Restaurants preparing for May 29 'Taste of Struthers'

STRUTHERS

Alan Donatelli hasn’t yet decided what he’ll bring to the Taste of Struthers event — maybe his smoked ribs, for one.

But Donatelli’s uncertainty extends only to the samples of menu items from Donavito’s Italian Grille, which he opened 11 years ago on South Bridge Street downtown, he’ll showcase there.

As soon as Donatelli heard about the May 29 event, organized to raise money for the Struthers Rotary Community Corps’ projects, he was on board. At least a dozen eateries located in the city will take part in it, offering up tastes of their culinary specialties.

“We’ve become more and more a part of the community every year,” Donatelli said of his restaurant, “and I want to give back in any way I can.”

Taste of Struthers is the first fundraiser for the community corps — an organization started about a year ago, sponsored by the Struthers Rotary Club, and made up of non-Rotarian men and women who want simply to better the area in which they work or live — said Councilwoman Carol A. Crytzer, D-2nd, and the group’s secretary.

Late last year, members began brainstorming for fundraisers, but wanted to make sure whatever they chose was unique and different than what other organizations were doing. They decided then to host a tasting event.

“We thought it would bring our restaurants attention and draw people even from outside of the city,” Crytzer explained.

So far, Crytzer said, participating restaurants are Belleria, Bogey’s Riverside Banquet Center, Brier Hill Pizza and Wings, C’s Waffles, Donavito’s Italian Grille, Elmtree Catering, Maka Mia Pizza, Nemenz IGA Bakery, Pizza Joe’s, Rip’s Cafe, Selah Restaurant, and Tangier Bar and Pizza.

Read more about the event in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.