This unique dining experience will include:

• A cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres prepared by outstanding Richmond area chefs.
• Live and silent auctions for dining, entertaining, travel and sporting events packages.
• A seven-course traditional Italian seated dinner planned and supervised by visiting and local celebrity chefs, with live demonstrations by each chef.
• Wine pairings with each course from Virginia and National wineries.
• The opportunity to purchase a limited edition Taste of Italy cookbook which includes recipes from the participation chefs and their restaurants along with Taste of Italy recipe challenge winning recipes.

The event will be held at the Sun Trust building, 919 East Main Street in Richmond. To find out how you can get involved in TASTE of Italy to benefit Greater Richmond SCAN contact me at Jill@boutiqueaffair.com.

Busy on September 10th but like the idea? Here is how to bring TASTE home. Choose a date and location that works for you and your friends. Decide what your group would like to do a Taste of.

It might be fun to do Virginia. If you do choose Virginia please refer to my blog about Farmer Markets. After you choose your theme, choose one member of your group to be the event coordinator. You know every group has at least one.

Hold a recipe challenge as a fun way to determine your event’s chefs. The recipes do not have to be original but that would make it very fun. Have the event coordinator choose their favorite recipes.Once the menu is set, ask the budding neighborhood sommelier to contact a local wine store to ask for wine pairing suggestions. In Richmond I love Julie and her team at River City Cellars.

Now the focus needs to turn the décor of the evening. Have the event coordinator call the local rental vendor and ask for a meeting with one of their event coordinators. They can help you secure the tables, linens, chairs, plates, glasses, serving items and flatware you will need for the evening.

In Richmond I love working with Angie at Classic Party Rentals of Virginia; in the Charlottesville area I would suggest Festive Fare, in the Tidewater area I have used Distinctive Event Rentals. In the Northern Virginian area there is DC Rental. Most rental companies will travel to you but the delivery charge will be higher the further you’re located away from the vendor’s warehouse. No budget for rentals? “Shop” in your participants homes’ and mix and match as needed.