Delaware Botanic Gardens to host virtual dinner Sept. 25

Delaware Botanic Gardens will hold a virtual annual dinner from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25.

DBG President Ray Sander noted that the tradition of this annual event began at Good Earth Market with Matt Haley and Sue Ryan. For the last two years, the celebration has been held at the gardens site.

This year, the COVID-19 situation necessitated innovation and flexibility. Fortunately, the gardens’ longtime partner SoDel Concepts has perfected the virtual dinner concept. Scott Kammerer and his great team will present an amazing five-course dinner with a special cocktail. The complete menu is available at the DBG website.

Ted and Kami Banks of Banks Wines & Spirits in Millville have again agreed to contribute the wines. Each guest will receive a five-course Tuscan-inspired dinner and cocktail; couples will receive a bottle of Conti Di San Bonifacio Pinot Grigio and a bottle of Conti Di San Bonifacio Sangiovese. Single diners will receive one bottle of wine, either Pinot Grigio or Sangiovese.

Tickets for this fundraising dinner are $275 per couple and $138 single. Dinners will be available for contactless, curbside pickup from 5 to 5:30 p.m., Sept. 25, at one of three SoDel restaurants: Catch 54 in Fenwick Island, Northeast Seafood Kitchen in Ocean View, or Bluecoast in Rehoboth Beach.

When ordering tickets, diners will specify at which restaurant they will pick up their dinner, the time of pickup and, for singles, which wine they want with their meal. There will also be a surprise Delaware Botanic Gardens gift bag. A few days before the dinner, diners will receive an email from from Mike Zygmonski, SoDel Concepts wine director, with instructions for how to access the virtual dinner program.

For more information, the complete dinner menu and to purchase tickets, go to delawaregardens.org.

The online program will include SoDel chefs previewing the courses they prepared. Count Manfredo Di San Bonifacio will join the program from his vineyards in Tuscany and offer insights about the featured wines. Live piano and vocals will be provided by local artist Vincent Varrassi.

Sheryl Swed, DBG executive director, said, “The virtual dinner is a fun way to enjoy great food and to connect with the DBG community. It will begin at 6 p.m. and can be watched by our dinner guests on a home computer or cellphone as they enjoy the food and libations. The evening will feature a challenge match to raise funds to match the $25,000 challenge offered by two of DBG’s most dedicated members, Ron Bass and George Robbins. Donations can be made online or by returning the pledge card, which will be included in the gift bag. There are opportunities to become a dinner sponsor and to contribute to the challenge match even if you cannot attend this unique virtual event. Please go to delawaregardens.org/new-events/2020-dinner-sponsorships. Thank you, and please join us!”