Mayor holds Pre-Taste of Newark Reception

Newark Mayor Vance Funk (center) hosted a reception for participants in the upcoming Taste of Newark festivities with help from Blue & Gold Club staff, including (from left): Diane Keesee, assistant manager; Ray Soarro, chef ; Dan Beggs, executive chef; and Laura Del Percio, manager.

9:51 a.m., Sept. 23, 2005--Newark Mayor Vance Funk and his wife, Elaine, hosted a Pre-Taste of Newark Reception on Monday evening, Sept. 19, at their home.

Invitations were extended to the chefs and restaurateurs who will participate in the sold-out second annual Taste of Newark, set from noon-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2, on Old College Lawn. Funk said that they had an outstanding turnout of around 60 people.

“The reception gave the chefs an opportunity to gather ideas about how to decorate their tables and plan for the upcoming event,” Funk said.

This year’s Taste of Newark will include menu specialties from UD’s Vita Nova, Blue & Gold Club, Catering Services and the Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware Café, as well as downtown Newark restaurants and several area wineries.

Hostess Elaine Funk (left) with Lan Du Chen, Larry Chen and Annie Lan of Newark’s Saigon Vietnam Restaurant

“I think everyone had fun at the reception. The food from the Blue & Gold Club was especially incredible! They did an outstanding job,” Mayor Funk said.

Tickets are no longer available for the second annual Taste of Newark. The food and beverage fest sold out its 660 tickets some three weeks before the event. Last year, 500 tickets were available, and it sold out just before the event.

Article by Kim Sharrah, AS ’06
Photos by Duane Perry

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