Downbeach restaurants to participate in the 39th Atlantic Cape Restaurant Gala

Johnny's restaurant in Margate presents a featured dish.

MAYS LANDING Ticket holders can indulge in a nearly endless array of palate pleasing eats and raise money for Atlantic Cape culinary students at this year's 39^th Atlantic Cape Restaurant Gala Immersion," being held 6-9:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31 at Harrah's Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City.

To date, 35 local restaurants have signed on to provide dinner options for the hundreds of anticipated guests at this year's event, including several from the Downbeach area. Ten area businesses will be participating in the dessert extravaganza along with a dozen regional wineries, breweries and distilleries.

This year's Gala will truly be a time to celebrate after the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the annual fundraising event to be canceled in 2020 and moved outdoors in 2021, Atlantic Cape Foundation Executive Director Jean McAlister said. We are excited to be back at Harrah's and that so many of our favorite local eateries and businesses can join us to celebrate food and raise scholarship funds for the students in the Academy of Culinary Arts.

The Atlantic Cape Restaurant Gala this year will honor retired Academy of Culinary Arts Dean Chef Kelly McClay and, Community Honoree, the Mullock Family of Cape May.

The gala is a major fundraising initiative of the Atlantic Cape Foundation, and has raised nearly $4 million toward scholarship for students in the Academy of Culinary Arts.

The students of the Academy of Culinary Arts will again be preparing and serving hors d'oeuvres during the cocktail hour. The following restaurants will be participating this year:

• Aroma Restaurant


• Bar 32 Chocolate


• Bocca Coalfire Bistro


• Chelsea Five Gastropub


• Conscious Cooks


• Cousin's Restaurant


• Cuzzie's Pizzeria & Kitchen


• Dougherty's Steakhouse


• Deauville Inn


• Eastwind


• Ginger & Spice Catering


• Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill


• Gordon Ramsay Steak


• Gregory's Restaurant & Bar


• Il Mulino New York


• Il Verdi


• Johnny's Café


• Knife & Fork Inn


• Kuro


• Makai


• Mama Mia's Ristorante


• Martorano's


• Morton's Steakhouse


• Nero's Italian Steakhouse


• Romanelli's Garden Cafe


• Rhythm & Spirits


• Sandpiper Coastal Bar & Grill


• Scannicchio's Restaurant


• The Smithville Inn


• Stir It Up


• TacocaT


• Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall


• Twenties Italian Bistro

Dessert will be provided by Baked by the Ocean, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Hotel and Casino, Casciano Coffee Bar & Sweetery, Formica's Bakery, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Mannino's Cannoli Express, Renault Winery, Tropicana, the Crafty Cakery, Tuckahoe Cheesecakes, and Steaks, Shakes and Cakes

Beverages and tasting will be provided by Cape May Brewing Company, Carton Brewing Co., Lazy Eye Distillery, Little Water Distillery, Mamma Bella Cello & Liqueur, Renault Winery, Sharrott Winery, Somers Point Brewing Company, Tuckahoe Brewing Co., Champagne Carbon, Fedway Associates, Gallo Wine and Tito's Handmade Vodka.

Thank you to all of our sponsors for participating in this year's gala, McAlister said. We are most fortunate to have the support of our community.

For more information about the Restaurant Gala, visit atlantic.edu/gala or contact Maria Kellett at 609 463-3670.