El Gran Valle Restaurant, at 323 State Street, earned the first place trophy in the coveted Best Taste category. Shown the photo are Norui and Neuky Fernandez, who own and manage the El Gran Valle. In the background are the team from Torres Café and students from Middlesex County Vocational High School at Perth Amboy. The school’s culinary arts students received the second place trophy for Best Taste.
*Photo by Bob Rinklin for the Perth Amboy Business Improvement District (BID)

Celebrates City’s Spirit and Raises Funds for YMCA’s Homeless Services

Press Release 10/19/18

PERTH AMBOY – The positive spirit of Perth Amboy flowed through the more than 350 people who attended the City’s most successful Taste event on October 18. This is a record turnout for The Taste.

Local chefs, their teams, bakers, culinary arts students and a group of volunteers were busy all evening. Enthusiastic guests at The Taste sampled a variety of delicious appetizers, entrees, and desserts and sipped beverages. A group of 20 restaurants and bakers prepared and shared an extraordinary amount of cuisine and desserts for The Taste of Perth Amboy 2018, which was held aboard the Cornucopia Cruise Line’s St. Charles vessel.

The Taste is presented by the City of Perth Amboy and Mayor Wilda Diaz and sponsored by the Business Improvement District (BID). All proceeds from The Taste will be donated to Raritan Bay Area YMCA’s homeless initiative.  The YMCA’s President and CEO Steve Jobin and Pastor Bernadette Falcon-Lopez, who coordinates the YMCA’s homeless services, thanked everyone for their generosity. Pastor Bernadette explained that late that afternoon, she helped find temporary housing for a single mother with two children, who were without a home.

In discussing the value of The Taste to promote local businesses and raise funds, Mayor Diaz said, “Participating restaurants donated their time, resources, talent and incredible amount of energy to create wonderful evening. I want to congratulate all the winners, especially the culinary arts students who represent our next generation of restauranteurs. Our community has come together to assist people in need, and I’m grateful we are making a generous contribution to the YMCA’s efforts to serve the homeless.”

Throughout the evening, the Taste of Perth Amboy’s judges – Ana Maria Zevallos and Douglas Dzema – visited each serving station. The judges sampled the cuisine or desserts that each restaurant or bakery prepared. Also, the reviewed how venues were decorated to enhance the experience and many servers wore bright, colorful and traditional outfits.

Here are the judge’s selections:

• Best Taste: El Gran Valle Restaurant, 323 State Street; Culinary Arts Students, Middlesex County Vocational High School, 457 High Street; and Cornucopia Cruise Lines’ St. Charles Vessel, 401 Riverview Drive (all in Perth Amboy).

• Best Presentation: 1^st – Paila y Leña Restaurant, 342 Washington Street; 2^nd − Torres Café, 431 High Street, and 3^rd –Sabor A Mexico – fresh Mexican Restaurant, 347 Smith Street (all in Perth Amboy).

• Best Dessert: 1^st – Season 52 in Edison presented “mini indulgences;” 2^nd – Cazadores Restaurant, 236 New Brunswick Avenue, Perth Amboy, and 3^rd – Dunkin’ Donuts, representing all four locations in the City.

The Taste: Absolutely Fantastic in Everyway

As the evening drew to a close, BID Director Jason Conway, who chaired of The Taste committee, said, “This event was absolutely fantastic! We had the best turnout in terms of participating restaurants and people attending.”

Mr. Conway also said, “We have so many people to thank for our success, especially Mayor Diaz for all of her support. We also thank Pastor Bernadette and Steve Jobin for spearheading the homeless initiative of which the proceeds of this event will be distributed. Next, I want to thank the Perth Amboy BID’s Board for their help in putting on this event, the BID Chairman Barry Rosengarten for his leadership, and fellow BID Vice Chairman Sergio Diaz, who was the best emcee.  I thank Junel Hutchinson and Randy Convery for their tireless work putting this event together. And last, but not least, I want to thank everyone who attended the event and helped the Perth Amboy BID raise support for this great cause. Overall, I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves and is happy to see the City host such great events for our community.”

As the BID begins planning for the next Taste, Mr. Rosengarten said, “This was an excellent event in every way. The spirit of Perth Amboy filled the room and everyone who joined us was passionate about being there.”