TROY, MI - Sunday’s 21st Annual Taste of Troy fundraiser was definitely a Motor City Taste Fest based on the mouth-watering food prepared by Troy’s finest restaurants.
The annual food-tasting event offered samplings from 33 area restaurants with a Motor City Flavors theme this year, along with fabulous Motown entertainment by deejay Big Will and emcee WDIV Channel 4 Meteorologist Andrew Humphrey, and a silent auction.
Participating restaurants were judged by a panel of food connoisseurs in the Critics’ Choice categories, and attendees voted for their favorites in the People’s Choice categories.
Top honors for Critics’ Choice:
- Best Appetizer/Soup/Salad – Ocean Prime (In the “T” Tuna Tartar)
- Best Casual Entrée – Orchid Café (Pad Thai with Shrimp)
- Best Entrée – LaMarsa (Tawook Lemon Chicken with Rice)
- Best Dessert/Beverage – Ingram’s Candies (Dancin’ in the Street Movie Mix)
- Best Display – Tim Hortons Troy (Hitsville USA Scene with Tim & the Timetttes)
Winners under the People’s Choice:
- Best Appetizer/Soup/Salad – P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (Motown Mince Chicken in Soothing Lettuce Wraps)
- Best Casual Entrée – Smashburger (Motor City Burger)
- Best Entrée – Ruth’s Chris Steak House (D-lish Beef Tenderloin & Crostini)
- Best Dessert/Beverage – The Melting Pot (Supreme Strawberries with Chocolate Fondue)
- Best Display –Dickey’s Barbeque Pit (Motor City Scene with Classic Cars)
Restaurant Milestone Awards were presented to P.F. Chang’s for 15 years of participation; McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks and Papa Vino’s Italian Kitchen for 10 years of participation. A Special Recognition Award was presented to PNC Bank for their generous commitment as the 2013 Major Sponsor and to HAP for their commitment as a Corporate Sponsor for 5 years.
“We want to thank everyone who helped make this year’s event such a huge success,” said Cindy Stewart, Taste of Troy Chairperson. “Our attendance was excellent, and early tallying indicates we did outstanding on the Live and Silent Auctions. Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy an afternoon of fun and great food while supporting a great cause. And special thanks to our emcee WDIV Meteorologist Andrew Humphrey who has supported this event for eight years! Thanks to his hard work, the Live Auction brought in record profits again this year. We also had two very popular caricaturists, Darrell Swift and Bob Bryan, donating their time to add to the fun.”
During the event, attendees sampled food from the following premier restaurant and food establishments, including: Achatz Handmade Pie Company, Beaumont Health System Troy, Brio Tuscan Grill, Café Sushi, Cedar Grille, Dickey’s Barbeque Pit, Edible Arrangements, El Charro, Ingram’s Candies, Just Baked Cupcake Shop, Kona Grill, LaFeast Lebanese Cuisine, La Marsa, Maggiano’s Little Italy, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks, The Melting Pot, Muses Taverna Greek Cuisine, Noodles & Company, Ocean Prime, Orchid Café - Fine Thai Cuisine, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Papa Vino’s Italian Kitchen, Priya Indian Cuisine, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Ridley’s Bakery Café & Catering, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Salsarita’s of Troy, Shield’s of Troy, Slab ‘N Slice Ribs ‘N Pizza, Smashburger, TGI Friday’s Troy, Tim Hortons Troy, and Tre Monti Ristorante.
Sponsors included PNC Bank, San Marino Club, HAP, Flagstar Bank, Genisys Credit Union, Hartland Insurance Group, HMS Mfg Co., Kiwanis Club of Troy, Meritor, Inc., Mike Savoie Chevrolet, Plex Systems, Inc., and Sistar Mortgage.
All proceeds from the Taste of Troy benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Troy, a nonprofit organization that provides educational and recreational activities, in addition to counseling programs for more than 1,200 children in Macomb and Oakland counties.
For thirty-five years, Boys & Girls Club Troy has provided an exciting place for school-age youth. Now, able to accommodate over 1,200 members, the Club offers programs in the following core areas: character and leadership development, educational and career development, health and life skills, sports fitness and recreation, and the arts. The 17,800 square foot Jean & Sam Frankel Family Boys & Girls Club of Troy features a teen room, learning resource center, computer technology center, art design center, games room, multi-purpose room and state-of-the-art gymnasium.
The Club’s trained staff provides after-school programs in a safe environment designed to promote learning and growth. Over 400 members enroll in the ten-week summer program, ensuring that children have a positive place when school is not in session. Local businesses and community organizations contribute scholarships for 70 Club members.
For more information, please call Taste of Troy Chairperson Cindy Stewart at 248.524.1147 or Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Jeff Evans at 248.689.1687.