This spring, the area’s most beloved restaurants and restaurateurs will come together for two events designed to raise awareness and funding for Table to Table, Northeast New Jersey’s first and only food rescue program. Widely considered the area’s premier food and wine events, they combine chefs’ signature dishes with rare and premium wines in settings ranging from formal (dinner and dancing) to informal (outdoors beneath tents). At the Chefs Gala on April 23 at Alpine Country Club, guests of honor Tim and Nina Zagat, founders of the Zagat guidebook series, will be joined by special guest Bryan Del Bondio, president, Markham Vineyards. At the Great Grill and Pig Out on May 20 at The Estate at Florentine Gardens, award-winning French pastry chef and chocolatier Jacques Torres, known to legions of fans simply as “Mr. Chocolate,” will be the guest of honor.

“Table to Table has become one of the most essential services in our communities,” says Claire Insalata Poulos, founder of the food rescue organization. “Proceeds from the events will further our mission to collect prepared and perishable food that would otherwise be discarded and deliver it, free of charge, to organizations that serve the hungry in Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Essex counties. This year, we will deliver enough food to serve more than six million meals.”

The black-tie Chefs Gala showcases six award-winning chefs and their signature dishes: David Burke of David Burke Townhouse, Peter Kelly of Xaviar’s at Piermont, Kevin Kohler of Café Panache, Craig Shelton of Docs, George Georgiades of Varka, Pichet Ong of P*ONG and batch desserts and Nicholas Gatti of Alpine Country Club. The black-tie evening begins at 6:30 p.m. at Alpine Country Club. A Live Auction and musical entertainment by Mark Sganga & Friends are highlights. Tickets are $300 per person ($240 is tax deductible).

On Wednesday, May 20, the Great Grill & Pig Out brings together 27 of the area’s best-loved restaurants to present their specialties, complemented by an international selection of wines hand-selected by Chuck Russo of Wine & Spirit World. Some of the participating restaurants include Latour, Park & Orchard, Nisi Estiatorio, Grissini Ristorante, River Palm Terrace, Rosa Mexicano and Stony Hill Inn. The lively and informal Great Grill & Pig Out, which begins at 6:30 p.m. at The Estate at Florentine Gardens in River Vale, features a Silent Auction and live entertainment by Mark Sganga & Friends. Tickets are $175 per person ($130 is tax deductible).

Table to Table Spring Events are presented by American Express; Platinum corporate sponsors are American Airlines, Bergen Jaguar, Control Services, Inserra Supermarkets, Neiman Marcus in Paramus, Samsung Electronics, Summit Associates and Wachovia Wealth Management.

Table to Table is the only dedicated food rescue program in northeast New Jersey, serving over 60 hunger relief agencies throughout Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.

Table to Table receives no government funding and, instead, relies solely on support from private and corporate donations.

Tickets are now available online and by phone beginning March 20. For tickets, visit www.tabletotable.org or call (201) 444-5500.