Dan's Papers - May 22, 2009 - North Fork Fundraiser Has Raised Millions For Breast Cancer. Go To It This Year.

North Fork Fundraiser Has Raised Millions For Breast Cancer. Go To It This Year.

Back in 1982 a group of people in the restaurant and catering business started an event that is now in its 27th year and is still going strong entertaining and raising money at the same time. The Long Island Chef n' Bar-B-Que and Bartender's Ball has now raised over $2 million to aid the fight against breast cancer.

Recently, the event has been a 'Black Tie' affair but this year in light of the economy, the organizers have decided to make some changes to the format. One of the major changes is that, for the first time, the competition will be held in Riverhead and will be hosted by Suffolk County Community Center at the new Culinary Arts & Hospitality Center on Main Street. The proceeds will benefit Mather Hospital's Fortunato Breast Health Center and also will support a full scholarship at the Culinary Center for a Long Island high school graduate who wants to make a career in this challenging business.

The cooking contestants will square off in the kitchens of the Culinary Center on Monday June 15th and the bartenders will shake, rattle and roll their drinks across the road at Atlantis Marine World from 10 p.m. until 2.00 a.m. The chefs are scheduled to include Bryan Naylor (Southampton Inn); Jerry Suppa (Butterfields); Sean Fountaine (Atlantis Marine World) and Tom Schaudel (aMano Osteria & Wine Bar). An international flavor comes from visiting chef Scott Andriani of Nido d'Cigno in Cork Ireland. Brian Mazzio of Finn McCools has a mixed feeling about missing this year's event. Brian has been waiting for a kidney transplant for seven years and recently learned that his dreams will now come true and he looks forward to being back to compete next year. For the title of top bartender, Charley Hutcheon of West Palm Saloon; Judy Schragel (Butterfields); Sara Southard (Port Jazz); Dawn Leddick (South Beach Saloon) and Maria Williams (Dunton Inn) have signed up to compete. The competitions will be judged by members of the Culinary School as well as from Sysco and DiCarlo together with last year's winner, John Montgomery from Sea Levels in Brightwater.

Jerry Dicecco the founder and now co-owner with his son, Jerry Jr., of the popular Jerry & The Mermaid restaurant in Riverhead was one of the original teams behind this event and he has been Chairman for many years. He explained how grateful everyone is with the level of support given by so many sponsors, from restaurants to wineries, food service suppliers, media sponsors and beverage distributors without whom the money donated to the hospital would not have been possible. Evenings such as this also enable recognition of people and companies that have given outstanding service and pioneering support to the hospitality industry and this year Bill DeSilva, Sales Manager of Southern Wine & Spirits will be the 'Pioneer Award' honoree.

Tickets for the Most Valuable Chef competition are $50 per person and will include food and beverage sampling. Bartenders Ball tickets are $75 and this includes an open bar and a BBQ. Music will come from the Long Island DJ Service and the Long Island band 'Who Are Those Guys'. A combo ticket, giving admission to both costs $100. Tickets are available from Terry Quinn, Public Affairs Department at Mather Hospital on 631-476-2723.