BOCA RATON — The Boca Bacchanal Committee will toast the era of South Florida’s legendary Mango Gang chefs at the ninth annual Boca Bacchanal March 18-20.
The announcement was made at the annual Pairings Party hosted by the Raton Resort & Club, Executive Chef Andrew Roenbeck and Comerica Bank. At the party, attended by Vintner Dinner hosts, event partners, committee members and enthusiastic patrons, guests enjoyed a sumptuous array of hors d’ oeuvres and a variety of wines provided by Founding Partner, Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC).
Jim Dunn, left, with Debbie Abrams and Kurt Younker.
In celebrating the era of the Mango Gang Chefs, Boca Bacchanal honors the handful of innovative culinarians who created South Florida’s distinctive regional cuisine during the 1980’s, bringing an international spotlight to the area.
They also inspired countless young chefs who have continued their tradition of excellence. They were dubbed “the Mango Gang” by the national food media as their acclaim began to take the culinary world by storm.
Boca Bacchanal Honorary Chairmen Betsy Fletcher and Skipp Jackman, along with Chairmen Kate and Ted Toomey, also recognized the Boca Bacchanal Vintner Dinner hosts, who soon will be welcoming the presenting chefs and vintners to their homes to create memorable evenings of sensational food and wine.
“We are so grateful for the generosity of our gracious hosts and event partners, who completely underwrite the Vintner Dinners so that we can donate 100% of the proceeds to the Boca Raton Historical Society,” Kate Toomey said. “This year, in addition to private estate homes which are magnificent venues, for the first time ever, one of the dinners will be hosted at the elegant Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club.”
The Boca Bacchanal Committee has invited a Mango Gang sextet of talented Vintner Dinner chefs to Boca Bacchanal. “We give great attention to how we match the chefs with the vintners so that each complements the other’s distinctive style, and then we name each dinner just to make it more fun,” said Chris Kearney of RNDC and the Wine Advisory Chairman of Boca Bacchanal. “Then the chefs create their menu and work with the vintner to pair each course with the perfect wine, bearing in mind that each vintner is pouring the top of their portfolio. The result is an amazing collaboration.”
For more information on Boca Bacchanal, such as event schedules, profiles of participating chefs and vintners, or to inquire about event partnerships or volunteer opportunities, and to order tickets, contact the Boca Raton Historical Society at 561.395.6766 X 101 or visit the event website at www.bocabacchanal.com.