Salt Creek Grille to hold annual Wine & Martini Tasting to Benefit Michael’s Feat

The Salt Creek Grille’s 13th Annual Wine & Martini Tasting Fundraiser will take place on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7:00pm to benefit Michael’s Feat, a local charity that provides support to families carrying and caring for seriously ill newborns. Tickets are $150 per person and space is limited. Sponsorships are available. Please visit www.michaelsfeat.org to purchase tickets or sign up for sponsorships. For further information and details, please contact Tara Cadet at 732-241-0370 or taracadet103@gmail.com.

To date more than $850,000 has been raised by Salt Creek Grille’s Wine and Martini Tasting annual fundraiser for 12 local charities that serve children’s needs with 100 percent of the funds going directly to the charities. The event is supported by donations from Salt Creek Grille and its vendors and local businesses that provide food, wine and other services. As in past years, several wine vendors will pour over one hundred premium wines to taste and a spirits representative will concoct specialty martinis for guests to sample. Guests are always impressed with the lavish amounts of delicious offerings including hors d’oeuvres, pasta, carving stations, desserts and more by Salt Creek Grille. In addition, local food businesses are represented including an artisanal cheese table donated by Sickles Market, Little Silver, and a raw bar provided by Lusty Lobster, Highlands. The Bobby Boyd Trio entertains the event’s attendees with live jazz music. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and a live auction with local DJ entertainer NJ 101.5 Big Joe Henry as auctioneer.

In addition to the event, and to further public awareness about the charity’s mission, Salt Creek Grille’s co-owner Steve Bidgood raises a flag with the charity’s logo at the waterfront restaurant’s site year round. A presentation of the flag was made to the Michael’s Feat executive board earlier in January. Co-founders Dana and Adam Puharic appeared before Salt Creek Grille’s staff on that day to inform them about the history of Michael’s Feat and its mission.

The Puharics explained that Michael’s Feat was created and named in loving memory of their newborn son, Michael Gerard Puharic, who was born on July 29, 2000 and died 83 hours later due to a chromosome disorder known as Trisomy 13. The Charity is dedicated to providing comfort and easing the burden for parents carrying and caring for seriously ill newborns in Monmouth and Ocean counties. To date, Michael’s Feat has helped hundreds of families and raised over $1.5 million dollars.

“While he was not with us long, Michael’s legacy lives on and continues to inspire hope,” explained Dana. “His brave struggle and the love and caring he brought out in people remains an amazing accomplishment. This is Michael’s “feat.” “

Funds raised at the Salt Creek Grille Wine & Martini Tasting Fundraiser will help finance the Michael’s Feat Parent Suite at Monmouth Medical. Michael’s Feat has also provided and manages rooms at Centra State Medical Center and at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center. The rooms provide a home away from home where families can rest and be close to their newborn.

“We thank Steve and the Salt Creek Grille family for the opportunity to share our mission and our passion for helping seriously ill newborns with a new audience,” Dana Puharic, co-founder of Michael’s Feat said. “We look forward to using this event to bring families peace, comfort and treasured time together at the Michael’s Feat family rooms. The generosity of the participants will benefit our region for years to come.”

“Ever since we opened our doors in April 1998 we have supported the community that we serve,” said Steve Bidgood, who was recently named “New Jersey’s Restaurateur of the Year 2015” by the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association. “Michael’s Feat provides a critical support service to local families who are coping with seriously ill newborns and we are honored to do our part by providing Michael’s Feat with an event to help raise funds and public awareness.”

About Michael’s Feat

The Michael Gerard Puharic Memorial Fund, Inc. is a local 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing comfort and easing the burden for parents carrying and caring for seriously ill newborns.

We supply material goods and financial support. This allows families caring for an ill preemie or newborn time to focus on what is important – caring for their child.

Michael’s Feat was created in named in loving memory of Michael Gerard Puharic. Michael was born on July 29, 2000 to Adam and Dana Puharic. During the pregnancy, Dana and Adam were informed that Michael would face grave health problems resulting from a chromosome disorder known as Trisomy 13. Sadly, his life lasted only 83 hours. While he was not with us long, Michael’s legacy lives on and continues to inspire hope. His brave struggle and the love and caring he brought out in people remains an amazing accomplishment. This is Michael’s “feat.”

Working with liaisons at Monmouth Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center and CentraState Medical Center, Michael’s Feat connects families caring for ill infants with the services or items they need in their time of duress, such as meals and gas cards, respite for siblings staying at home and many other areas where these families need support. We also work in a liaison role with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (C.H.O.P.).

About Salt Creek Grille

For over a decade Salt Creek Grille has been a neighborhood fixture in Rumson, inspiring a sense of community and pride with it’s “welcome home” ambience that makes guests feel at home night after night. The ski lodge-like architecture, award-winning menu, boutique wine list and hospitable and knowledgeable staff all contribute to making Salt Creek Grille the most popular restaurant at the Jersey Shore year round. The American grill fare centers around the authentic mesquite wood-fired grill serving appetizers, gourmet dinner salads, exceptional sandwiches, Rumson’s best burgers, tender steaks, chops and chicken, fall-off-the bone ribs, fresh seafood, housemade desserts and more, all made from scratch daily. A private dining room with panoramic views of the Navesink River is the site of numerous memorable social celebrations and corporate events for groups from 20 to 150. Salt Creek Grille is known as a leader within the industry and within its community. Co-owner Steve Bidgood was named “New Jersey’s Restaurateur of the Year 2015.”

Salt Creek Grille, 4 Bingham Avenue, Rumson, NJ, open daily, cocktails at 4 and dinner at 5. Sunday Brunch from 11 – 2:30, lunch 1-5, dinner at 5. Midweek specials. 732.933.9272 www.saltcreekgrille.com