26th Annual Taste of Amelia Island

Image courtesy of The Taste of Amelia Island/Devouring Jax

The 2017 Taste of Amelia Island Gala has grown to a capacity of 900 people coming off a hugely successful 25th Anniversary event in 2016 and includes over 20 of the island’s best Chefs, complimentary fine wines, a 50/50 Raffle, live Chef Demo, live music and Guest Chef Judge, Tom Gray, of Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails and Town Hall Restaurant, deciding the Chef’s Best Dish of the Taste.  Attendees will also cast their votes for the People’s Choice for Best Dish of the Taste.  Rhineland Cutlery will provide the engraved Chef awards.

Returning Chefs include Chef Jose Salome, who made his mark on the Atlanta food scene before relocating to Amelia Island several years ago. Chef Jose Salome worked with some of the city’s most celebrated chefs, from Gary Mennie at Canoe to Kevin Rathbun at Buckhead Diner.  He built his career in the kitchens that helped shape Atlanta’s dining scene over the last decade.

Additionally, Chef Jose worked under Adam Evans, opening The Optimist, which was listed as one of Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants in America in 2013, as well as having cooked for the prestigious James Beard House as part of the American Express Celebrity Chef’s Tour.  The tour featured James Beard House dinners in major cities outside of New York.  Specifically, Chef Jose cooked with Chef Scott Schwartz for the Atlanta dinner.

Before moving to Amelia Island, Chef Jose was the Chef de Cuisine at Valenza in Atlanta.

Among other notable Chefs, Bravo Top Chef finalist, Chef Kenny Gilbert, will also participate.  Chef Kenny has cooked for the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Stedman Graham, Samuel L. Jackson, and A.J. Calloway, just to name a few.   Chef Kenny has competed on and won Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and beat Chef Bobby Flay at his own game on Beat Bobby Flay.

The Taste weekend will include special events that can be added to the Taste Gala to create a full weekend package of food and wine experiences, with hotel accommodation options also being offered as part of the event.  Special events will be hosted by 29 South, Amelia Tavern, Burlingame Restaurant, Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen, and White Oak Conservation.

Additional special events can be added to the Taste Gala. Prices vary depending upon the special event. 

This year’s culinary line-up includes:

29 South
Ahan Thai 
Amelia Tavern Restaurant & Brew Pub
Burlingame Restaurant
The Crab Trap
David’s Restaurant and Lounge
Espana
Fancy Sushi
Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen
LaMancha
Nana Teresa’s Bake Shop
Omni Amelia Island Plantation – Culinary Team
Pablo’s Mexican Cuisine
Peterbrooke Chocolatier
Salt Life Food Shack
The Sandbar and Kitchen
Sliders Seaside Grill / Ocean Club of Amelia
The Surf Restaurant and Bar
White Oak Conservation

Special events  for this year’s Taste will be offered by 29 South, Amelia Tavern, Burlingame Restaurant, Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen, and White Oak Conservation, and include:

29 South – Four Course Chef’s Tasting Menu Highlighting the Best of Coastal North Florida – Thursday, September 28th, and Friday, September 29th, with two seatings each evening.

Amelia Tavern – Three course tasting, southern American fusion with beer pairing.  Friday, September 29th, 6 p.m. seating only. 

Burlingame Restaurant – Chef’s Tasting of the Best of Burlingame – Thursday, September 28th, Friday, September 29th, and Saturday, September 30th – multiple seatings each evening.

Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen – Hosted by Bravo,s Top Chef finalist, Chef Kenny Gilbert, A Meat Lovers Affair – Three Course Family Style Southern Experience - Friday, September 29th, one seating – event runs 6-9 p.m.

White Oak Conservation – Winos for Rhinos – A three and half hour adventure including a tour of the new and expanding rhino facilities, meet and greet with the rhinos and their caretakers, complementary wine and hors d’oeuvres, and gourmet dinner with wine pairings.

Date: October 01, 2017 6:00 PM-9:00 PM

Location: Omni Amelia Island Plantation | 39 Beach Lagoon Road, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 | 904-261-2771

Admission: $100 (Gala) Tickets are non-refundable. 

Event website: 904tix.com