Photos: Michael Chiarello making mozzarella, Michael Chiarello with hostess Liz Fisch

On October 23, 2006, Gary's Wine & Marketplace/Taster's Guild sponsored its annual Grand Tasting event at the Madison Hotel. Hundreds of guests had the opportunity to sample over 700 wines while munching on delicious food and desserts. All proceeds from the event were donated to charity. The Interfaith Food Pantry was one of the recipients of this year's Grant Tasting grants, receiving a donation of $10,000. The other recipient was Morristown Memorial Hospital's Campaign for the Heart.

Later that week, twenty people gathered at the home of Liz and Gary Fisch, owners of Gary's Wine & Marketplace, for a charity dinner to benefit the Interfaith Food Pantry. Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello, star of Food Network's "Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello", and Gary's Wine & Marketplace's Chef Loryn Dagon teamed up to prepare a delicious dinner, which was paired with wines from Michael's winery. A fun evening was had by all, and the evening raised an additional $4,000 for the Interfaith Food Pantry. 

Gary’s Wine & Marketplace began as a small wine shop in Madison, New Jersey in 1987 and has grown to be one of the largest fine wine businesses in the New York metropolitan area, with stores in Madison and Bernardsville, NJ. In addition to its generous selection of fine wines from around the world, Gary's offers expert advice and hosts numerous tasting events throughout the year.  More information can be found at www.garyswine.com

The Interfaith Food Pantry provides emergency and supplemental food to more than 1,400 Morris County families in need and currently distributes more than 10,000 lbs. of food per week. For more information, visit the Pantry's website at www.mcifp.org.