James Beard Foundation’s Taste America Local Dish Challenge hits Delaware beaches

Matt Haley, Delaware-based restaurateur and member of the James Beard Foundation, has joined JBF's Taste America Local Dish Challenge. Through the in-restaurant menu promotion, Haley’s SoDel Concepts Restaurant Group’s Catch 54 on Fenwick Island and Bluecoast Seafood Grill in Bethany will be offering a dish that showcases the best of their local food scene. SoDel Concepts' Corporate Chef Doug Ruley has selected to feature baby beets and brussels sprouts panzanella with soy, yuzu and truffle.

This special menu item is offered during the months of September and October. One dollar from every dish sold will be donated to the JBF Taste America Education Drive. The city with the highest number of Instagram posts with the # of their city wins a $10,000 donation to a local charity. If it is #Rehoboth, the charity to receive the $10,000 will be the Global Delaware Fund. Local diners can help the Global Delaware Fund win a donation of $10,000 or 10 percent of the proceeds raised nationally, whichever is higher.

Each participating restaurant submitted a local food charity to be reviewed by the James Beard Foundation. Haley submitted the Global Delaware Fund as his choice, and after being reviewed by the panel, it was approved. “The Global Delaware Fund works closely with the Delaware Food Bank, Cape Henlopen Food Basket and Good Earth Market to fill the gaps in the social safety net here in Delaware, so the opportunity to do more by supporting the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America Education Drive made sense for us," said restaurateur/owner Matt Haley.

Global Delaware is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing goods and services to children at risk in distressed situations. The GDF provides essential services to children both locally and throughout the world. Go to www.theglobaldelawarefund.com for more information.