Kudos go out to NEFAR's Global Business Council for a very successful Taste the Nations REALTOR Party event April 11. Led by GBC Chairman April Hall-Lloyd and her point-of-contact Jonna Faeth, who organized the event, the fundraiser raised $2625 for the REALTOR Party – $370 coming from the silent auction. More than 80 people attended the event, including three from the Gainesville-Alachua County Association of REALTORS® and one member of the Ocala-Marion County Association of REALTORS®.
Joining the fun from the Gainesville-Alachua County REALTOR® association were Robin Fell, chairman of Global Business Council, Alex Worthington, vice chairman of the GBC, and Jennifer McClure. Noris Roche of the Ocala-Marion County REALTOR® Association also attended.
Global Council members had transformed NEFAR’s three auditoriums into one large colorful space where participants were able to sample a smorgasbord of tasty delicacies from 17 countries throughout the world. Long family-style tables were set up in the center of the room so members could meet with each other while eating and being serenaded by Selwyn Toby, a steel drummer from Karibbean Flavor.
Cooking the food and dressing in garb appropriate for their country were:
- Talia Hudgins – Puerto Rico – Pollo guisado, Tostones, Empanadas
- Jackie Boyd – USA –Southern Comfort food – fried chicken, mac & cheese, collard greens, corn bread
- Lisa Andrews and Janice Valentine – England – Shepherd’s pie, sausage rolls, Guinness
- Janna Thomas – India – Chicken Saag, a classic Indian dish made with chicken, spinach & spices served with Basmati rice
- Rory Dubin – Thailand – Tom Kha Gai – a coconut milk and lemongrass-based soup with chicken
- Missi Howell – Germany – German sausages and mustards, sauerkraut, braised red cabbage, pretzel bread bites
- Jayna Belardo, Marcia Hodgson – Italy – Meatballs and caprese salad skewers drizzled with Balsamic glaze
- Rosie LaCroix-Joseph – Haiti – Vegetable rice and chicken stew
- Carmen Llontop – Peru – Papa a la Huancaina and Peruvian Alfajores
- Sharon McNeal – Jamaica – Jerk chicken, rice, peas, steam cabbage, fried ripe plantain, oxtail, curry goat, ackee, and salt fish
- Clark LaBlond – Greece – Baklava
- Robbie Sears – China – Fried Rice and egg rolls
- Rose Lampe – The Philippines – Pancit (rice noodles) and sticky rice dessert
- Christina Baranofsky – Mexico – Beef enchiladas and Mexican rice
- Ryan & Angie Coker (Local Home Inspections) – France – macarons and croissants
- Elizabeth Wells – Japan – Sushi (a combo of tuna, salmon, veggie sushi, sashimi shrimp, salmon, and tuna) seaweed salad and mochi
- Tina Pham and family – Vietnam – Ga Xao Gung – rice and chicken simmered with ginger and lemongrass served with pickle and fresh tomatoes
During the event, NEFAR’s RPAC Vice Chair Ant Stroud of Navy to Navy Homes, and his dance partner Melissa Roby of Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty thrilled the crowd with their demonstration of Hawaiian dancing. They are pupils of Haumana Halau Ho’omau Ana|Ka Nohona Hawaii. They entertained and educated the crowd with their culture, traditions and implements, many of which were large gourds. They performed a Hula Auana (modern dance) called Ka UluWehi O Ke Kai.
Sponsoring the music at the event was Jonyce Brown of Floor Coverings International Jacksonville. Local Home Inspections sponsored the beer and wine while SRE Property Management sponsored the soft drinks.
Annual sponsors for NEFAR’s 2023 Global Business Council include: Platinum: realMLS; Gold, Kashmiri Realty & Property Management; Silver: CMS (Creative Mortgage Solutions), All County Complete Property Management; First Florida Mortgage, Golden Dog Title & Trust, House Scan Inspections, Landmark Title, Local Home Inspections, Pillar to Post Home Inspections the Williams Team, Realty and Insurance U, The Sanders Team of C2 Financial Corp., and Slate Real Estate.
