Organization kicks off event with a tasting to benefit charity
The Colonie Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for their first ever Restaurant Week in mid-October to highlight restaurants around town, and they’re kicking the week off in a unique way.
Beginning Oct.18 and continuing through the 23rd, local restaurants will be offering three-course meals for $18.95 to commemorate the date when the town was founded.
On Oct. 17, there will be a kick-off event in the barn at the Pruyn House, where residents will be able to sample food from some of the restaurants.
To enjoy the cuisine, people will have to pay $15 a head, said Tom Nolte, executive director of the Chamber. `They will then choose which nonprofit organization they would like a portion of that money to go to, and we would donate $10 of the $15 to that organization.`
He added that people can register at coloniechamber.org, where a drop-down menu will allow them to choose where the money will go. The event will go on from noon until 3 p.m.
Nolte said he brought in `experts` when trying to plan out Restaurant Week, so he contacted Colin Demers, owner of the Century House at 997 New Loudon Road in Cohoes, to seek his advice on how to hold a successful event.
`It’s great the town is doing it,` said Demers. `I think we’re going to showcase a lot of great restaurants.`
Excited by the idea of holding a kick-off event, Demers sees the idea as something brand new to promote the special week.
`We got together with Tom, and we knew we needed to do something a little different,` he said. `The idea of launching the week with a fundraiser is certainly innovative. It’s not something I have seen done before.`
Giving back to charity is nothing new to the Century House. Last June, the eatery began providing a meal to the Regional Food Bank on Albany-Shaker Road in Latham by underwriting the cost for the food bank. The Century House has given away 100,000 meals, a benchmark that was hit earlier this month.
One of the charitable organizations that will be involved with the week is the Colonie Salvation Army, located on Central Avenue. Director of development for the thrift store, Felix Perez, has been working with the Chamber in helping out with the nonprofit portion. He said they were appreciative to be involved with the kick-off event and is excited to discover new restaurants during the week.
`Initially, we were overwhelmed and so grateful,` he said. `With economic troubles, it’s hard to get donors. Disposable income is a lot less than it used to be.`
Perez said he hopes the kick-off event will bring more support to the Salvation Army and that people will recognize the work they do for inner city children.
`[The event] introduces them to nonprofits,` he said. `We’re hoping to pick up donations and bell ringers as well. We’ll have a table for people to sign up as bell ringers.`
He said having this event makes it much easier for people to donate to different charities because it includes a meal as opposed to just giving $10 to the Salvation Army.
`It’s rare to see an organization take the time to look at the restaurants and the community but also the nonprofits,` Perez said. `The Chamber is really about community and doing things differently. They’re making a statement that they’re here to help.`
Nolte is looking forward to the week and the kick-off event and hopes to see a lot of the residents from the Town of Colonie attend.
`We’re hoping residents and people are going to get out the and support the local restaurants and be able to enjoy a great meal for a great price,` he said, `and to give back to a organization they believe in at the kick-off.`
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