Setting the Table for Neurofibromatosis April 6 fundraiser to combine fine dining and a fine cause

Get nine of your best friends and head into town for the 12th annual “Table
for TEN” event to raise money for Neurofibromatosis, Inc. of New England
(www.nfincne.org) on April 6.
At this truly satisfying event, groups of 10 diners will enjoy specially-created
meals at some of Boston’s finest eateries.
According to NF, Inc.’s Special Events Director Sonja Nathan, Table for TEN
started when Union Oyster House Owner Joe Milano came up with the idea.
“Up until then,” Nathan recalls, ‘we primarily raised money through bike rides and
golf tournaments. This was a way of attracting a whole new audience!”
When asked how the restaurantds were chosen, Nathan says that she and her
colleagues look for “upscale” restaurants that appeal to “discriminating diners.”
Among this year’s participants are Post 390, Haru, Davio’s, Cafeteria, Lucia’s
Ristorante, Towne Stove and Spirits, Morton’s, Pairings, Da Vinci Ristorante,
Taranta, and Petit Robert Central.
"As a first-time participant with Table for TEN, we are both thrilled and honored to
be a small part of the cause,” says Petit Robert’s Shannon Emerson-Finks. “The
restaurant community in Boston is always so willing to come to the aid of notable
organizations and this is no exception. Having these establishments band
together in the name of NF will prove to be a night of unparalleled entertainment
while raising awareness."
For those who may not be aware, neurofibromatosis is an inherited disorder
in which nerve tissue grows tumors that may cause serious damage by
compressing nerves and other tissues. In addition to risking nerve damage, NF
can also cause disfigurement and other problems. According to Nathan, it is
the most common genetic disorder and affects three times as many people as
muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis combined. Despite “great strides,” Nathan
says that her research colleagues are “not as close as we would like to be” to a
cure. However, she notes, events like Tables for Ten help a great deal and that
the event has grown every year.
“Now when we approach additional restaurants,” Nathan says, “we find that
Table for TEN has name recognition.”
In addition to discerning diners and members of the area’s restaurant community,
Tables for TEN is also enjoyed by families affected by “Prominent members of
the Greater Boston area love to attend,” Nathan observes.
And why not? After their diversely delicious dinners, guests will gather at
Parris in Faneuil Hall for a dessert party that will feature decadent creations
from Montilio’s Baking Company and an auction hosted by TV Diner’s Jenny
Johnson. Among the items up for bid will be a tour of Fenway Park, that includes
field access during batting practice, an overnight stay at the W Hotel in Boston
complete with a gift certificate to dinner at Market, and overnight stays with
breakfast at The Back Bay Hotel and AMES Hotel.
“We reached out to Jenny…because of her great involvement in the culinary and
charitable worlds,” Nathan explains. “She has been such an enthusiastic and

passionate Honorary Chairperson and we couldn’t be happier that she is a part of
this year’s event!”
"It is wonderful to see Boston's best restaurants rally around this year’s Table for
TEN event to benefit NF,” says Johnson. “I am overwhelmed with the statistics of
people living with neurofibromatosis and am looking forward to doing all that we
can as a community to raise awareness.‬"