Wine Tasting

Wine & Food Tasting on April 21, 2010 hosts 300 and ‘nets’ agency $20,000

WEST HAVEN (Spring 2010) – The 11th Annual Wine, Cordials, Beer and Food Tasting event benefiting Boys & Girls Village was held on April 21 at the Savin Rock Conference Center in West Haven. It was attended by about 300 people and will net the Milford-based not-for-profit agency about $20,000 after expenses. Tables of desserts, cordials, food from area restaurants and caterers were featured and more than 75 wines and beers from the U.S. and around the world were displayed. 

The tasting was sponsored by The Milford Bank and Wines and More of Milford, and for the first time in 11 years was moved to the scenic and more spacious venue in West Haven, a change that was hailed by attendees. Milford resident Mary Jane Clark of BIC Corp. noted “it was prettier on the Sound. There were lots of good food and nice wines.”

Tracy Edwards of the Milford Junior Woman’s Club attended with group members and said, “We had a great time.  There was an array of delicious foods to sample including Gourmet cheeses, special veal meatballs, sushi, lobster rolls, and much more.  It was much more than a sampling, if you came hungry you left feeling very full.   And that is not to mention the decadent desserts.”
  
According to Kim Freda, community liaison of The Milford Bank, the event’s major sponsor, said, “Not only did the adjacent boardwalk and beaches give the event a more scenic backdrop, the Savin Rock conference center itself is a great place for a wine tasting.” This was the 11th year in a row that The Milford Bank has been the event’s major sponsor.

Freda and Boys & Girls Village Development Director Chris Carroll also thanked the participating restaurants including Beach House, CABO, Chip’s, Events of Distinction, Homemade Gourmet Catering and Foods, Johnny Ray’s, Julia’s Bakery, Lao Sze Chuan, Lasse’s, Orange Ale House, Rainbow Gardens, Scribner’s, Shanghai Gourmet, ShopRite Bakery, Tenga Asian Bistro & Hibachi, Villa Gourmet and Zach’s Deli.

Also for the first time ever, participants were able to purchase wine and beer selections offered at the event. Wines and More owner Dean Parrott was the event’s wine and beer sponsor, organizing area wholesalers who displayed their wares at 18 separate tables.

Boys & Girls Village President & CEO Stephen A. Joffe, MSW, said the event’s proceeds will benefit hundreds of boys and girls served by the agency. In Milford, Boys & Girls Village operates a special education K-8 day school for children ages 6-15, two residential homes – the Kids I.N.N. sub-acute psychiatric residential treatment facility, and the state-sponsored Safe Haven “safe home” for abused and/or neglected children, and, a clinic and after-school services for at-risk children.
From its regional offices in Waterbury and Bridgeport, Boys & Girls Village also offers clinical, after-school and comprehensive adoption and foster care services, including recruitment, training and child placement throughout southern and western Connecticut.

The wine tasting event was organized by the all-volunteer Boys & Girls Village Advisory Board and also featured a silent auction.

For more information please contact Development Director Chris Carroll at (203) 876-3858, or email Chris at carrollc@bgvillage.org.