Another Successful “Savor the Flavors” Serves Up Scholarship Support

This year's Savor the Flavors was another success, raising funds for student scholarships.

Approximately 200 hungry attendees recently enjoyed the signature dishes of some of the finest Island restaurants at the Second Annual “Savor the Flavors” event in the Center for the Arts Atrium on the campus of the College of Staten Island (CSI).

Proceeds from the event, hosted by the CSI Alumni Association with co-sponsors Con Edison, Liberty Mutual, and National Grid, will be used to provide crucial funding for student scholarships at the College.

“Savor the Flavors” not only gave those on hand a chance to taste some amazing cuisine, beverages, and desserts, but guest Celebrity Chefs Rob Burmeister and John Sierp, from the Food Network’s Chopped, also added to the fun by choosing the winners for Best Dish and Best Dessert.

Winners included Celebrate at Snug Harbor (First Place, Best Dish), The Beer Garden (Second Place, Best Dish), Venezia (Third Place, Best Dish), Cake Chef (First Place, Best Dessert), and Cookie Jar (Second Place, Best Dessert). The attendees awarded People’s Choice honors to Da Noi.

In addition to the awards, there were also raffle prizes, including an Italian food basket from Colavita, NuWorld Beauty cosmetics baskets, and a color NOOK eReader from the CSI Alumni Association, and music, which was donated and provided by Alumni Board Member Robert Ferone ‘86, of PartyHostDJs.com.

The fundraiser event was chaired by James McBratney ’05, CSI Alumni Board Member and President of the Staten Island Restaurant and Tavern Association, and was also made possible through the hard work of about 50 CSI student volunteers.

Participating restaurants, whose generous donation of food charmed the palates of the guests, included: Afternoones, Alfonso’s, Angelina’s Ristorante, Arirang, Bayou, The Beer Garden, Bocelli, Bridge Tavern, Pasticceria Bruno, Cake Chef, Cookie Jar, Canlon’s Restaurant, Celebrate at Snug Harbor, Da Noi, Dosa Garden, España Restaurant, Jimmy Max (Westerleigh & Great Kills), Joe Mozz Gourmet Shop, Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn, La Candela Española, The Lake Club, Manor Restaurant, Mother Mousse, Nucci’s (North & South), Paesano’s Pizzeria, Oriental Plaza, Park Café, Pepperjack Grill, R. Ippolito Distributing (specialty beers), San Rasa Sri Lankan Cuisine, South Fin Grill, Venezia, The Vanderbilt, and Vino Divino (wines).

After the event, Barbara Eshoo, CSI Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Affairs, commented, “We are most grateful to everyone who made this event a success again this year–the sponsors, the Alumni Association, the student volunteers, and the restaurants who graciously donated their food. Now that people have had the chance to sample these wonderful dishes, I hope that they return the favor by patronizing these establishments.”