Chefs love to cook, but even more they love to cook for a good cause. This past June, the De Gustibus Cooking School held a charity demonstration dinner to support Spoons Across America on behalf of Philanthropic ArsNova. The event was a collaboration between chefs from the Michelin-starred restaurant, Jean Georges, the De Gustibus Cooking School, and The ArsNova International Culinary Prize. Spearheaded by the Michelin Guide New York 2024 Young Chef Award winner Joseph Rhee and ArsNova American winner Carla Garcia Mata, the duo were excited to showcase their approach to modern fine dining and sharing the artistry and precision behind Jean-Georges Vonreichten’s world-class cuisine.
Over the course of the evening, Chef Joe demonstrated each dish for the sold-out audience, while Chef Carla orchestrated the team in the kitchen to prepare dozens of identical plates for guests to enjoy. The menu, crafted by Chef Joe with assistance from Chef Carla, started with an amuse bouche, a sweet pea fritter with green chili aioli. The first course was caviar salad, the second a Madai Sashimi, with summer peas and Tomatillo-Lemon Verbena Jus. The third course was prawns with Aleppo pepper broth and tender leeks, and a peach almond coupe glace with Sabayon for dessert. The wine pairing of the evening was sponsored by Kobrand.
Each dish transported guests to a fine dining Michelin-starred establishment, despite the atmosphere of a cooking school. Chefs Joe and Carla worked their magic to ensure the standards of Jean Georges were carried over into the De Gustibus Cooking School that night. The technical perfection of the second course, the Madai Sashimi, was especially well-received by guests for its creativity and ingenuity. For this Chef Joe gave credit to Chef Carla’s extraordinary culinary skill and planning.
With guests satiated by the magnificent dinner prepared by Chef Carla and her team, Chef Joe and Carla moved on to a raffle. Items included a Chasseur 4.23 Qt. Black Enameled Cast Iron Oval Blender, 2 night and 3 day stay at Wyndham Palmas with $500 in Delta Airlines Credit, and a La Boite Set & Cookbook. The event was a massive success, raising over $10,000 for the Spoons Across America charity, which ensures that children are empowered to make healthy eating choices. Ars Nova Philanthropic is proud to host these events alongside their annual International Culinary Prize, created in 1967 by Claude Taittinger. This annual award promotes the excellence and uniqueness of a chef’s profession in the nine countries it covers; these efforts are then showcased first in national finals, and then an international final. Chef Carla won the American leg of the national event and proceeded to show her prowess on in the international stage in Paris.
To see more from Chef Joe and Carla, visit Jean Georges flagship restaurant in Columbus Circle, New York City, or look out for more events from the De Gustibus Cooking School.
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