35th Annual Restaurant Gala To Showcase Top Region Restaurants; Newcomers include Souzai Sushi and Sake, Los Amigos

The Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala’s 35th annual dining extravaganza will feature original dishes from some of the region’s best restaurants at the March 28 event in the Avalon Ballroom of Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City.

The annual event celebrates food with tantalizing hors d’oeuvres prepared by students at the Academy of Culinary Arts and the house specialties of nearly 40 of the area’s best restaurants at a sumptuous dining experience. A dessert extravaganza, organized by Academy of Culinary Arts Chef Educator Daniel Matt, will complete the evening’s festivities with a variety of delectable desserts and confections, along with cordials and special offerings from an espresso bar.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka will return to this year’s event as the official vodka sponsor. Also returning are Tomfoolery Brewing Company of Hammonton and Little Water Distillery of Atlantic City to provide exciting libations for attendees to sample. They will be joined by Cape May Distillery, 7 Mile Brewery of Rio Grande and Dream Well Wines, Inc. of Nyack, New York, new additions to the annual event.

Participating restaurants include: Annata Wine Bar, Assaggio!, Blue Water Grill, Breadsticks Café and Grill, Buddakan Atlantic City, Cardinal Bistro, Chart House, The Continental, The Ebbitt Room, Dock’s Oyster House, Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill, Grotto at the Golden Nugget, Guy Fieri’s Chophouse, Icona Avalon, Il Mulino, Il Verdi, Johnny’s Café, Kelsey’s, Knife and Fork Inn, La Fontana Coast, Los Amigos, Mama Mia’s Ristorante & Catering, Martorano’s at Harrah’s Atlantic City, McCormick & Schmick’s Fresh Seafood and Steaks, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Nero’s, Olon Restaurante, Phillips Seafood and The Princeton Bar and Grill.

Also featured are: Scannicchio’s, the only restaurant to participate in all 35 restaurant galas, Sheraton Atlantic City, Sofia, Souzai Sushi and Sake, The Smithville Inn, Steve and Cookie’s By the Bay, The Washington Inn, Valentina’s Trattoria Italiana, Veracruz, Vic and Anthony’s Steakhouse, and Yacht Club of Stone Harbor.

This year’s theme is “Culinary Magic,” showcasing the extraordinary talent and cooking expertise of the students and alumni of the Academy of Culinary Arts.

The event has raised $3 million for scholarships since 1984. All Gala proceeds benefit student scholarships at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College and Atlantic Cape Foundation operations.

This year, the Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala will recognize the 2017 passing of James L. Cooper, a visionary and driving force behind the Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation. Cooper was a long-standing champion of the college's mission and a strong supporter of the Gala.

Tickets to the Gala are $225 a person and can be ordered by contacting Kristin Jackson at 609-463-3621 or kjackson@atlantic.edu or by visiting www.atlantic.edu/gala. Advertising opportunities are also still available.