Oyster Festival Booth and ‘Beer and Chocolate Tasting’ Raise Funds for OBRM’s Future
Members of the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum were busy working at their booth at Oyster Festival 28. The event is a major fundraiser for the volunteers – who each gave many hours Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15 and 16, to meet and greet the public and serve them a delightful menu of foods prepared for them by their partner, Jack Halyard’s American Restaurant Bar and Grill in Oyster Bay.
This is the third year that Bernie DelBello and Mike Ventre of Jack Halyard’s have partnered with the OBRM and supplied their superb crab roll, grilled shrimp, seafood gumbo, and shrimp cocktail for the festival booth.
Working behind the counter, volunteers have noticed that the festival goers circle around the Tom Reardon Memorial Food Court checking out the “menu”. Then you see them head back for their choice of food.
At the OBRM booth, they served Saranac Draft Root Beer, and that company will provide the final beer for tasting that will be featured in their next museum benefit on Nov. 16.
Beer and Chocolate Tasting Benefit
The OBRM will partner with the Chocolate Lady for their next event. Chairman Ben Jankowski and the Chocolate Lady of Oyster Bay, Lee Perrotta, are presenting a beer and chocolate tasting to benefit the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum, Wednesday, Nov. 16, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Homestead Restaurant, 107 South St. in Oyster Bay.
Beer makers are trying to have people see beer in a different dining context. Mr. Jankowski said, “Creativity with food and beer is thriving in most parts of the country: in the Pacifc Northwest, California, and New England. New York has always been a little slow to adapt so we are providing the mechanism that demonstrates that beer can go very well with chocolates.”
He said, “The ticket price is for the purchase of the beer. The concept of the evening is a tasting, and the beer is two to three ounces per serving. The key is to pair the various nuances of flavors of the beers and the chocolates.”
At the event at the Homestead you can experience the taste sensations of four beer and chocolate pairings, with education, commentary, and anecdotes by award-winning chocolatier Lee Perrotta and Ben Jankowski, Oyster Bay Railroad Museum Chairman, nationally recognized home-brewer of 21 years, and certified beer judge in the Beer Judge Certification Program for 18 years.
“At the tasting Saranac Brewery is providing the last beer, Imperial Stout. The other beers are from the Homestead and will be some form of pilsner to begin with; an Oktoberfest beer; and Guinness will also be offered,” said OBRM Chairman Ben Jankowski.
“A fun-filled evening is in store for all,” he added.
Tickets are $35 until November 1, and $40 thereafter and at the door (if any). Please make checks payable to Oyster Bay Railroad Museum and mail to P.O. Box 335, Oyster Bay, NY 11771. For more information, contact the Chocolate Lady at 922-2002, or on Facebook or Twitter, or the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum, 558-7036, www.obrm.org, info@obrm.org.
