The figures are in for the10th annual Taste of Boca Grande and generous donors pushed the fund-raiser past the $250,000 mark for its first decade.
Taste of Boca Grande organizers Nick Kaiser, Blanche and Thor Johnson, Kathy Hawken and Brian Corcoran said this year's take reached a total of $31,500 for the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
The amount was down roughly $3,000 for a year earlier and organizers worried the slippage might be attributed to the elements, which have plagued the outdoor event with wind and rain over the years.
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The giant white tent was great protection against the elements at this year’s Taste of boca Grande.
But the Taste of Boca Grande organizers covered themselves with glory for having the foresight this year to cover the proceedings with a big white tent. It helped avoid a recurrence of the 2010 Taste of Boca Grande where participants were drenched by a seasonal winter downpour.
The giant white big top also enhanced the acoustics of the Steve Chapin Band. Some leakage came in through seams in the tenting but not enough to be truly bothersome.
For an event once content to serve hot dogs and hamburgers, the sophistication level of the food at the Taste of Boca Grande has grown over the years to become one of the two premier island events for foodies along with the king of them all: The Gasparilla Inn & Club Wine and Food Weekend.
Organizers will give the check to Harry Chapin Food Bank representatives Friday at the Boca Bay Pass Club.
