Recipe For Success Set To Help Hopeful Chefs Achieve Dreams

MIDDLETOWN, NJ -- Come sample the wares of more than 25 of the Jersey Shore’s finest restaurants and help students who hope to be the next great chefs at the third annual “Recipe for Success” fundraiser.

The event raises funds for the Joe Romanowski Culinary Education Foundation.

It is scheduled for Monday, March 14 at Navesink Country Club, 50 Luffburrow Lane, Middletown.

The event features tastings from restaurants, chance and silent auctions, 50/50 and a wine pull raffle where all participants win a bottle. Big Joe Henry of NJ 101.5 will be the emcee for the evening, according to a news release.

Funds raised at JOCEF’s “Recipe for Success” are used for scholarships for students of the Culinary Education Center, the collaboration between Brookdale Community College and the Monmouth County Vocational School District. In the first two years, JOCEF awarded more than $40,000 in scholarships.

Students from the program will have a tasting station at “Recipe for Success” offering savory dishes and sweets. During the evening, there will be an announcement of which 2016-17 scholarship applicants will be moving forward to the next round of hands-on cooking for a panel of judges.

The Joe Romanowski Culinary Education Foundation was established in the memory of Joseph Romanowski, who mentored and nurtured many of the Jersey Shore’s finest up-and-coming chefs, the release said. Romanowski was a resident of Eatontown and was the chef and owner of Joe and Maggie’s Bistro in Long Branch and Bay Ave Trattoria in Highlands.

JOCEF is a 501c3 not-for-profit foundation. OceanFirst Bank is a sponsor of the event.

Tickets to the Recipe for Success can be purchased on the foundation’s website. Click here for information.

Confirmed participants at Recipe for Success include:

• Ama Ristorante, Sea Bright (http://amaristorante.com)
• B2 Bistro + Bar, Red Bank (http://www.b2bistro.com)
• Brennan’s, Rumson (http://www.brennansinc.com)
• Culinary Education Center at Brookdale Community College
• Danny’s Steakhouse, Red Bank (http://dannyssteakhouse.com)
• D’jeet?, Shrewsbury (http://djeetcatering.com)
• Drew’s Bayshore Bistro, Keyport (http://www.bayshorebistro.com)
• Front St. Trattoria, Red Bank (http://www.frontsttrattoria.com)
• Lusty Lobster, Highlands (www.bestlobster.com)
• The Mill, Spring Lake Heights (http://themillnj.com)
• Mumfords Culinary Center, Tinton Falls (http://mumfords.com)
• Piccolo Italia, Ocean Township (http://www.piccolaitalianj.com)
• Porcini, Highlands (http://www.restaurantporcini.com)
• Raven & The Peach, Fair Haven (http://www.ravenandthepeach.net)
• Salt Creek Grille, Rumson (http://www.saltcreekgrillerumson.com)
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• Sickles Market, Little Silver (http://sicklesmarket.com)
• Trama’s Trattoria, Long Branch (http://tramastrattoria.com)
• The Vintage Cake, Red Bank (http://www.thevintagecake.com)
• The Wine Bar, Atlantic Highlands (http://www.ahwinebar.com/winebar)
• Ye Olde Pie Shoppe, Little Silver (http://www.yeoldepieshoppe.com)
• Yumi, Sea Bright (http://www.yumirestaurant.com)
• Zoe Bistro, Little Silver (http://zoebistro.com)

(PHOTOS: Guests visit tasting stations during the 2015 JOCEF Recipe for Success gala at Navesink Country Club, which helps to fund scholarships for students of the Culinary Education Center, who participate in the gala. Credits: JOCEF)