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Pressroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2011
Contact: Mary Prier
Sara Steil
(757) 305-9064

Tuna tartare wins over the critics at Spring Homearama's Taste of Virginia Beach competition

Swell owner Hector Palalay accepts the Critics’ Choice award with manager Rhonda Ward and head chef Brian Kettl from Hampton Roads Magazine’s food editor Patrick Evans-Hylton at Tidewater Builders Association’s Taste of Virginia Beach on Monday, June 6. Their fried wonton topped with layers of tuna tartare, seaweed salad and bruleed crab and garnished with sweet chili sauce and pomegranate reduction was a hit with the critics.

Virginia Natural Gas’ marketing director Tom Rumley awards La Bella Italia’s Joe Caruso, chef Victoria Caruso, owner and chef Anna Alaimo, and niece Benvenuta Berberi with the Peoples’ Choice award for their tortellini Michelangelo, puffed pastry and blood orange sangria at Tidewater Builders Association’s Taste of Virginia Beach on Monday, June 6. Also pictured is Hampton Roads Magazine’s food editor Patrick Evans-Hylton.

Crowds lined up for a taste of tuna tartare and bruleed crab, bacon-wrapped scallops, crab soup and more at the Taste of Virginia Beach. Sponsored by Hampton Roads magazine and Virginia Natural Gas, the evening offered hundreds of Homearama guests the chance to taste local restaurant fare while visiting the nine fully decorated and landscaped showcase homes during their visit Monday, June 6.

Four local establishments served up samples from their menus in competition for the awards in the Eagle’s Nest community in southern Virginia Beach, the site of Tidewater Building Association’s 2011 Spring Homearama.

At the end of the evening, Swell clinched the coveted Critics’ Choice award for its fried wonton topped with layers of tuna tartare, seaweed salad and bruleed crab and garnished with sweet chili sauce and pomegranate reduction. Patrick Evans-Hylton, food editor of Hampton Roads magazine, led a team of local food writers in determining the winner of the Critics’ Choice award.

La Bella Italia took home the Peoples’ Choice honors for its tortellini Michelangelo, puffed pastry and blood orange sangria. The tortellini Michelangelo won the peoples’ heart with its combination of caramelized onions, prosciutto, mushrooms and peas in a cheesy cream sauce.

Also participating in the tasting were chefs from Anchor Inn and Seacrest Restaurant. Guests also enjoyed a champagne toast in The ODU House throughout the evening.