It’s a wrap! Taste of the South Shore 2020 Virtual Event a Success

Last night’s 24th annual Taste of the South Shore fundraiser looked nothing like it did in years past, but thanks to our incredible partners, donors, sponsors and guests, it was by all measures a huge success. 

Watch The Taste and relive the fun!

Grab a glass and watch The Taste 2020 main event.

President’s Club Cocktail Demonstration

To kick off The Taste of the South Shore 2020 virtual tasting and fundraising event, South Shore Y President & CEO, Paul Gorman, and event emcee Billy Costa of Kiss 108FM mix a signature cocktail from The Chef’s Table and raise a glass to a successful evening.

An event that typically takes place with 700 guests and over 25 restaurants gathered together in the Lombardo’s ballroom simply could not happen during the era of COVID-19, so the South Shore YMCA went virtual and brought The Taste to guests at home for the first time in its history. 

Over 200 guests and their families logged in and joined Billy Costa and South Shore YMCA President & CEO, Paul Gorman, to raise money to support the Y’s  food pantry and holiday assistance program. Guests watched through Zoom as David Lombardo and the team at Lombardo’s hosted local celebrity chefs in a fun, fast-paced cooking competition, where Chef Paul Wahlberg of Alma Nove and Chef Robin King of Restaurant Oro took home the prize of Best Dish Award.

Thanks to donors and supporters, the South Shore YMCA raised over $250,000 at this year’s Taste of the South Shore, which exceeded expectations for this first-ever, one-of-a-kind virtual event. 

“Our food pantry is seeing quadruple its normal usage due to COVID-19, and with cold winter days and the holidays ahead, we know the need will rise sharply,” said Gorman. “Thanks to the generous support we saw at The Taste, we can help feed more individuals who have lost jobs, more families and children, and deliver more meals to seniors in isolation. These donations will also make the holidays brighter for our neighbors, providing clothing, gifts, food, and toys to local families through our Holiday Assistance Program.”

Special thanks to judges Paula Rowe of Granite Print, Stan Blackmur of South Shore Magazine, Mark Olivieri of the Patriot Ledger, and legendary sportscaster and South Shore YMCA member, Bob Lobel, who graciously shared his story of the South Shore Y’s Partnership Program and the impact it has had on his life. 

A True Taste of the South Shore

Admission to the event included options for Taste Dinner Boxes for a true “taste” of the South Shore that could be enjoyed from home. The boxes included appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts for two, each prepared by different top participating chefs, caterers, and restaurants in our area, including Restaurant Oro, Abby Park, Alma Nove, Cheever Tavern, Eat Local (Galley, Trident, Tinkers Son, Bia Bistro, Restaurant Novara, The Greenside Grille Restaurant, Lucca South Shore, Fuji at WoC, Lavishly Dunn Catering, The Chef’s Table, Montilio’s Baking Company and Konditor Meister. Plus, wine or craft beer pairings from Bin Ends, Barrel House Z, Castle Island Brewing Co., Untold Brewing and Plymouth Bay Winery.

The Dinner Box was the brainchild of husband and wife caterers Mark and Julie Ellis, whose company The Chef’s Table has been creating and selling internationally-themed dinner boxes each week with curbside pickup and delivery. To order your own “travel box” from The Chef’s Table visit traveldinnerboxes.com to learn more.

“I am eternally grateful to our sponsors and donors for helping our Y during these extremely difficult days,” said Gorman. “We could not survive without your support, and your continued assistance and support today helps us strengthen our community now, and ensures that we will be here in the future.” 

To relive the event,  enjoy the photo gallery below, and please continue to support local restaurants by ordering curbside takeout and delivery from participating Taste partners.

PARTNERING RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE COMPANIES

EVENT SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

HOST COMMITTEE

Karen and Rob Hale | Alex and Davis Clark
Jack & Kathie McDonough | Dan & Heidi Russel
Jeff & Lynne Rosen | Suzanne Stefany & Chris Bodnar

BRONZE SPONSORS