Taste of the North Shore smashing success

MARBLEHEAD-Saturday’s fifth annual Taste of the North Shore event at Temple Emanu-El turned out to be its most successful.For the first time, the event, emceed by NECN’s “TV Diner” host Billy Costa, was sold out as people had the opportunity to taste food from dozens of restaurants on the North Shore while taking part in a raffle and live and silent auctions.?This is just a great event that I look forward to doing every year,” Costa said. “A lot of money is raised through the auctions. This is a ritual for me and because I live in Salem there are a lot of my friends here. It is like a night out for me.”One of the new participants at the Taste of the North Shore this year was the Blue Ox of Lynn.Executive chef and partner Matt O’Neill said it was great to be a part of the event.?I was certainly very glad to get the invite,” O’Neill said. “The people on the North Shore have given us a great reception. These are nice people who put on the event and I am glad to be here.”O’Neill said business at the Blue Ox has been good since the restaurant opened on Oxford Street.?We have been fortunate that we have people from the North Shore and Boston coming to the restaurant every night,” O’Neill said. “The restaurant is in a wonderful space and people understand the concept we put together of casual but classy.”Some of the other local eateries who participated in the taste of the North Shore included A&J King Artisan Bakers of Salem; the Grapevine of Salem; Sixty2 on Wharf of Salem; Passage to India of Salem; Pellinos of Marblehead; Sticky Rice of Marblehead; and Toscana’s Ristorante and Café of Peabody.?Where else can you go and get chicken Marsala, duck breast, eggplant and dessert under one roof?” Costa asked. “The fact this was sold out this time and the increase of new restaurants participating shows what a great event it is. Hopefully, I will get the invite to come back and do it again next year.”