The Taste of the South Shore Goes Virtual to Feed our Community

The YMCA is an organization that inherently brings people together. For 24 years, the South Shore YMCA has gathered over 700 people together at Lombardo’s for its signature fundraiser, The Taste of the South Shore, a tasting event that assembles the best chefs in the area to raise money and help the Y serve the community.

In 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has prohibited large events and fundraisers such as “The Taste” from taking place in their traditional ways, dealing a major blow to charitable non-profit organizations like the South Shore Y who rely upon funds raised to sustain vital community programs and services such as the Y’s food pantry. The Y was forced to reimagine this popular fundraiser, and on Thursday, October 22, the Taste of the South Shore will be held virtually for the first time in its history. The event will support the Y’s mission to ensure that no one goes hungry on the South Shore as a result of the pandemic, while supporting favorite local restaurants, food and beverage companies.

“Right now, there’s a major need to support people on the edge of food insecurity,” said Paul Gorman, President & CEO of South Shore YMCA. “Since March, our South Shore YMCA Germantown Neighborhood Center food pantry has been operating at four times its normal capacity, distributing thousands of meals per week to local residents who may have lost jobs due to COVID-19, who are isolated, hungry and trying to feed themselves and their families.”

With the holidays and colder weather approaching, the South Shore Y is preparing to meet an expected increased need for food service assistance. Funds raised through the Taste of the South Shore support the food pantry as well as the Y’s holiday assistance program that brings holiday meals and gifts to neighbors and children in need.

“Through this event, our community will help ensure that our food pantry remains prepared and stocked,” added Gorman. “And we can give back to the local restaurants and partners who have supported us through the Taste of the South Shore event for 24 years.”

Billy Costa of KISS 108 FM and NESN’s Dining Playbook will emcee this year’s Taste, which will be headlined by the evening’s main event, a local celebrity chef team competition to create a meal out of ingredients found in a typical family refrigerator. David Lombardo of Lombardo’s in Randolph will act as host of the competition, which will be judged by legendary sportscaster and Quincy YMCA member, Bob Lobel, along with other local judges.

“We’re thrilled to support the event,” said Lombardo. “Restaurants and hospitality businesses like ours need help right now, and we always do what we can to support the Y and its mission. This event does both by raising funds for the Y while purchasing meals from local restaurants.”
Paul Wahlberg of Alma Nove and Wahlburgers in Hingham will be competing with other local favorite chefs Brian Houlihan of Eat Local, Taste newcomer Anthony Mazzotta of Lucca, Robin King of Restaurant Oro, Mark Ellis of The Chef’s Table, and 2019 Taste Winners Ming Cao and Jimmy Liang of the Fuji Group.

“This is our favorite event of the year,” said Wahlberg, “We are excited that the Y came up with a way to hold the event and make it entertaining.”

And what would the Taste be without the ability to taste great food and drink? In years past, restaurants donated food and beverages to support The Taste. This year, due to the financial strain that COVID-19 has had on the restaurant industry, The Taste now supports participating restaurants and food and beverage companies through the purchase of at-home Taste Dinner Boxes. Registration for The Taste includes Dinner box options with a three-course meal for two, complete with appetizers, dinner and desserts created by local restaurants, plus local craft beer and wine selections. Taste Dinner Boxes can be picked up at the Quincy Y, the Emilson Y in Hanover or The Chef’s Table in Marshfield on the day of the event for guests to enjoy a true “Taste” of the South Shore from home while enjoying the event remotely.

“We love the set-up of this year’s Taste event,” said Julie Ellis, owner of The Chef’s Table in Marshfield who took the idea for the Taste Dinner Box from her own catering business. “All charities call and asked us to donate all the time, but the South Shore Y was the only one that called us during COVID when we were struggling and said, ‘how can we help YOU?’ This event is so important to get all the restaurants together for one of our favorite annual events and do so in a way that helps our business, while helping the community.”
Throughout the event, Costa will announce the names of raffle winners for $50 and $100 gift certificates and “foodies and goodies” baskets from local restaurants, wineries and breweries. Multiple admission, sponsorship and donation levels are available online, with options to purchase extra Dinner Boxes, wine, beer and raffle tickets.

To explore registration options and to register for The Taste of the South Shore virtual event on October 22, 2020, visit www.ssymca.org/taste. For sponsorship opportunities and other information on the event, contact Mary Orne at morne@ssymca.org or 781-264-9453. Deadline to order Dinner Boxes is Friday, October 16, but you can purchase admission to the event and raffle tickets up until the event, and enjoy take-out from one of the participating restaurants.

 

Read More

Patriot Ledger
www.patriotledger.com/news/20201019/taste-of-south-shore-goes-virtual

Chamber of Commerce
web.southshorechamber.org/events/The-Taste-of-the-South-Shore-17219/details

Wicked Local
www.wickedlocal.com/news/20201019/taste-of-south-shore-goes-virtual

Patch
patch.com/massachusetts/quincy/calendar/event/20201022/913530/the-taste-of-the-south-shore-2020