The Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala, the region’s premier formal fundraising event, celebrated its 30th anniversary on Thursday, March 14. Since 1984, the Gala has raised nearly $3 million for scholarships at the Academy of Culinary Arts, to support educational endeavors at Atlantic Cape Community College and to help underwrite Foundation operations.

The dining extravaganza featured original dishes from more than 50 of the region’s best restaurants. Hors d’oeuvres were prepared by students at the Academy of Culinary Arts. The dinner included  a dessert reception, co-headed by master pastry chef Eugen Ess of Trump Taj Mahal, and executive pastry chef Deb Pellegrino of Caesars Entertainment.

The Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala, the region’s premier formal fundraising event, will celebrate its 30th anniversary on March 14. Since 1984, the Gala has raised nearly $3 million for scholarships at the Academy of Culinary Arts, to support educational endeavors at Atlantic Cape Community College and to help underwrite Foundation operations.

The dining extravaganza will feature original dishes from more than 50 of the region’s best restaurants, and desserts from a variety of restaurants at Bally’s Hotel and Casino. Hors d’oeuvres will be prepared by students at the Academy of Culinary Arts, and the house specialties by about 50 area restaurants will be followed by an elegant dessert reception co-headed by master pastry chef Eugen Ess of Trump Taj Mahal, and executive pastry chef Deb Pellegrino of Caesars Entertainment.

Live music will be provided by the Sensational Soul Cruisers (pictured below), the FM Band, the Ocean City Pops and Lenny Mitchell.

Participating restaurants include American Cut at Revel, Annata Wine Bar, Atlantic Club Casino Hotel, Atlantic Grill at Caesars, Amada at Revel, Azure by Allegretti at Revel, Buddakan Atlantic City, Cacia’s Bakery, Chart House, Distrito, Girasole Ristorante & Lounge, Golden Nugget, Grotto, Harry’s Oyster Bar and Seafood at Bally’s, House of Blues, Il Mulino, Kelsey’s, Lillie’s Asian Cuisine, Lugo Cucina e Vino at Revel, Luke Palladino at Harrah’s, Mama Mia’s Ristorante & Catering, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Mia at Caesars, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Mussel Bar at Revel, Nanking Asian Fusion at Bally’s, Nero’s Tuscan Steakhouse at Caesars and Ram’s Head Inn.

Also featured will be Renault Winery, Resorts Hotel & Casino, Robert’s Steakhouse, Sammy D’s at Harrah’s, Scannicchio’s, Scarduzio’s at Showboat, Sheraton, Sofia, Steve & Cookie’s by the Bay, The Continental, The Ebbitt Room, The Palm, The Reserve at Bally’s, Revel Entertainment, The Smithville Inn, The Steakhouse at Harrah’s, The Tap Room Bar and Grill at Atlantic City Country Club, Tropicana Casino Resort, Vic and Anthony’s Steakhouse, Village Whiskey at Revel, Washington Inn and Yacht Club of Stone Harbor

 Tickets to the Gala are $225 per person. For more information go to atlantic.edu/gala, call Carrie Leahy at (609) 463-4672 or e-mail cleahy@atlantic.edu.

Diane T. McKoy, CPA and president of the Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation, and Dr. Peter Mora, president of the college, present a check for $140,000 for culinary scholarships.

ATLANTIC CITY — The Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala, the region’s premier formal fundraising event, celebrated its 29th anniversary Thursday evening, March 22, at Bally’s Traymore Ballroom.

The 2012 event featured delectable hors d’oeuvres prepared by Academy students, and showcased the specialties of 50 of the region’s best restaurants at a progressive dining experience.

Click here to see a photo gallery of the event. For a video of the event, click here.

The event also included top-of-the-line entertainment, dancing and a “dessert extravaganza” coordinated by Master Chef Eugen Ess, the executive pastry chef of the Trump Taj Mahal.

From left: Dr. Peter Mora, president of Atlantic Cape Community College, Jimmy Cooper, Esq., founder of the event, and Arlene Halpern, attend the 2012 Restaurant Gala.

Since its inception the Gala has raised more than $2.5 million for scholarships at the Academy of Culinary Arts, Atlantic CapeCommunity College and Atlantic Cape Foundation operations.

This year alone the Gala raised $140,000.

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Student chefs display the hors d’oeuvres they prepared at a past Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala.

Tickets are now on sale for southern New Jersey’s premier fundraising event for students in the culinary field — the 29th annual Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala — scheduled for Thursday, March 22, at Bally’s Grand Ballroom.

This year’s theme is “Dine Like Royalty” and promises to be the region’s crowning event in 2012, featuring lavish décor, trumpeters and a sumptuous feast.

The annual event showcases food by serving thousands of hors d’oeuvres prepared by students from the Academy of Culinary Arts, and featuring the culinary specialties of more than 40 of southern New Jersey’s finest restaurants at a progressive dining experience. An elegant dessert extravaganza will complete the night’s events.

Each year hundreds of guests attend the Gala, which also features several genres of live music, including the bands Don’t Call Me Francis, Sensational Soul Cruisers, Ocean City Pops, and Lenny Mitchell.

The event has raised more than $2.5 million since 1984. Gala proceeds benefit student scholarships at the Academy of Culinary Arts and Atlantic Cape Foundation operations.

Tickets to the Gala are $200 per person and can be ordered by calling (609) 463-4672, e-mailing acccfdn@atlantic.edu, or going here.

ATLANTIC CITY — Tickets are now on sale for southern New Jersey’s premier black-tie fundraising event. The 29th annual Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala is scheduled for Thursday, March 22, at Bally’s Atlantic City.

With the theme “Dine like Royalty,” the gala promises to be the region’s crowning event in 2012, featuring lavish décor, trumpeters and a sumptuous feast. Guests will be served thousands of hors d’oeuvres prepared by students from the Academy of Culinary Arts and culinary specialties of 40 of the area’s best restaurants in this progressive dining experience. An elegant “Dessert Extravaganza” headed by executive pastry chef Eugen Ess of Trump Taj Mahal will complete the night’s events.

Each year hundreds of guests attend the gala, which also features several genres of live music, including the Don’t Call Me Francis band, Sensational Soul Cruisers, Ocean City Pops and Lenny Mitchell.

The event has raised $2.5 million since 1984. Gala proceeds benefit student scholarships at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College and Atlantic Cape Foundation operations.

Tickets to the gala are $200 per person and can be ordered by contacting Lauren Canzanese at (609) 463-4672, e-mailing acccfdn@atlantic.edu, or clicking here.

Tickets are now on sale for one of South Jersey’s premier black-tie fundraising events, the 28th annual Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala. The Gala takes place Thursday, March 31, 6:30pm,  at Bally’s. With the theme “Putting on the Glitz: Eat, Drink and Be Dazzled,” the Gala will celebrate the spirit of the Roaring Twenties.

Tickets to the Gala are $200 per person and can be ordered by contacting Lauren Canzanese at (609) 463-4672, or online here.

The annual event showcases food by serving hors d’oeuvres prepared by students from the Academy of Culinary Arts and featuring the culinary specialties of 40 of the area’s best restaurants. An elegant “Dessert Extravaganza” headed by Executive Pastry Chef Eugene Ess of Trump Taj Mahal, will complete the night’s events.

Each year hundreds of guests attend the Gala, which also features several genres of live music, including the band Don’t Call Me Francis Band, The Fabulous Grease Band, Ocean City Pops and Lenny Mitchell.

The event has raised more than $2 million since 1984. Gala proceeds benefit student scholarships at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College.