Mastic Beach, NY - December 12, 2018 - The William Floyd High School Hospitality Academy recently hosted the fourth annual “Taste of the Town,” a popular school-community event featuring numerous local and area food establishments presenting their best dishes for the community to sample. More than 500 people attended the event and all proceeds have gone toward the William Floyd High School Career and Technology Education (CTE) program and to help fill the local food pantry.
“The Taste of the Town is an event that gives our culinary arts students the opportunity to work side-by-side with industry professionals, to network and create relationships with their community and sharpen their hospitality skills,” said Lee Cillo, CTE Chairperson and business teacher, William Floyd High School. In addition to helping the community, the event provides scholarship opportunities for seniors and reinforces the skills that CTE students are learning each school day.
Ms. Cillo added that this event would not be possible without the help and generosity of the many food establishments that graciously contribute to the Taste of the Town. “Overall everyone benefits from the night, the students gain experience, the vendors gain potential new customers and the community gets to sample dozens of savory dishes,” added Ms. Cillo.
In addition to working alongside industry professionals, the culinary arts students, under the leadership of their teacher Richard Daly and teaching assistant Wendy Waldron, served the food to attendees and prepared four dishes of their own for the community to sample.
Special thanks to all of the establishment that contributed to this year’s event: Applebee’s, Arooga’s Grill House, Alitalia Pizza & Restaurant, Avino's Italian Table, Bernie's Family Pizza, Buckley’s Irish Pub, Build A Sandwich, Butera’s, Coral Restaurant, Cornucopia, Del Fuego, EmpanadaVille, Frank & Sons Bakery, Giacalone’s Pork and Pasta Deli, H&E Bagels, Hero Haven & More Inc., Ice Cream Cottage, JC’s Restaurant at Mike’s Place Too, John's Pizzeria, La Volpe Ristorante, La Reina Del Norte, Mama Lisa Restaurant, Mastic Sports Deli & Catering, Miller’s Ale House, New Rooster Kitchen, Onofrio’s Italian Restaurant, Painters’ Restaurant, Papa Nicks, Pine Grove Inn, Porter’s on the Lane, RJ’s Latin & American Grill, Sea Cove Restaurant, Sicilia D’Oro, Spiro’s, Swan Bakery, Swell Taco, Tend Coffee, That Meetball Place, TJ’s Hero Shop, Valentina Brick Oven Pizza and the William Floyd Diner.