cooking for a cause
Story by Shaila Creekmore
Photo by Dero Sanford
If you’ve ever wished you could learn the secrets of your favorite Jonesboro chefs, The Woman’s Discovery Center will kickoff a new program this month that will give you that opportunity.
On Feb. 25, The Woman’s Discovery Center will host the first of three Celebrity Chef Dinners, co-sponsored by Occasions Publishing Group, to be held in 2010. The seating is limited to 30 guests and tickets are $50 each. Proceeds from the event will help provide additional programming at the center and go toward the operation of The Women’s Professional Clothes Closet.
“We plan to make this a yearly series and feature various local celebrity chefs,” said Faye Cox, executive director of The Woman’s Discovery Center. Cox said two additional programs are planned for 2010, with one in late April and one in the summer.
The idea for the program came about from requests for cooking classes to be offered at the center. In addition to the ticketed Celebrity Chef Dinners, The Woman’s Center plans to offer small group instruction in several areas of the culinary arts in the future.
“We are fortunate to have the capacity to host an event like this to showcase the center’s facilities while giving well-deserved recognition to chefs from popular local restaurants,” said Cox.
The Celebrity Chef Dinner is open to women and men, beginner and experienced cooks, those who love to cook and those who just love to eat.
“We invite anyone who appreciates good food and would love to learn from talented local chefs,” said Cox. “More and more couples are cooking together. Men are moving inside and branching out to do more than steaks and burgers on the grill. We are discovering or want to discover the joy of cooking, which these celebrity chefs will demonstrate."
The first celebrity chef will be Marco Trimarchi of Piero’s Restaurant. Trimarchi will prepare a meal for the guests, demonstrating techniques to prepare the same dish at home. Guests will then enjoy dinner together alongside Trimarchi.
“Piero’s has been the anchor of downtown restaurants and fine dining so we are delighted and appreciative that they are our first featured restaurant,” said Cox. “When I think about ‘the presentation’ I think of Marco. Everything he serves looks beautiful even before you take the first bite. He’s an artist. But more than that, when you partake of his food, you just feel good–you ‘experience’ it. Add to that the fact that he’s willing to share with others some tips and techniques that we can use at home – I can hardly wait!”
At the end of the evening, each guest will receive a goody bag of items donated by local businesses and printed copies of recipes for the evening’s meal.
Celebrity Chef Dinner will be held Feb. 25 at The Woman’s Discovery Center, 1413A Market Place Drive, at 6 p.m. For more information or for tickets to the program, call 933-9939 or 219-2488.
In the Kitchen with Chef Marco
Where did you receive your culinary training? I started like most people, at home with mom and dad and grandmother teaching basics. I also worked in the old restaurant as a gopher, doing what ever was needed. Later I went to Johnson and Wales University in Charleston S.C. - and lots of cookbooks!
What is one food you would never eat? Tripe.It’s boiled stuffed cow stomach. It smells absolutely horrible.
If you were not a chef, what would you be? At one point in my life I wanted to be an architect.
What is your favorite dish to prepare? It’s hard to pick just one dish, especially if I’m cooking for people I know well. I’d rather cook for each person to cater to their delight!
Do you watch Food Network? What is your favorite cooking show? Not that often, but if I do it’s usually Alton Brown. He’s a food chemist, which is really interesting to me.
What is your favorite dessert? Tiramisu
If you could invite anyone famous to dinner, who would it be? Robin Williams
When you are at home, what is your favorite comfort food? Tortellini
Who in your life has influenced your cooking the most? Without a doubt, my father. He has always challenged me to be the best that I can. Without him pushing, I wouldn’t have become the chef I am today!