To the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, giving back is in good taste — and style.
Village restaurateurs, merchants and officials gathered at Jericho Terrace Nov. 12 for the chamber’s biannual “Taste and Style in Mineola” event, which aims to showcase local businesses while raising money to support community organizations.
“This event here is of course to give back, and that’s the main focus, but it’s also to highlight, ‘Look what Mineola offers,” chamber President Tony Lubrano said.
About 15 Mineola restaurants, such as Elearnor Rigby’s, Plum Tomato and Lubrano’s own Piccola Bussola, offered tastes of their various dishes for those in attendance to sample.
About 10 clothing merchants, including Richard Harris Menswear, Salon ECO and Tsontos Furs had items on display.
Plum Tomato owner Bob Berman, whose restaurant at 228 Old County Road just marked its third year in Mineola, said he and his chef try to create a special dish for “Taste and Style.”
To him, the event is about making more Mineola connections.
“I love meeting new people, and it’s for a good cause and a good occasion,” Berman said.
The event’s proceeds will go to seven Mineola community organizations: the village’s Volunteer Fire Department, the Auxiliary Police Department, the Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, Friends of the Mineola Library, the Mineola Athletic Association and the Mineola American Legion.
In addition to the financial boost, Mineola firefighter Jack Fernandes said being a part of “Taste and Style” helps the fire department build good “public relations.”
“It’s a great thing for us,” he said.
“Taste and Style” also featured a silent auction, raffle and fashion show featuring items from local clothing stores modeled by Mineola figures, including village Trustee Paul Cusato and veteran Gabe Parajos.
Neal Kalen of Richard Harris Men’s wear at 234A Jericho Turnpike said his store’s traditionally tailored clothes featured in the fashion show appeal to the “classic gentleman,” which is what he finds Mineola customers want.
“People should know and people should understand that there is clothing for them,” Kalen said.
New York City’s WCBS weekend morning anchor Diane Macedo and WNBC traffic reporter Lauren Scala, both Mineola natives, acted as the fashion show’s guest emcees.
Scala, who was also involved with the last “Taste and Style” event in 2013, said she and Macedo were grateful to be able to help Mineola out.
“It just really means a lot to us to come back and do something great for the community, to give back to a community that raised us,” she said.
This year’s turnout was a little lower than usual, Lubrano said. Pat Shan, owner of Salon ECO at 250 Jericho Turnpike, said she would have liked to see more vendors.
But that didn’t keep her from picking up new clients, nor did it stop her employees from having fun modeling in the fashion show.
“I think everybody really has a good time here,” she said.
