Chefs Raise More Than $140,000 in Support of South Nassau Communities Hospital's Cancer Program

Oceanside, NY, April 12, 2012 --(PR.com)-- More than 500 food and wine enthusiasts feasted on some of the finest foods, desserts, pastries, beers and wines served in the Long Island-New York metro area at the 19th Annual Evening of Good Taste culinary extravaganza. Held at the Crest Hollow Country Club, the event raised more than $140,000 to benefit the programs and services of the Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center at South Nassau Communities Hospital

“Evening of Good Taste is one of Long Island’s premiere culinary extravaganza fundraisers,” said Stephen Bello, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C., South Nassau’s award-winning executive chef, who is the founder of the event. “Its annual success is a result of the generosity of the sponsors, the commitment to quality and excellence of the participants, the selfless efforts of the event volunteers and the support of South Nassau’s board of directors and administration.”

Evening of Good Taste also serves as an official competition to determine the top culinary artists and vintners on Long Island and the New York metro area as judged by a team of certified executive chefs from the tri-state region. The competition has divisions for restaurants, vintners, bakeries, culinary schools and ice sculptors and awards are given for appetizers, entrées, desserts, overall table presentation, bread, pastries and special occasion cakes.

The results of the competition are as follows: People’s Choice Award – M Bynum Creations; Restaurant Division – Appetizer: DoraNonnie Tapas & Wine Bar (Yuzu Shrimp & Watermelon); Entrée: DoraNonnie Tapas & Wine Bar (Seared Scallop); Dessert: American Culinary Federation Team Long Island (Phyllo w/Chocolate Stout Ice Cream); Overall Table Presentation: J Michaels Tuscan Steakhouse; Iron Skillet Awards – Chef John DiSessa, C.E.C, A.C.E, Sodexo Health Services; ACF Gold Medal Restaurant – American Culinary Federation Team Long Island; ACF Gold Medal Bakery – Spiga Bakery; Bakery – Bread: Spiga Bakery (Prosciutto Bread); Pastry: Spiga Bakery (Cannoli Chip); Special Occasion Cake: MaCayla Michaels (White Chiffon Cake); Breakfast Pastry: Spiga Bakery (Ricotta Nutella Calzone); Student Division – Appetizer: Joseph M. Barry Career & Educational Center (Bird in a Nest); Entrée: Joseph M. Barry Career & Educational Center (Duck); Dessert: Eastern Suffolk BOCES (Semi Freddo); Outstanding Student Display: Eastern Suffolk BOCES.

The Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center is the only one on Long Island that is equipped with three of the most advanced and effective technologies used to treat and eradicate cancer: the Varian Novalis Tx™, da Vinci® Surgical System and Gamma Knife®. It is a recipient of many prestigious honors and citations, including the American College of Surgeons Comprehensive Community Cancer Center and the Commission on Cancer Outstanding Achievement Award. This evening’s proceeds along with the generous major gift from the Feil family and The Louis Feil Charitable Lead Annuity Trust will help ensure that the communities and residents served by South Nassau continue to have convenient access to the most advanced cancer care available anywhere. To schedule a consultation or for more information about the center’s services, call 1-877-SouthNassau.

South Nassau Communities Hospital is one of the region’s largest hospitals, with 435 beds, more than 900 physicians and 2,900 employees. Located in Oceanside, NY, the hospital is an acute-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides state-of-the-art care in cardiac, oncologic, orthopedic, bariatric, pain management, mental health and emergency services. In addition to its extensive outpatient specialty centers, South Nassau provides emergency and elective angioplasty and is the only hospital on Long Island with the Novalis Tx™ and Gamma Knife® Perfexion radiosurgery technologies. South Nassau is a designated Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons and is recognized as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.