Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Taste of Recovery an oasis of food, sobriety
The third annual Taste of Recovery on June 1 in Delray Beach may be dry of alcohol, but it will be an oasis of community spirit.
“It’s a beautiful event — really something to see,” says Christopher Finley, president of the Crossroads Club, a nonprofit clubhouse in Delray Beach where drug and alcohol addicts gather for 12-step meetings. “This is our big annual fundraiser for the club. Last year, we raised $100,000. This year, we’re hoping to exceed that amount significantly because we’ve had good support from sponsors.”
More than 20 restaurants from Boca Raton to West Palm Beach are expected to offer gourmet bites to the beats of Dave Scott and the Reckless Shots, a blues-rock band from Vero Beach.
“We’re hoping for 1,000 people. Last year, we had a huge rainstorm a couple of hours before the event, so it discouraged people from coming,” says Finley, who’s organizing the event in between his other job as a lawyer. “Just the recovery community alone could generate 600 to 800 people, though. Crossroads has 650 to 700 people attending 12 to 15 meetings every day. That’s why we have to stay open.”
Louie Bossi, an executive chef and partner of Big Time Restaurant Group, founded the event as a Crossroads member. Three of the group’s restaurants will be represented: City Oyster and Sushi Bar, Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar and Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar Pizzeria.
“It’s all top restaurants that people would know,” Finley says. “Seasons 52 is providing all the desserts in their shot glasses. They’ve been a big supporter since the beginning.”
This year, the chef competition will feature a people’s choice award in addition to the professional critics’ award.
“The greatest feedback comes from people not in recovery,” Finley says. “They were blown away by what they perceived as the recovery community versus what they actually saw at the event. No one was drunk and everyone was cordial and courteous.”
Tickets cost $40 via Go.TheCrossroadsClub.com or $50 at the gate for the event from 6 to 9 p.m. at Old School Square Pavilion, 51 N. Swinton Ave.
“It’s been a real pleasure working with people in the recovery community,” Finley says. “They are passionate and compassionate about helping others recover.”