Javaughn Wallace and executive chef Michael from Drift at Lido Beach Resort dish up a poached pear and prosciutto bite at the 15th annual Taste of the Keys on Feb. 26 at the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Ballroom.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Longboat Key
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For 15 years, the Longboat Key Garden Club has set the stage for community members to sample dishes from the area's best restaurants while raising funds for essential programs and projects.
Attendees celebrated the 15th Taste of the Keys on Feb. 26 at the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Ballroom. Through their ticket purchases, raffle entries and silent auction bids, they provided a major boost for the garden club's scholarship and rebuilding programs.
Lyn Haycock, one of the event's main coordinators, welcomed attendees along with club President Melanie Dale.
In her opening remarks, Haycock thanked the participating restaurants for making the evening possible. She applauded the newest restaurants to join the Taste of the Keys lineup, which included Lo' Key Islande Grille, Flambo and Ringside at Cirque St. Armands Beachside.
But she also credited the restaurants that have been part of the event from the beginning.
"Your loyalty, generosity and culinary excellence have helped make this event what it is today," she said.
The several hundred diners made their way around the perimeter of the ballroom, picking up sweet and savory bites from the multitude of supporting restaurants while listening to tunes by The Klick Band. Attendees broadly praised the dining options as the best yet in the Taste of the Keys' history.
This spring, members of the garden club will award its grants to local educational organizations to support their community reach, and it will all be made possible with proceeds from Taste of the Keys.
For more on how to support the scholarship program, visit LBKGardenClub.org.
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Lyn Haycock, one of the main coordinators of Taste of the Keys, and Melanie Dale, president of the Longboat Key Garden Club, greet guests at the fundraiser on Feb. 26 at the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Ballroom.
Jason Vo presents The Chart House's ahi tuna nacho and shrimp ceviche bites at the Taste of the Keys.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Mary Gearhardt and Amy Renninger
Photo by Dana Kampa
From Harry's Continental Kitchens, a longtime supporter of the Longboat Key Garden Club's Taste of the Keys, Lana Murphy, Maja Zoller and Hal Christensen keep their booth stocked with one of the night's popular bites, their braised beef rib with polenta.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Taste of the Keys attendee Carol Teets tries out the sweet potato and lentil curry with spinach and kale from The Resort at Longboat Key Club.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Columbia Restaurant offered up its 1905 Salad at Taste of the Keys. Pictured, Esperanza Lopez, Sara Paulie, Alan Padilla, Chef Jesus Padilla and General Manager Ivan Paulie.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Three generations of family members joined this year's Taste of the Keys fundraiser. Cathy Bishop, right, said she is proud to be a longtime supporter of the club and this event, and she was glad to enjoy it with her daughter and granddaughter, Jennifer and Kaitlyn Shimek.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Riva, the restaurant focusing on cuisine from Northern Italy and the Adriatic Coast at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, supported Taste of the Keys by dishing up meatballs at the fundraiser dinner.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Taste of the Keys attendees Donna and Bob Henkel said the braised beef rib from Harry's Continental Kitchens was among their favorite dishes of the night.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Kim Roberts and Lyn Haycock smile and snap a photo at Taste of the Keys.
Photo by Dana Kampa
The Resort at Longboat Key Club, a sponsor of the Taste of the Keys, plates up sweet potato and lentil curry with spinach and kale.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Carol Wetzig, Bob DiPetrillo and Hillary and Robert Pease said trying Riva from The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort was a highlight of their evening at Taste of the Keys.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Hal Christensen and Cyndi Seamon
Photo by Dana Kampa
Sisters Eileen George, Sheila Riley, Kat Greer, Anne Ramos and Caroline Herberger all got together at the 15th Taste of the Keys.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Longboat Key Garden Club members said they were extremely pleased with the turnout at the 15th Taste of the Keys.
Photo by Dana Kampa
Many attendees at Taste of the Keys ended their night of charity-focused dining with a sweet treat.
Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.
