St. Jude's luncheon to dish out prizes

This year’s Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key 29th annual St. Jude Gourmet Luncheon has a full plate, and it’s not just because of the 24 local restaurants preparing to serve their signature dishes.

This year, the luncheon will feature more prizes than ever in the event’s 30-year history.

For the first time, the luncheon will feature a Chinese silent auction, in which organizers will put out bags indicating each prize. Participants will put tickets in the bags for the prizes of their choice, and a winning ticket from each bag will then be drawn. Chinese silent auction prizes are gift certificates of various values for Derek’s Culinary & Casual Restaurant, Hillview Grill, Le Colonne, Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design, Longboat Key Education Center, Longboat Limousine, Maison Blanche, Mattison’s Forty-One, Tango Steakhouse & Sushi and Tommy Bahama.

“You can buy as many tickets as you want,” said Kiwanis Club member John Wild. “It’s like a grab-bag concept.”

As always, the luncheon will conclude with the car raffle, which raises money for Kiwanis Club scholarships. This year’s winner will have the choice of a new 2010 Ford Fusion or $20,000 cash. Other prizes include a three-day, two-night Gulf-suite stay at the Longboat Key Club and Resort; a “Harry Potter” weekend for two at Universal Orlando with Universal Express passes for attractions and a one-night stay at Universal’s Royal Pacific Hotel; and brunch for two at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

The luncheon is a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in Memphis, Tenn., and takes place from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, in the parking area of Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road.
Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door. Buy luncheon and raffle tickets by visiting YourObserver.com.

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On The Menu
The following restaurants will serve signature dishes at this year’s luncheon:
15 South Ristorante
Beach Bistro
Bijou Café
Blue Dolphin Café
Café Galante
Café L’Europe
Ciao, Italia!
The Columbia Restaurant
Crab & Fin
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill
Euphemia Haye
Harry’s Continental Kitchens
Helmsley Sandcastle
Longboat Key Hilton Latitudes Beach Café
Lazy Lobster Longboat Key
Lido Beach Grille
Longboat Key Club and Resort
Lynches Pub & Grub
Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub
Moore’s Stone Crab Restaurant
Pattigeorge’s
Publix
The Sun House Restaurant
Waterfront Restaurant

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].