A Taste of Glynn celebrates local culinary artistry while raising funds for Amity House

Chefs from throughout Brunswick and the Golden Isles are polishing up their utensils and getting ready for the 11^th A Taste of Glynn, Sunday March 27 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island. The annual fundraiser benefits the Glynn Community Crisis Center (Amity House / Hope House), and provides a wonderful opportunity for area restaurants and caterers to show off their skills and signature dishes.

A Taste of Glynn takes place at the beautiful King and Prince
Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island.
(Photos by Lindy Thompson, Golden Isles Photography)

The event takes place at the beautiful King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, right next to the ocean – a perfect venue for an event that typically attracts 1,000 to 1,200 people for an evening of culinary delights, silent auctions and live entertainment.

Restaurants and caterers from throughout the area compete for awards in judged and People's Choice competitions. Awards are presented in a variety of categories including appetizers, soup, sandwiches, barbeque, seafood, gourmet, health conscious, international and dessert. An award also is given for the best overall presentation.

Coastal Kitchen of St. Simons Island has participated and been a winner in A Taste of Glynn for the past three years. "The atmosphere and the patrons are fantastic," says owner Jeff Montaigne. "One of the coolest parts is how well everything comes together. It just gets better and better every year."

Christie Ridinger of CARGO Portside Grill in Brunswick agrees. "It's the people who make being in the restaurant business fun," she says. "The work is hard, the hours are long and you give up a large part of your life. A Taste of Glynn is a great opportunity to see and talk with people in a fun, relaxed atmosphere, especially for the chefs."

Tom Jones of Millhouse Steakhouse serves a patron at
A Taste of Glynn.

"There are a lot of good restaurants in the area and there are always people who go all out with their food and their displays," says Tom Jones of Millhouse Steakhouse, a perennial participant and winner. "For us, the return has been incredible and we work hard to raise the bar each year."

Great food is only part of the experience. This year, A Taste of Glynn will feature live entertainment by three different performing groups – "Three of Us," "The Not Brothers" and jazz saxophonist Michael Hulett. There will be the traditional Silent Auction, replete with an array of great prizes including vacations, airline tickets, a bike and much more. And, the annual wine raffle.

For the second year, the auction will feature a collection of bowls painted by local artists and donated by color me happy in downtown Brunswick. Participating artists include Ed Hose, Pilliard Dickle, Natalie Bishop, Ellen Moriarty, Georgia Kellogg, Lois Henry, Meghan Davis, John Sabbe, Kate Sparks, Alyson Tucker, Ann Marie Dalis, Linda Wunder and Michelle Brown.

"Deep Friars" by Ed Hose is one of the special
bowls decorated by local artists for the silent auction.
(Photo by Patrick Saylor)

"As a person without a whole lot of extra time or extra money, it is really nice to be able to contribute in some meaningful way to the charities I love," explains artist Ed Hose. "I consider it a total honor to be a part of this event, I know the amazing work this organization does. In addition to providing life changing services to so many women and families. The people who run Amity House provide hope that life can be brighter again."

The fun and festivity of A Taste of Glynn are inarguable. What could be better than spending a spring evening in a beautiful locale, enjoying the best offerings of our local restaurants and caterers, and catching up with friends after a long winter?

But there's more to it than that. Much more.

"A Taste of Glynn is our primary fundraiser for the entire year," explains Elizabeth Sorrells, president of the board of Glynn Community Crisis Center. "It is critical to the services we offer by providing a substantial portion of our annual income. I like to think of it as a 'southern garden party by the ocean' to benefit a great cause."

"I don't think there is anyone on the planet who doesn't know someone who has been touched in some way by domestic violence," says event co-chair Gerri Landrum. "There are people who, through their own strength and determination, can get themselves out of a bad situation. Unfortunately, there are others who, for a variety of reasons, aren't able to do that without help. They need and deserve our support."

For the past 28 years, that support has been provided by Glynn Community Crisis Center, through its resident programs at Amity House and Hope House, a 24-hour hotline and long list of community outreach programs and nonresident services.

Domestic violence knows no bounds, be it race, socio-economic status or gender. Often its victims are silent, hidden from every day view. Everyone who attends A Taste of Glynn supports Glynn Community Crisis Center, and gives those women, children and men the resources they need to begin a new life, without fear.

A Taste of Glynn is presented by Moore Stephens Tiller LLC, MST Wealth Management LLC and Stambaugh Aviation, as well as many other local businesses and individuals. Tickets are $50 per person in advance, or $60 the day of the event. They can be purchased by calling Amity House at (912) 264-1348 or picking them up at Moore Stephens Tiller and MST Wealth Management, 1612 Newcastle St. in Brunswick; color me happy, Hattie's Books and Lai Lai's in Brunswick, The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, or SunTrust Bank on Sea Island Road, St. Simons Island.

Additional information can be found at A Taste of Glynn's official website, and on Facebook.

SHUTTLE SERVICE FOR A TASTE OF GLYNN

Free shuttle service for A Taste of Glynn patrons will be provided from Massengale Park on Ocean Boulevard, St. Simons Island, to the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort. Shuttle service will begin at 3:30 pm and end at 8:30 pm.