The Southern Ocean Community Foundation and the Southern Ocean Chamber of Commerce will award $70,000 to help seven local food pantries
The Taste of Southern Ocean Hunger Relief Dinner Chairmen, Dan Taylor of  Anderson Agency and Chef Ian Smith of Ocean County Vo Tech,  are pleased to announce the  tremendous success of the 2012 Boardwalk Dynasty dinner which was held at Sea Oaks on April 24. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the 2012 Taste Committee, sponsors, chefs and attendees Barnegat Food Pantry, St Francis Center Food Pantry, The Lacey Food Bank, Tuckerton Area inter Church Food Pantry, Ocean Community Church Food Ministry, St Stephens Episcopal Church Food Pantry and Ken's Kitchen of St Mary's Church will benefit from the $70,000 raised.

The entire Taste Committee would like to thank local chefs and restaurants that included: Allan Menegus of Buckalew's, J Geoffrey Johnson of Copper Fish, Charles Ostergren of Viking Fresh Off the Hook, Mike Creevy and Chris Herrmann of Sea Oak's Country Club, Daniel Stragapede of La Spiaggia, Joe Manfe of Grapevine, Kevin Sparks of Howard's, Paul Dim of Scojo's, JB Maschal of Country Kettle Fudge, and the Culinary Students of Ocean County Vocational-Technical School; and sponsors Barnegat Dental, The SandPaper, Southern Ocean County Surgical Association, Berry, Sahradnik, Kotzas & Benson, Anderson Insurance Agency, Warren Distributing Company South and Shore Points. Live auction items such as The Last Night on the Titanic Dinner, Private Chef in home Dinner Parties and Reynolds Landscaping Packages all generously donated, added to the grand total.

"The committee are so very gratified with the attendance, the food lovingly prepared by our local chefs and the great success of the evening", stated Dan Taylor. "Again, the volunteers and the community came through and showed their support and understanding of how important these food pantries are". The members of the 2012 Taste of Southern Ocean County Committee were Barbara Bobbin-Wilkinson, New York Life Insurance Co, John Boekell of Shore Community Bank, Michele Cuff, Chamber of Commerce, Ellen Dondereo Meyer, TD Bank, Adnrea Driscoll, The SandPaper, Rose Goedtel, Anderson Insurance Agency, Pamela Jillson, New  York Life, Ellen R Johnson, Barnegat Dental, Debbie Motta, Manahawkin Urgent Care, Lori Pepenella, Destination Marketing Director, R Reynolds, Chamber of Commerce, Chris Schwab, Anderson Insurance Agency, Mark & Peg Reynolds of Reynolds Garden Shop. Special Acknowledgements go to  Master of Ceremonies Bob Fishbein, Dinner Music and Entertainment; Sean Eckstadt, Sound  Master DJs, Cocktail Hour Pianist; Earl Sutton, Decorating and Décor; Unshredded Nostaglia, Dinner Volunteers; Sandy Goldsborough and Melissa Peck and the Chamber of Commerce Staff.

Plans for 2013 are already underway and the date has been set with Sea Oaks for April 24, 2013. For more information regarding Taste Dinner contact Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce 609 494 7211.