Tunney Named Restaurateur of the Year

John J. Tunney III will be honored as 2010 Restaurateur of the Year at the 19th Annual Great Chefs of Long Island event benefiting Family Service League on Dec.5.

The Great Chefs of Long Island event,  scheduled for the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, will feature more than 40 outstanding restaurants from across Long Island.  The event features tastings of top restaurants' signature dishes, accompanied by wine from around the world and live music.

Family Service League will also honor Ken Silverman, of SilvermanAcampora, as recipient of the 2010 Community Leadership Award.  And Bank of America will receive the 2010 Corporate Leadership Award.

Tunney is the co-founder of the Besito Restaurant Group with several locations in New York and Connecticut.  Besito was recently named the No.1 Mexican restaurant in the tri-state area by Open Table.  His other properties include Huntington hot spot HONU Kitchen & Cocktails and Smithtown favorite American Roadside Burgers.

Tunney grew up in Setauket and began his career in hospitality as a dishwasher at the age of 14.  From there, Tunney rose through the culinary ranks from server to manager to owner.

 His first venture was Carltun and Co at the Oheka Castle.  Two years later, he continued to develop his passion with Carltun on the Park in East Meadow.  In 2001, he built Olio! in the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. 

Besides Besito, some of the participating restaurants in the Dec.5 event are Prime, Teller's Chophouse, H2O Seafood Grill, Bistro Citron, Grasso's, A Mano, Four Food Studio, and Jonathan's Ristorante. 

To purchase tickets to the Great Chefs of Long Island event visit www.fsl-li.org or call (631) 427-3700 ext. 255.  Tickets are $175 in advance, $200 day of the event and preferred VIP seating is available. Tickets and further information are available by calling 631.427.3700, ext. 255, e-mailing Jennie Sandler or by visiting the web site. The event will run from 2-5  p.m.

Family Service League, founded in 1926, is a not-for-profit, community based human service agency assisting more than 47,000 people each year.