Community Corner
Event Spotlight: Culinary Experts Convene for Great Chefs Dinner
Renowned chefs offer their dishes at Hayground School to raise funds for Jeff's Kitchen.
What began as a local fundraiser to build Jeff’s Kitchen at the in Bridgehampton in memory of restaurateur Jeff Salaway, the has turned into a huge community occasion for renowned chefs and those that appreciate a delectable treat.
The seventh annual dinner is Sunday at Hayground, also benefiting the Jeff Salaway Scholarship Fund.
Cheryl Stair of Art of Eating Catering said, "It is my favorite tasting event of the season to work on, and the experience is like none other.”
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“It’s a really amazing mix of great local chefs and great chefs from New York,” said Toni Ross, one of the co-founders of the Hayground School, and widow of the late Jeff Salaway.
The evening will overflow with culinary experts including Josh Capon of Lure Fishbar and Burger & Barrel, Olivier Cheng, Marc Meyer of Cookshop, first season winner of Top Chef, Harold Dieterle of Perilla, Matthew Michel of Rolling in Dough Pizza, Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto, Jason Weiner of , Cheryl Stair from Art of Eating, Bryan Futerman of Foody’s, Gerry Hayden and Claudia Fleming from the , Kevin Penner from the , Iron Chef winner Marc Forgione, James Carpenter of , Joseph Realmuto from , Michael White of Marea, and Christian Mir from the Stone Creek Inn, along with special guest Isaac Mizrahi.
“It’s an evening of chefs coming together with artists and community members to share amazing food, wine, and art,” Ross said. Chefs will prepare a wide array of choices for the cocktail party beginning at 5 p.m. with tasting stations, a silent art auction, and live music by Groove Gumbo Super Band. A more intimate sit-down dinner will follow in Jeff’s Kitchen.
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Ross said the concept of the program began before her husband passed away. “Jeff was developing an idea about how kids could be educated through the kitchen and garden, and he had a firm belief that there was much to be learned by the shared culture of food. Because Hayground hosts so many different backgrounds it was a really easy way to have these kinds of conversations.”
The event raised more than $300,000 its first year — enough to build Jeff’s Kitchen, which now serves as an educational building for interested students.
Salaway's mission continues to grow with this year’s event. “We’re hoping at this dinner to raise funds to expand the kitchen to accommodate more campers more comfortably in that space,” Ross said. Funds will also be used for tuition assistance.
Stair said of the dinner "There is a spirit of camaraderie among all the chefs through the night that is unmatched at any other event. It's wonderful to be there and see people come together for a night to taste the bounty of our local foods and enjoy each others' company."
The Cocktails and Tasting Ticket is $175, Dinner Ticket $850, VIP Dinner Ticket with specialty wine pairings for $1,750, and VIP Chefs Tables available. Children's tickets are $35. For more information, call 631-537-7068 ext. 113.
