Seven Outstanding Chefs, One Superb Feast
James Haurey, the multi-award winning chef at the Crystal Inn, Warwick, added a signature dish to the menu for the First Annual Black Dirt Feast held on July 28, 2009, an al fresco fund-raiser organized by the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce. Some of the most distinguished chefs in the Warwick Valley joined forces to collaborate on a multi-course sit-down dinner (see choice of entrée, below) in the fields of Pine Island, at Scheuermann Farm.
The Tuscan-style sunset Feast, a celebration of the local farm produce and the chefs who use it in their restaurants, benefitted the Florida Food Pantry and the Community Farm Workers Center, Goshen. Two Culinary Institute of America graduates, chefs Michael DiMartino of the Landmark Inn, Warwick, and Erik Johansen of the Iron Forge Inn, Bellvale, each donated their services to an entrée course.
Heather Kurosz, a culinary graduate of the distinguished Newbury School for Hotel and Restaurant Management, Boston, and a force in innovative cuisine at Black Dirt Gourmet, created an adventurous salad for The Feast. The appetizer course was contributed by Enrique Romero, the chef at the popular Copper Bottom in Florida.
Also participating was Bill Leech, Chef at the brand new Coquito, the Latin restaurant on Forester Avenue, the successor to the Backyard Grill where he was owner-chef for many years. Leech, a graduate of the Florida International University with a degree in Hotel/Business Management, has many years' experience in the restaurant business. Leech, along with Lisa Ciriello whose all-natural gourmet cookies have received nationwide acclaim, will contribute the desert course.
In addition, two confectioners, Lauren Brophy and Leigh Petrosky, from Candy Apple Shoppe, the Glenwood, NJ, store, famed for its chocolate truffles and 32 varieties of candy apples, donated freshly hand-dipped, chocolate covered apples as part of the desert course at The Feast. Their crisp, fresh apples are smothered in caramel and chocolate – white, milk or dark – then coated with a variety of nuts and candies.
Wines were provided by both Vito Carlucci of Pine Island Wine & Liquors and Bill Iurato, of Peck's Wine & Spirits, Warwick, NY. The Warwick Valley Winery supplied its award-winning cordials, and some if its unique Black Dirt Red wine.
Music was supplied by Peter Holmgren's Village Music Shop, the leading resource for music lessons, instruments, accessories, and professional studio musicians in the Hudson Valley.
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