A Taste of Talent features extraordinary cuisine, eclectic music all in the name of charity

By Laurie Gordon
ANDOVER — Perona Farms opened its doors for Project Self-Sufficiency's annual A Taste of Talent fundraiser on Monday, May 2. They didn't just open the front door: they opened the side door, the back door and even the doors to their kitchen. “Taste,” as it's affectionately called, brings restaurateurs and caterers from all over the tri-state area to the venue where guests can mingle, hear some fantastic music and sample, sample, sample all in the name of raising funds for a vital charity.
This year's chairwoman and chairman were The Hoorable Lorraine Parker, JAD and her husband, Dr. Tim Parker.
Judge Parker has been involved with Project Self-Sufficiency since 1992 when she helped develop the agency's pro-se legal assistance program which pairs professionals with those who need assistance with completing paperwork for family court situations.
“While I was on the bench, we formed a committee,” Judge Parker said, “It set up the program using students from Seton Hall Law School as interns. The whole situation arose when I sat in family court and it became obvious that mostly women appeared without attorneys while their husbands had the check books. We wanted to get them what they were entitled to .. they needed assistance.”
Since then, Judge Parker has been very involved in Project Self-Sufficiency as has her husband who she said enjoys volunteering at the Holiday Toy Shop and a number of other projects.
In the role of chairs for "Taste," the Parkers made a lot of phone calls and reached out to as many people as they could to let them know about the fundraiser.
“So many people know about it but so many do not,” Judge Parker said. “It was a sell out again this year, so we did our job.”
During the event, the Judge enjoyed meeting people, and tasting all of the treats. She said, “If you weren't there, you missed out on the best event of the year. I've been involved in a number of Project Self-Sufficiency events over the years and I never cease to be amazed at the work this agency does and the people it reaches.”
“A Taste of Talent directly benefits our Sussex County neighbors in need, and is the cornerstone to our annual campaign,” said Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency. “We are exceptionally grateful for the time, talent and resources provided by the chefs and the designers who have contributed to this event year after year, and to the entire community for their support of our programs for low-income families.”
As food was served and wine poured, guests mingled among the food stations, each manned by a different cuisine-oriented business. Participating restaurants included Perona Farms, Alice’s, Andre’s Restaurant, The Barrel House, Between the Bread, Black Forest Inn, Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, Café Pierrot, The Carriage House, Casa Capri/ Villa Capri, Casa Mia, The Chatterbox Drive-In, The Chocolate Goat, The Clay Oven, Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream, De Bragga, New York’s Butcher, Dominick’s Italian Restaurant, Fossil Farms, Fran’s Farmhouse Kitchen, Front Porch Organics, George’s Wine & Spirits Gallery, Gourmet Gallery, Hayek’s Market, The Inn at Millrace Pond, Chef Jesse Jones, Krave Café & Caterers, Mama’s Café Baci, Milk Street Distillery, Pattycakes Bake Shop, Pies on Wheels, Ristorante Il Porto, Riviera Maya, Salt Gastro Pub, South + Pine American Eatery, Springhouse Dairy & Creamery, St. Moritz Grill & Bar, Stonewood Tavern, Tanti Baci Caffe, Texas Smokehouse Barbecue, Upstream Grille and WheelHouse Craft Kitchen + Bar.
Music was provided by a variety of individuals and groups, including the Meant to Be Jazz Ensemble, Glenn Merritt, Alan Hayes, Joe Guerra and Pete Omelio; Gary Kraemer, Michael De Maio, and Larry Supp; students from the Sparta High School Strings program, Buddy Al-Aydi, Brent Bloomgren, Cameron Ekeman, Amanda Friesen, Nicole Kwan, Sam Mathusek, Jack McGovern, Lucille Mure, Alex Poret and Jacob Seder; Katie and Andrew Van Varick; Raphael Krause and John Pachnos, from the Bill Wright School of Music; harpist Patti Spyer; the Skylands Dulcimer String Band; Elisa Schaffer and her voice and piano students, Michelle Handrich, Emma Kimble, Avia and Maris Van Pelt, Sophie Wierzbicki, and Katie Williver; and the Sussex Brass Quintet, Christian Arnold, Jim Robinson, Kevin Shinall and Harold Woods.
Wiliver, a seventh grader at Kittatinny Middle School, sang three solos during the evening. “She was a little nervous, but practiced over the weekend,” said her mother Cheryl Wiliver. “Katie is one of those kids who is most comfortable in a room full of people.”
Chris Arnold, one of the members of the Sussex Brass Quintet, said, “This is our first year hear and it's wonderful.” The group is embarking on its wedding and special event season and enjoyed playing at Taste. The Quintet performed outside Perona Farms' side door next to where Pies on Wheels' Davin Britten was busily preparing samples of various items they feature on their food truck.
Inside, the rooms were filled with food and music. Alice's Restaurant was featuring a bar-be-que pulled pork over a specially prepared rice salad. Michelle Craig, the restaurant's Director of Special Events, said, “We've been coming for a few years and it's a great event. The charity is a really fantastic one and it's very nice of Perona Farms to offer the space.” Alice's Restaurant is owned by the same people who own The Windlass, on Lake Hopatcong, and Hopatcong Cruises.
When it came to dessert, there were plenty of goodies starting with a candy bar as guests entered. The owners are sisters Stephanie and Jennifer Koza, and they said they've been in business for 18 years and coming to Taste for 15 of them. “We love it and thees so much here,” Stephanie Koza said. “The other great part is we get to see people from other culinary businesses who we really only get to mingle with once a year. It's a real fellowship.”
Usually unseen by guests, Taste incorporated Perona Farms' kitchen. Guests could see the inner sanctums of the restaurant and in the kitchen observe a cooking demonstration and hear a great band.
Patrons were also invited to bid on the tabletop creations of several local designers. Proceeds from the event benefited Project Self-Sufficiency’s programs for low-income families in Sussex, Warren, and Hunterdon counties.
Project Self-Sufficiency is a private non-profit community-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income families residing in northwestern New Jersey. The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to improve their lives and the lives of their children while achieving personal and economic self-sufficiency and family stability. Since 1986 Project Self-Sufficiency has served more than 25,000 families. To make a contribution to Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.