Courtesy of Michael Blitch Photography
Executive chef Rene Marquis is ready to take roughly 2,000 guests at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo on a culinary safari.
Zoofari is the zoo’s 28th annual food-based fundraiser benefiting expert animal care and educational programs operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, a private nonprofit organization.
The Saturday event starts at 7 p.m. and features food from more than 50 local restaurants and vendors, open bars, live music and a silent auction of weekend getaways, fishing charters and golfing packages.
Animals won’t be on exhibit, but guests can mingle with a variety of small mammals, reptiles, and birds designated as “animal ambassadors,” zoo spokeswoman Rachel Nelson said.
More than 2,500 people attended last year’s event, which raised about $75,000, Nelson said.
Marquis and the Lutz-based food-service company Ovations handle the zoo’s daily menus for visitors and employees, but they’re stepping up their prep for Zoofari.
“This is kind of like a home-team game for the Bucs, if you will,” the chef said. “We want to put our best foot forward and show that we do everything fresh.”