'Taste of Holidays' set for Nov. 5
Monmouth and Ocean County restaurants and wineries will kick off the holiday season at the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore's "Taste of the Holidays" Nov. 5 at Jumping Brook Country Club, Neptune.

Some of the area's most popular restaurants are scheduled to share their signature dishes, including the Melting Pot, Red Bank; Bella Vita Ristorante Italiano, Point Pleasant; and Suzi's Sweet Shop, Middletown. The Wine Room, Manalapan, will provide guests with a chance to sample its homemade wine.

Entertainment throughout the event will be provided by pianist Amanda Pell, a 14-year-old Teen Girl Scout from Point Pleasant.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to be the first to meet the Girl Scouts' 2008 Women of Distinction and place bids during a silent auction.

Items during previous events have included an overnight stay for two and breakfast at Seaview Resort & Spa in Galloway; a $2,000 gift certificate from Kramer Photography in Red Bank; and a $100 gift certificate from Earth Treasures in Eatontown. More than 100 local merchants and local Girl Scouts donated baskets to the auction last year.

Tickets are $60 each and sponsorships are still available. For more information, call (800) 785-2090. Proceeds from the event support local Girl Scout programs. Last year's "Taste of the Holidays" raised more than $18,000, according to a press release.

The Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore serves more than 17,000 girls with the support of more than 6,000 adult volunteers.