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 White Plains, NY - The White Plains Family YMCA will bring warmth and cheer to a cold winter’s night with its first annual White Plains Culinary Experience on Tues., Jan. 20, 2009.
The event will showcase the skills of more than 20 restaurants and gourmet shops to raise funds to support the YMCA’s Financial Assistance Fund for needy children, teens and adults.
The restaurants and stores will serve samples of their finest dishes at the Crowne Plaza Hotel that evening from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Each dish will be paired with a wine coordinated for the evening by Zachys, Westchester’s noted wine merchants. The musical entertainment for the event, which will be donated by jazz and blues guitarist Dino Main and other musical guests, will celebrate the American Songbook with American standards performed in keeping with the nation’s celebration that day of Inauguration Day.
The restaurants will prepare some of their signature specialties. Selections range across menus and cultures, from up-to-the-minute tapas or bruschetta starters to classic desserts such as chocolate fondue, chocolate mousse and cheesecake. Diners also can sample soups and elegant mini-sandwiches, a variety of main dishes, a cheese selection and pasta dishes. The evening’s dishes will take guests on a tour of the world’s favorite cuisines. These include pan-Asian, Chinese, contemporary American, Italian, Spanish, Indian and pan-Latin.
Participants include Aberdeen Seafood & Dim Sum, AntiPasti, Bengal Tiger, Blue, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Emma’s Ale House, Gervasi’s, Graziella’s, the Iron Tomato, Karamba Café, La Bocca Ristorante, Legal Sea Foods, Magnificent Edibles, Meson Los Espanoles, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Mulino’s of Westchester, The Melting Pot, Peniche, P.F. Chang’s, Sam’s of Gedney Way, Tango Grill, Via Quadronno and more.
There also will be a silent auction, raffles and live music. Tickets for the White Plains Culinary Experience are $65 in advance and $75 at the door.
The White Plains Family YMCA’s Financial Assistance Fund, makes it possible for needy children, teens, adults and seniors to participate in the YMCA’s quality programs.
“In the last year, we have seen a steady increase in requests for financial assistance,” said Rosana Gonzalez, chairwoman of the White Plains Family YMCA Board of Directors. “As you can imagine, in these difficult economic times, the need for assistance has increased dramatically.”
The White Plains Family YMCA is a 501c(3) not-for-profit organization. One of the key components of its mission is to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Events such as the White Plains Culinary Experience enable the Y to stay true to its mission in times of economic hardship and suffering. For more information about the White Plains Culinary Experience or donating to the YMCA, contact Doris Fraser at (914) 287-2021, ext. 202.
The White Plains Family YMCA provides a diverse array of programs for members of all ages. The YMCA offers daycare, after-school programs and summer and vacation camps for children whose parents live or work in White Plains and the surrounding area. The organization also provides affordable housing and social services for 167 men who live in its residences.
The White Plains Family YMCA has long been known for its athletic and exercise programs, which include swim teams, exercise classes, swimming lessons and organized sports. A number of exercise programs are designed specifically White Plains’ fast-growing senior population.
For more information, please visit http://www.ymca-cnw.org.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN WESTCHESTER: Headquartered in White Plains, NY, the YMCA of Central & Northern Westchester has a long history of being an important community resource. The YMCA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone through programs and services that stress personal growth, self-improvement, self-reliance and service to others through spiritual, mental and physical development. The YMCA is one of Westchester’s largest childcare providers, serving 1,200 children who are able to build skills, values, self-esteem and a lifelong love of learning in a safe, nurturing, developmentally oriented environment. A similar number of children attend the YMCA’s summer camps. Health and wellness programs and well-equipped fitness centers and pools serve people of all ages.
The YMCA also provides safe, clean housing for 200 men who otherwise might not be able to afford homes in Westchester County. The YMCA has received the top charitable organizational standards rating from the New York State Better Business Bureau for meeting the BBB’s extremely rigorous Standards for Charitable Accountability. The YMCA provides $300,000 in annual financial subsidies to ensure that all people can benefit from its services. The YMCA of CNW has facilities in Mount Vernon, NY; the Northern Westchester Community program, based in Somers, NY, and Camp Combe, a summer camp for children in Putnam Valley, NY, in addition to its flagship center in White Plains.
More information about the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester, including addresses, hours and activities listings, is available at its Web site www.ymca-cnw.org or by calling (914) 287-2021.
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