Newsroom

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Introduces New Chef Series with
"Taste of the Holidays" Featuring Jonathan Pratt
Cooking Demonstration and Dinner Fundraiser Showcases Club's Kisco Kids Café

Mt. Kisco, NY (December 9, 2009) –Dinner guests at the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester's "Taste of the Holidays" enjoyed a rare opportunity to watch and learn from award-winning Chef Jonathan Pratt. In addition to highlighting the Club's Kisco Kids Café, a state-of-the-art professional kitchen, the cooking demonstration and dinner fundraiser also kicked off the Club's new Chef Series. The series, which will feature locally sourced foods prepared by celebrated guest chefs, was developed and organized by Club Board member Shelley Waln.

Festive hors d'oeuvres, a beautiful three-course dinner, and dessert were prepared and demonstrated by Chef Pratt and paired with wines selected and donated by John Bueti of Mount Kisco Wines & Spirits. Chef Pratt was assisted by Craig Purdy, fellow co-owner of Peter Pratt's Inn in Yorktown and ümami café in Croton-on-Hudson. Local flavors were on the menu with ingredients from nearby farms including Hudson Valley Duck Farm, John Boys Farm, Meadowbrook Dairy, Meadows Farm, My Backyard Bees, and Sprout Creek Farm. Mariani Gardens of Armonk provided decorations and displays.

Hors d'oeuvres included Peking duck quesadillas; pork and cabbage potstickers; pizzetti with cheese, roasted peppers, and wild mushrooms; and a sampling of local cheeses. For their entrées, guests enjoyed butternut squash gnocchi with roasted shallot cream; seared sliced moulard duck breast with honey and pomegranate salsa; and pepper charred local venison roast with Yorktown gold potatoes, brussels sprout sauté, and porcini red wine sauce. The evening concluded with a panna cotta with meyer lemon confiture.

"We are so pleased with the ‘Taste of the Holidays' turnout and excitement surrounding our new Chef Series," said Executive Director Brian Skanes. "We are especially grateful to Shelley Waln for organizing the event, Jonathan Pratt, who prepared and donated all of the food, and John Bueti, who selected and donated all of the wine. Mariani Gardens also did a beautiful job with décor. Thanks to their generosity, 100% of the evening's proceeds will go directly towards helping the children we serve."

The Club's Kisco Kids Café has provided over 150 hot meals and healthy snacks daily since opening in March 2009. Many local children rely on the Club for after-school nutrition and do not eat a hot meal at home after leaving. The estimated cost of feeding a hot, nutritious meal to one child is $2.70 per day, $13.50 per week, $54.00 per month, and $648 per year. Nutrition classes are offered to grade school members through the Club's Health & Life Skills program. The Café is also available for private, special event space rental.

The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester is located at 351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, NY and can be reached at (914) 666-8069 or by visiting www.bgcnw.com. To contact the Club's Teen Center, located at 317 Main Street in Mt. Kisco, please call (914) 733-0033.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester
The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester was established in 1939 as a place for "boys to get off the streets." It is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and enabling young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Located in Mt. Kisco, NY, the 36,000-square-foot facility features an eight-lane pool, Child Care Center, gymnasium, games room, and two computer labs, and an additional 1,600-foot Teen Center facility. The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester serves 2,500 youths, boys and girls ages 6 months to 18 years, from more than 60 Northern Westchester communities. The Club has been ranked among the outstanding Clubs in the national network of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Press Contacts: Kelly Lee, Co-Communications, 914-666-0066, kelly@cocommunications.com

back to Newsroom

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester
351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549 (914) 666-8069