Aroma Cuisine of India Named Winner in Chamber of Commerce Polling

This event was so good you could almost taste it. And if you attended, then you probably did. Instead of the usual networking mixer, the Chamber of Commerce this year sought donations from local restaurants and made them the stars.

The "Taste of the Towns" event was free to residents and included a raffle and prizes. Attendees were asked to filled out ballots and choose just one restaurant as having provided the tastiest treat for the event. And the winner was ...

(applause, applause, applause)

Aroma is the first recipient of the "People's Choice Hospitality Award," which the chamber plans to begin awarding each year.

The —serving Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland and San Lorenzo—gives everybody who's anybody (and that's all of us) a chance to talk in person with the movers and shakers who make things happen around here.

Money raised from the sale of raffle tickets will go into the chamber's own purse, which is used to promote local businesses.

Needs include four easels, a projector for PowerPoint and online presentations, and a portable screen. So if you have some of those items to spare, please consider donating them, so the chamber can stretch its budget further.

Officially called Business Exchange Night, the event drew about 70 organizations to Transfiguration Church, 4000 East Castro Valley Blvd.

Guest speakers Debra Butler and Bradley Warren talked about risk management, business retention and successful networking methods.