Restaurant tasting set for April 30

MARLBORO - The Marlboro Educational Foundation will host its second annual restaurant tasting event on April 30 from 6-10 p.m. at The Excelsior, Route 9, Manalapan. All members of the community are welcome to attend.

The Marlboro Educational Founda-tion was established in February 2000 to enhance the quality of education in the Marlboro K-8 School District.

The foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that operates independent-ly from the school district. It encourages excellence through innovative and creative teaching and learning, student development, and community-school part-nerships that use the talents and resources of local citizens and the private sector to benefit students. Its Board of Trustees consists of community and corporate leaders.

According to a press release, in 2006, more than 500 people attended the restaurant event which hosted more than 40 restaurants, beverages (alcoholic and soft) and desserts.

This year's participating restaurants include McLoone's Pier House, Brioso's, A Tavola, Wegmans, Julia's, Marmara, Solo Trattoria, Melting Pot, Metropolitan Caffe, ShopRite, Fiddleheads, and Serenella's, to name a few.

In addition to the restaurant vendors, there will be a raffle and silent auction with more than 90 items. The items will be varied in value and interest, including a $700 Andrew Marc leather coat, tickets to various sporting events, a gold and diamond bracelet valued at $2,000 from Gary Michael Jewelers, and gift certificates for restaurants and services.

Sports memorabilia will be available for all the popular tri-state area teams.

And, Ludis B Jewelers has donated two hand-crafted 18-karat gold necklaces with champagne diamonds with a retail value of $1,800 and $1,550. This jewelry will be displayed in a locked glass case. Keys can be purchased and one key will open the box. The person whose key opens the box takes home the contents.

The restaurant tasting event's corporate sponsors are Investors Savings Bank of Marlboro, the EPIC Group-Design Ideas Group and LDP Consulting Group.

For tickets and further information about the event, call the Marlboro Educational Foundation at (732) 817-1482. Tickets (which include all food and drink) are $50 per person. Children in grades K-8 are $25.