BENNINGTON, Vt. — The Vermont Steak House Dinner fundraiser is back after a two-year absence. 

 

The Pinsonneault family and past employees of the former restaurant are hosting the dinner to raise funds for the Cancer Center Community Crusaders, Bennington Turning Point Center and the Vermont Elks' Silver Towers camp for people with disabilities. All proceeds with be shared equally. 

 

The dinner will be held on Friday, May 20, at the Elks Lodge with two seatings: 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.

 

Tickets are $30 per person for dining in or takeout and must be purchased in advance. They are available daily at Willy's Variety at 300 Gage St. or from noon to 8 at the Elks Lodge on Washington Avenue (use the back entrance). Tickets are limited and go fast. 

 

Dinner choices include, of course, a rib-eye steak but also chicken teriyaki. The steak comes with the restaurant's famous homemade onion rings and a baked potato and the chicken with carrots and rice pilaf. Both dinners include the restaurant's signature relish tray of chicken liver pate, pineapple coleslaw, macaroni salad, kidney bean relish and dessert. 

 

Relish items are available to go and are being sold by the pint: Pate is $10 and all other items $7.

 

There will also be a gift card raffle available to anyone, with many local businesses pitching in. If your business would like to donate a gift card, call Kitty Lewis at 802-823-7707 and leave a message or email kttylew@aol.com.

 

Organizers say they are looking forward to seeing many familiar and new faces. The Vermont Steak House closed more than 25 years ago after being run by Ed and Pat Pinsonneault and their children for 35 years. The dinner fundraiser started in 2015 but had to halt because of the pandemic.