AUBURN - It was a night for revelry for those with an inclination toward the Epicurean way of life the night of Thursday, July 23, at the 14th annual Taste for Community Action, a major fundraiser for the Seneca/Cayuga Community Action Agency.

From wine to desserts to everyday dishes like pizza and wings, to the more far out like cow tongue, there was a little bit of something for everyone's palette.

The fundraiser drew together some of the finest local wineries and restaurants in the area for a night celebrating all that is good about food.

“It is all about the food and the wine,” said Theresa Walsh, director of support services for the agency. “This is a great opportunity to see what all of these different places have to offer, and it is for a good cause.”

Walsh said that money raised helps support programs the Seneca/Cayuga Community Action Agency supports.

Through the past 14 years, the fundraiser has had a strong supportive core of participating restaurants and wineries.

“Not much has really changed all these years,” Walsh said. “It is working well, so why make change if something is working well.”

Among the core of regulars are eateries such as the Holiday Inn and numerous wineries that inhabit the Finger Lakes region. But this year did see a few new additions.

Relatively new restaurants such as Bistro One of Auburn and Anyela's Vineyards of Skaneateles joined in.

Walsh said that with the stalwart supporters and the newcomers the fundraiser is highly successful, drawing more than 400 guests annually.

“When there are new places,” Walsh said. “We do try to get them involved. We are fortunate to have a great deal of support from all of these establishments for this event, every year it just gets better and better.”

The event had something to titillate every taste bud.

Whether guests were looking for a slice of pizza and some wings, barbecue, something for the sweet tooth or a nice relaxing glass of wine, they were not to be disappointed.

Luke Szabo, executive chef of Bistro One, said that the restaurant was looking to offer a little something different than other places might have been.

Bistro One was serving up spicy tuna rolls, succotash and cow tongue, all of which, save for the tuna, Szabo said, came from within 50 miles of Auburn.

Szabo said that the restaurant, which has been open for a little more than a year, was eager to have the chance to participate in the event and share its unique dishes with those that were lining up for a taste.

“We really wanted to do something different,” Szabo said. “I like cow tongue, so I thought it would be great to have here. I think it is something that will really get people talking.”

Others, like Chad Balog, owner and chef of the Blarney Stone, chose to go a more traditional route.

Balog was offering guests a taste of his Irish beef stew.

“We were very happy to take part in this,” Balog said. “This is an excellent event and a great opportunity to share what we do with other people.”

Guests of the event were glad to have the opportunity to sample so much of the local fare.

Attendee Suzanne Kapcha said that in the past 14 years, she has not once missed the chance to come out to Taste of Community Action.

“Where else would you get the chance to try so much,” Kapcha said. “We have so many great places to eat and places that make wine here, and this gives you a chance to see that and try a little bit of everything we have right here in our own backyard.”