The Tuscan Adventure is waiting for you

Pretty much every restaurateur here at the beach will tell you that the shortage of qualified help is still very real. New hires are often not as skilled as they claim, and even worse, applicants for upper-level positions that require certifiable experience, such as executive chef or general manager, are few and far between. Though the problem is nationwide, nowhere is the trend more challenging than in a seasonal resort.

And the fallout is obvious: Six years ago, you would not have seen job fairs here at the beach where potential workers are offered food and even signing bonuses. You need look no further than the Cape Gazette to see display ads and classifieds that include hiring events held by some of the biggest restaurant operations in the Cape Region.

But certifiable experience can be achieved. The Delaware Restaurant Association is a major player in maintaining the state’s well-regarded ProStart program – a nationwide, two-year, industry-written curriculum for high school students. This elective introduces students to the culinary and management skills required for a career in the restaurant and food-service industry. Some of these students could continue into nationally accredited culinary schools, but that can be expensive; quality postsecondary programs can cost more than $50,000 a year in tuition and supplies.

To that end, Touch of Italy restaurants and RehobothFoodie.com teamed up several years ago to form the Rehoboth Foodie/Touch of Italy Culinary Scholarship Fund. This 501(c)(3) program offers tuition assistance primarily to students who successfully complete the classroom/practical levels of DRA’s ProStart program. Applicants may also qualify by showing actual restaurant experience or successful completion of a culinary curriculum from other educational institutions.

Our scholarship fund is supported by so many generous people, and the primary fundraiser for 2024 is a raffle to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Tuscany, Italy. The culmination of this year’s efforts will come Saturday, Jan. 4, when we draw the winning ticket for that trip, valued at over $7,000. Ticket sales are strictly limited to 450 in order to increase the chances of winning, and last year’s tickets sold out well over a month before the drawing. And it’s no wonder: In exchange for their $100 raffle purchase, the winner and a companion will be treated to all airfare, accommodations in some of the finest hotels, skip-the-line access to attractions, and a cooking class where they can dabble in the art of traditional Italian cooking, from handmade pasta to pesto and local desserts. And, of course (the best part of any cooking class), they can wash down their creations with local wines and beers.

The itinerary provides lots of free time to spend the $1,000 cash that’s included in the prize. What good is a trip to Italy if you can’t buy stuff!? In the past, the raffle has sent lucky winners to beautiful Italian destinations including Rome, Florence, the Italian Riviera and Lake Como. We couldn’t pull this off without the ongoing support of our generous sponsors. Our sincere thanks go out to the Cape Gazette, John Donato Art, Touch of Italy restaurants, WGMD 92.7, WUSX 98.5, WOCM 98.1, the always generous Jeff Balk at Radio Rehoboth 99.1, and Southern Delaware Tourism for allowing us to use their Culinary Coast moniker. Taking a chance on this exceptional prize is easy; just go to ItalianRaffle.com. And the more you buy, the better your chances of winning!

If you are one of the loyal supporters who has already purchased a ticket for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, be sure to tune in to my weekly Beach Eats radio show at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 4, at 92.7FM when we’ll draw the winning ticket live on the air. Out of range? Simply stream the show on your phone or computer at WGMD.com.

And though only one couple can win, the generosity of our sponsors and ticket buyers will provide support for the real winners: the fledgling chefs, line cooks, owners and managers here in the Cape Region who, with their newfound skills, can help make our Culinary Coast an even better place to live, visit … and eat.