Library dinner to have 'Titanic' theme

As part of its BookFest 2007 celebration, the Ocean County Library will host "A Night to Remember: Last Dinner on the Titanic," at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Toms River branch, 101 Washington Street, Toms River.

"A Night to Remember" will recreate the seven-course meal served in the RMS Titanic's first-class dining room on the night that the ship sank in the North Atlantic, April 15, 1912.

The fine dining experience will be offered in the library's Mancini Hall and is based upon the 19th century French multicourse meal designed by Auguste Escoffier. It will be prepared by Chef Ian Smith and the students of the culinary arts program at the Lakehurst Center of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School.

Musical entertainment will be provided by the Garden State Philharmonic String Quartet. Formal or period dress is encouraged. Rick Archbold, author of "Last Dinner on the Titanic: Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner," will be the evening's featured speaker.

A limited number of seats are available for a requested donation of $75. Call (732) 914-5408 by Sept. 14 to reserve a dinner seat.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts of the Hancock County Library, Mississippi.

The Ocean County Library has supported the recovery efforts of the Hancock County Library for nearly two years. It has raised more than $121,000 through various activities and fundraisers. It has also assisted Hancock's staff members with personal greetings, personal gifts and food donations.