wahlberg of Alma Nove reflected on that connection. “The Y means so much to me. I grew up as a Y kid… You never know where a kid’s life will take them if they have the support of the Y to start from.”

Participating partners included: Abby Park/Novara, Alba Restaurant Group, Alma Nove, Athletic Brewing, Bardo’s Bar Pizza, Bin Ends, Bluedrop Water, Bully Boy Distillers, Castle Island Brewing Co., EAT LOCAL, Fuji, Ironwood Hingham, Konditor Meister, Lavishly Dunn Catering, Levitate Backyard & Rexicana Surf Cantina, Lucca South Shore, Masons Steakhouse, Mayflower Brewing Company, Montilio’s Baking Company, Night Shift Brewing, Niveaux Patisserie, Off the Vine Catering, Osteria Vivo, Rumson’s Rum, Rustic Spirits, Salt Marsh Winery, Sangria Lady, Scarlet Oak Tavern, The Chef’s Table, Tilden Cocktails, Tosca, and Velo Vodka.

The Taste of the South Shore 2026 Winners:

The winners of the 2026 Taste of the South Shore brought bold flavor and unforgettable creativity to the forefront, earning top honors for their standout contributions to the night.

• Newcomer Bully Boy Distillers impressed with exceptional cocktails and took home the Top Sip award
• Niveaux Patisserie delighted guests with show-stopping confections to win Top Sweet
• Lavishly Dunn Catering captured the crowd’s attention and taste buds with a remarkable dish to win Top Taste.

An expert panel of judges, including Rachel Blumenthal (Boston Magazine), Jackie Cain (America’s Test Kitchen), and Sarah Blackburn (Edible Boston) was led by veteran judge Maria Allen (South Shore Home Life & Style), bringing exceptional credibility and discerning palates to the competition.

The Impact: Funds That Help Youth Thrive

The Taste of the South Shore 2026 raised over $400,000 to strengthen access to the Y for kids and families across our community, supporting:

• Financial assistance for membership, camps, and sports
• High-quality early learning and childcare in safe, licensed programs
• Community services like the food pantry and food-growing farm and garden programs that help fight food insecurity

For teens especially, the need is urgent. Over 50% of all teens who come to the Hale Family YMCA to connect, work out, swim, and play sports do so with the help of financial assistance.

At the President’s Club Reception, South Shore YMCA Board Chair Mike Mullin spoke to the community behind the impact. “This is a room full of leaders… leaders in the community who don’t just think about making a difference, they actually do it.”

Thank You for Helping Kids Grow

Trevor Williams offered a powerful reminder of what the Y makes possible. “Our Y is a safe and vibrant reflection of our community where kids find role models, friendships, and they discover who they truly are,” said Trevor. “Every kid deserves to have that experience, whether their family can afford it or not.”

See our Mission in Action

To see our mission in action and the impact your support has on kids’ lives through camp, food pantry, after-school programs and our Early Learning Centers, watch our Mission Moment videos below, which were shared at The Taste.

A Round of Applause

“The Taste” would not be possible without the generous support of the donors, committees, sponsors and partners. The South Shore YMCA is deeply grateful to the Host Committee, Planning Committee, Julie Ellis, David Lombardo, and Kennedy Elsey, whose dedication, creativity, and hard work brought this event to life. A special thank you goes to Seth Wereska and his team at Productive Media for their exceptional work in turning the Hale Family Y field house into a show-stopping setting that made the evening truly unforgettable.

“The Taste is the best party of the year,” said Trevor Williams. “Thank you all for showing up and making such a tremendous difference for kids. Because of you, more children will have a safe place to belong, a healthy place to grow, and the support to discover their full potential now and for years to come.”

For a full list of sponsors, committee members and partners, view the 2026 Taste of the South Shore Program Guide.