[imagebrowser id=12]
On Sunday, July 28, there were never too many cooks in the kitchen for the 9th annual Great Chefs Dinner to benefit the Hayground School’s Jeff’s Kitchen and the Jeff Salaway Scholarship Fund. A symphony of top chefs from Manhattan to the Hamptons rolled up their sleeves and cooked for a cause; signature hors d’oeuvres were made using the local bounty, while brewers, winemakers and specialty drink enthusiasts poured. The generosity from the community went beyond the taste of the tongue: a silent auction featured works by renowned local artists and other food-related prizes such as a Dock-to-Dish family membership package and a set of Wüsthof knives.
Food frenzied fans were meeting the chefs and tasting some incredible eats: chef Bryan Futerman of Foody’s roasted a locally sourced whole hog from Wells Farm, while chef Arjun Achuthan of the Hayground School was pumping out hundreds of pizza pies from a wood-burning over, thankfully he had a little help from Hayground School kids. And what about those gluten-free desserts by Ms. Michelle’s Urban Gourmet? Handmade chocolates were filled with peanut butter whip with a drizzle of raspberry preserve, and if that was not enough, there were a rainbow of flavored French macarons to choose from, divine. The Topping Rose House staff was as bright and cheerful as their beet risotto was sourced from their Topping Rose Farm. The VerTerra ecofriendly dinnerware that sat beneath the chefs delicacies were just as beautiful as the vichyssoise from chef Jason Weiner of Almond; imagine a sunset on the dunes of the South Fork beaches. And to top it off chef Tom Colicchio and honoree chef Eric Ripert dropped by the cocktail party before heading over to the VIP dinner at the home of Toni Ross.
The children who attend Hayground School will be shining examples of what it means to live a sustainable and bountiful life. Jeff’s Kitchen and the culinary arts program takes the mystery out of the meat and brings children, chefs and the community together over a shared love of food. These children are the next generation who will carry the fork.
Visit outeastfoodie for the full cocktail and tasting party highlights.
