Local restaurants show appreciation for first responders

Sea Bright, a small strip of land with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Shrewsbury River to the west, was among the hardest hit towns by Hurricane Sandy.  Chef Pat Trama, who opened Ama Ristorante at Driftwood in Sea Bright in September, decided he would cook up a gourmet barbecue for approximately 150 first responders at noon on Sunday at the Sea Bright Firehouse.

Ama Ristorante, the newly renovated, year-round oceanfront restaurant open to the public at Driftwood Cabana Club — owned by the Stavola family since 1957 — remains intact. However, some parts of the club were destroyed in the storm. Chef Trama will be joined by other local restaurateurs including Star Chef DavidBurke, chef/owner of David Burke Fromagerie, Rumson and many other star-studded restaurants nationally. Chef Trama was a former chef of Burke’s.

Volunteers gather together to prepare a gourmet barbeque for first responders in Sea Bright while it was still under guard.

“The best way to help our community is to keep our first responders well fed andfeeling like we truly appreciate their efforts on our behalf,” said Trama. “I reached out to David and several other local businesses to donate food and help; they never hesitated and just asked what I needed,” said Trama. Food donations were made by Sickles Market and Holiday Meats of Little Silver, Lusty Lobster of Highlands. Other food busineses that will help with the barbecue are Yumi, Woody’s, Anjelica’s and Sea Bright Pizza, all of Sea Bright. On the menu are Chili, Macaroni and Cheese, Pizza, Paninis, Sausage and Peppers, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, and Fruit.  Some of the dishes will be prepared at David Burke at Bloomingdales, New York City, and some will be prepped at David Burke Fromagerie. The chefs and owners of the above restaurants will man the gas grills at the Fire Station.