The Queens Centers for Progress is hosting its 29th annual “Evening of Fine Food” on Tuesday, Feb 25. The event will be held at Terrace on The Park, located at 52-11 111th St. in Corona, and attendees are invited to celebrate the world’s borough’s diverse food culture.
The event begins with a sponsor VIP reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by general admission from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
The in-person benefit will raise funds to support QCP’s programs and services, which assist more than 1,200 individuals with developmental disabilities in leading more independent lives.
This year’s sponsors include Veronica Tsang (Diamond Sponsor), Gerald J. Caliendo, Architects, Total Care RX (Silver Spatula Sponsors), and BDO, Maspeth Federal Savings, and Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (Bronze Grill Sponsors).
Over 50 restaurant and beverage vendors will attend, serving food, drinks, and desserts representing global cuisines.
“The types of foods that we’ve had include Bangladeshi food, vegan food, we’ve got, of course, pasta companies, Cuban food, West Indian food, Thai food… German food, Mexican food, the standard, kind of pubby food, Salvadorian food, Greek food, Indian,” said Wendy Gennaro, QCP’s director of development. Gennaro added that QCP is interested in working with Kosher restaurants to provide food at the event.
Some of the participating restaurants for this year’s event include Aigner Chocolates, Austin’s Ale House, Bevo’s Kitchen, Bourbon Street, Il Bacco NY, Kaieteur Restaurant, Marbella Restaurant & Catering, MumsKitchens NYC, Neir’s Tavern, and One Station Plaza. Other restaurants include Rincón Salvadoreño Restaurant, Special Sweets, The Wine Room of Forest Hills, Trattoria 35, 10-63 Meal LLC, Khalil Biryani House, Mayahuel Restaurant & Bar, and MsSauce Plates Culinary Horizon LLC.
The event is a food and beverage tasting, during which attendees can walk around the venue and try small dishes prepared by the participating businesses.
Gennaro told QNS that an “Evening of Fine Food” stands out from other food-tasting events as it is the longest consecutively running event in the borough, if not all, of New York City. “ What raises the quality of the event is doing it at Terrace on The Park, with those sweeping views of all of Queens,” Gennaro said. “ We try to make it more upscale and a little bit fancier so people really feel like they’re involved in something special.”
This year’s event also coincides with QCP’s 75th anniversary, which highlights their decades-long service to the local community.
At the event, QCP is honoring two “Chefs of the Year” community trailblazers who have made a notable difference in the Queens community. The honorees include Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, EdD, president and CEO of Vaughn College, and Uzoamaka N. Okoyem, chief of staff of The New Terminal One.
Gennaro shared that the honorees will continue the years-long tradition of serving the community while being honored at the event. Prior to the event, the honorees will prepare dishes reflecting their cultural background, which they will share with attendees on the day of the event.
“Just like the restaurants who serve their specialties, our chefs of the year… they serve the community in a very different way the night of Evening of Fine Food by literally serving their food to the community,” Gennaro said. “ Food is nourishment, food is love, food makes people feel better. I have no doubt that our chefs of the year will be doing that for our attendees. I’m looking forward to seeing what they’re going to make.”
QCP will also present Rachel Kellner, owner of Aigner Chocolates, with the Claire Shulman “Spirit of Community” Award.
The award was named after the former Queens Borough President in honor of her years-long support for the annual event.
“After Claire passed away, we decided to honor somebody who is in Claire’s spirit out there in the community helping people on a daily basis through their generosity of time, money, and in-kind donations, Gennaro said. “Rachel exemplifies that in our community.”
Tickets are $150 per person. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/25eveningoffinefood/
