Getting professional training as a restaurant chef can turn out to be major investment, with tuition and fees at top-tier culinary schools exceeding $50,000 a year.
Those fortunate enough to make the cut at Greenfield’s Stone Soup Culinary Institute (SSCI) don’t have to worry about tuition bills, however, since the Institute is free to those attending. It operates as a 100% tuition-free program, thanks to support from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its Urban Agenda grant program along with contributions from community members and other supporters.
SSCI operates under the organizational sponsorship of Stone Soup Cafe, a Greenfield-based, pay-as-you-can community restaurant. Several Franklin County restaurants - Hope & Olive, People’s Pint, and Mesa Verde -- also lend support to the culinary program by providing internship opportunities.
Last month the Institute welcomed its third cohort of students into its 12-week schedule of classes, which is taught by Chef Instructors Brandon Santie and Michael Hulburt. In addition to professional food preparation and kitchen management skills, Institute students earn several essential industry certifications as well as gaining an understanding of food justice and its role in community empowerment.
For more information about the Stone Soup Culinary Institute, contact Kirsten Levitt, the Executive Director of Stone Soup Cafe, at admin@thestonesoupcafe.org.
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Side Dishes:
The Delaney House and the Log Cabin Banquet and Meetinghouse, both in Holyoke, will each be offering brunch buffets on Mother’s Day, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The buffets will offer six luncheons-style entree options as well as a carving station, a pasta bar, an omelet station, a raw bar, and a separate kids’ station stocked with favorites of the 12 and under set.
Morning food specialties on the two buffets will include crustless quiche, waffles, French toast, pancakes, and breakfast meats.
A well-stocked dessert table will also be part of the presentation.
Price for adults, not including tax and gratuity, is $59; children ages four to 12 will be charged $20. Reservations for either location can be made by calling the Delaney House at 413-535-5077.
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Enrico Giovanello, the executive chef of the Table 3 Restaurant in Sturbridge, will be presenting a “Cooking with Rico” event on May 22 starting at 6:30 p.m.
Giovanello’s topics for May will be Sicilian Roast Chicken and Italian cheeses.
His roast chicken recipe incorporates the sunny flavors of fresh herbs, tomatoes, garlic, olives, and capers, making it one of the great comfort foods of Italian kitchen tradition.
The evening will also include a tasting of Italian cheeses, with Giovanello discussing the role they play in Italian cuisine.
Cost to attend is $52 per person, tax and gratuity included. A compatible selection of wines will be available at extra cost. Reservations, which must be prepaid in advance and are non-refundable, can be made online.
May’s edition of “Cooking with Rico” will be held at Avellino in Sturbridge. The restaurant answers at 508-347-2321.
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Figaro Ristorante in Enfield is presenting its monthly Italian dinner night on Wednesday, May 22.
The menu for this “Taste of Italy” starts with an antipasto of fried potatoes, sausages, and hot peppers, with homemade minestrone to follow. For the pasta course there will be from-scratch pasta with tomato sauce and Italian style Carbonara.
Main course selections are braised short ribs and stuffed porchetta. Dessert is also included, and a cash bar will be available.
Cost for the dinner is $39.95 plus tax and gratuity.
Reservations may be made by calling 860-745-2414.
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The Still Bar & Grill in Agawam will be hosting a Jack Daniels Whiskey Dinner on May 23, starting at 6 p.m.
A four-course menu will be paired with various premium brown spirits bottled by the Jack Daniels family of brands. Each dish served will also incorporate at least a splash or two of a selected Jack Daniels whiskey.
Tickets for the dinner are $80 plus a convenience fee, and they can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com.
Telephone number for the Still Bar & Grill is 413-304-2795.
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The Enfield Food Truck Fest is being held at the Enfield Square Mall on Friday, May 10, through Sunday, May 12, with the festivities beginning at 5 p.m. on May 10.
In addition to more than 25 food trucks, the festival will feature carnival games and open-air shopping provided by 50-plus crafters and vendors.
The Fest is being promoted by Connecticut Food Truck Festivals; their email address is ctfoodtruckfestivals@gmail.com.
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Crumbl, the cookie chain, is beginning a “Mini Mondays” promotion during which it’s making available smaller versions of its popular cookie flavors.
Customers will be able to buy the new “Mini Cookies” every Monday; the Minis will be available in boxes of three, six, or 12 cookies. Crumbl locations will continue to offer their rotating selection of giant cookie flavors throughout the rest of the week.
There is a Crumbl location at the Riverdale Shops in West Springfield. They answer at 413-707-5021.
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Karen Anderson of Tucker’s Restaurant in Southwick shared some news with me last week, reminding me that Tucker’s is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
She also sent word that the restaurant is offering a la carte dinner service on Mother’s Day, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A special menu of Tucker’s favorites will be featured on May 12. The bill of fare will include the likes of Pan-seared Duck Breast, Baked Cod with Lemon and Herbs, Grilled Salmon, and Roast Turkey with homestyle stuffing.
Mother’s Day reservations can be made by contacting Tucker’s at 413-569-0120.
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The Connecticut Forum and the Bushnell in Hartford are hosting a panel of major-league food professionals on May 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The session, billed as “Chefs! Top chefs dish on food, flavor & culture,” will feature chef, restaurateur, and TV personality Marcus Samuelsson; food writer and Top Chef judge Gail Simmons; and New York Times food writer and cookbook author Priya Krishna. The panel’s moderator will be Sam Sifton of New York Time Cooking.
Tickets for “Chefs!” range from $15 to $110 and can be ordered online.
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On Saturday, May 18, the Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow is hosting The Uncle Louie Variety Show as part of a dinner-entertainment evening that is open to the public. The show’s stars, Lou Greco and Carlo Russo, entertain with humorous skits featuring “Uncle Louie” and “Pasqualino” as part of a performance that also include original music and stand-up comedy.
The event begins at 6 p.m. and includes a buffet dinner featuring prime rib, salmon, chicken piccata and more. Tickets, which are $75 plus a convenience fee, are available at Eventbrite.com.
For more details, contact the Twin Hills Country Club at 413-567-0174.
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Off the Rails Brewing Company in Stafford Springs is partnering with the Manchester Cheesecake Company to present a Beer & Cheesecake Night.
To be held on May 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. the event will bring together a flight of four Off the Rails brews and four mini-cheesecakes made by Manchester Cheesecake Company.
Tickets for the event, which are $49.87, can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com.
Off the Rails Brewing Company answers at 860-971-7095.
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Crestview Events is presenting a Mother’s Day Brunch on May 12 at the Crestview Country Club in Agawam. Served from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the buffet will feature carving, waffle, and omelet stations as well as an assortment of breakfast and brunch specialties. A dessert table will offer plenty of sweet options to end the meal, and moms will get treated to a complimentary mimosa.
Tickets are $48.95 per person, with children 4 to 12 only changed $19.95. Call 413-786-2593 for reservations.
Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.
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