Want to go?
WHAT: Carnivál
WHEN: 4-7 p.m. May 15
WHERE: El Meson Restaurant, 903 E. Dixie Drive, West Carrollton
COST: $50 which includes food, a non-alcoholic beverage and entertainment. All proceeds will go to help people with developmental disabilities. $20 on each ticket can be taken as a tax deductible donation.
MORE INFORMATION: Purchase tickets online at www.partnersohio.com, El Meson, or call Pam Skelly at 937-278-0791 or pskelly@rhadayton.com
A tasty meal and the good feeling that comes with knowing their money is going to help others?
The Carnivál celebrity waiter event benefiting Partners for Community Living at El Meson on May 15 highlights the generosity and philanthropy of restaurants, chefs and the community while incorporating a little dining adventure.
Bill Castro, co-owner of El Meson, and his team have partnered with Partners For Community Living, the partnership of Choices In Community Living and Resident Home Association, which provides safe homes and services for people with developmental disabilities. All proceeds from the meal will go to help continue the work this organization does in the community.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU
Guests will have the opportunity to watch as the national dish of Brazil — Feijoada Completa, a stew of black beans mixed with beef, pork, chorizo and ribs — is prepared in front of them.
Other dishes that will be served include:
• Caldudas — Chilean Beef Empanadas with raisins, olives and hard-boiled egg
• Moque do Frutos del Mar — A Brazilian seafood stew
• Arroz Brasileiro — Brazilian style rice and tomatoes
• Pollo De Los Andes — Chicken with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, cheese and balsamic vinaigrette
• A dip chip trio of homemade tortilla, malanga and plantain chips with three different kinds of salsa
• Churros — Pastry rolled in cinnamon and topped with choice of chocolate or caramel sauce
As part of the event, guests also will receive a complementary Caipirinha to sip on. Keeping with the theme this refreshing summer sipper is the national drink of Brazil made with cachaça, a distilled spirit made from sugarcane, sugar and lime.
THE ATMOSPHERE
“This is not just dinner. We promise our guests an experience they will be talking about for a long time,” Castro said.
It’s an adventure infused with the flavors, sounds and excitement of Carnivál topped off with the steel drum sounds of Scotty McEvoy of the SunBurners, but it’s also part of a much larger story.
It’s one event in a pool of hundreds of charity fundraising events that will be held at local restaurants this year that will help expose people to different food all while raising critical operating dollars for local non-profits.
“I would partner with any group to help them raise funds rather than continuing giving donations. In a restaurant, the profits are so low that it is difficult to continue to give. But jointly we can work together to achieve the community needs,” said Castro, who says El Meson has worked with over 50 different groups over the years to help fundraise. “We designate Thursdays as our community building Thursdays where we will help create a party or host a party and give the percentage back to the group sponsoring the event.”
CELEBRITY WAITERS
Celebrity waiters will compete to see who can raise the most money. Those participating include Nancy Wilson and Frye Guy of K99.1 FM; Larry Hansgen, WHIO Radio; Gabrielle Enright, WHIO TV; Natasha Williams, WKEF/WRGT TV; Christian Hahn, Joseph Airport Toyota; Judge Anthony Capizzi; Jim Bucher, Buch TV Guy; The Rubi Girls; Claudia Cortez, Dayton Hispanic Chamber; and Rand Oliver, Wenco Construction.
“We need to be a voice for our neighbors, friends and family members with developmental disabilities so that they share in those basic things we all seek in life ….. dignity, a safe place to live, a purpose,” said Hansgen, who will be acting as auctioneer for the evening.
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