The season’s premier culinary showcase returns Thursday as the third annual Holiday Flavour showcase commandeers the Molly Pitcher Inn. (Photo by Jim Willis)

It’s described as “a grassroots culinary campaign driven by the borough’s top chefs, restaurateurs and proprietors,”and when the Red Bank Flavour collective hosts the Holiday Flavour event this Thursday, it will honor the great works of anther borough-based institution that’s grown from the grassroots up.

Taking place from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the Molly Pitcher Inn, the third annual event offers up an array of food and drink from over 20 Red Bank-based restaurants, eateries and purveyors — with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Parker Family Health Center, the community health care facility established 14 years ago in an empty Shrewsbury parking lot with three patients and a donated trailer. Operating now from its own dedicated facility (and through the efforts of countless volunteers and donations), the PFHC serves more than 8,600 Monmouth County residents who lack health insurance or means to pay for healthcare services.

Meanwhile back at the Molly Pitcher, Holiday Flavour attendees can sip and sample libations from Ketel One, Johnny Walker, Baileys and more; plus coffees from Rook and cuisine from sources that range from long-running local landmarks (Danny’s, Dish, Front Street Trattoria, Readies, the Molly and its sister hotel, the Oyster Point) to more recently arrived favorites (Chowda House, Pazzo, Runa, Taste and even JBJ Soul Kitchen) as well as many others. Take it here for a complete listing.

There’s more to the charitable evening than meets the palate, including live piano music by George Markey, a Santa’s grab bag (featuring donations from Red Bank retailers), a tree lighting and “a fabulous winter wonderland” outside on the hotel’s waterfront promenade.

Tickets for the December 4 Holiday Flavour event are $35.00 in advance, and $45.00 at the door.