Chefs' Choir: Welcoming Spring

At Great Performances, food is woven into every moment from a quick coffee break to a grand celebratory feast. We bring this belief to life through delicious food, warm hospitality, and boundless culinary creativity. At the heart of it all is our Chefs’ Choir℠ ensemble – a unique and diverse group of extraordinary chefs and cooks who power our catering, café, and restaurant services. With their diverse talents, perspectives, and culinary expertise, they shape the unforgettable menus that define our events, from corporate gatherings and nonprofit galas to weddings and milestone celebrations; and that feed our diners at our cafés and restaurants.

Through the Chefs’ Choir℠ ensemble, our chefs step beyond the kitchen to share their passion and expertise directly with you. They offer recipes to try at home, stories that inspire, insights into their craft, and tips to elevate your cooking. Whether you’re looking to recreate a signature dish, explore new techniques, or simply find fresh inspiration, the Chefs’ Choir℠ ensemble brings the artistry and creativity of Great Performances into your home, making every meal a celebration.

Recipes Welcoming Spring

As the days grow longer and the first signs of spring emerge, our chefs are embracing the season’s fresh flavors and cherished traditions. Spring is a time of renewal—both in the kitchen and in our daily lives. Whether it’s harvesting homegrown herbs with loved ones or rolling out a batch of handmade dumplings, food has a way of connecting us to the moment and to each other.

This month, Chefs’ Choir celebrates the flavors of the season with recipes that highlight bright, vibrant ingredients and the comfort of time-honored cooking traditions. Tatiana shares her love for homegrown veggies with a crisp, herb-packed sprout salad, while Anastassia reflects on the warmth of making pelmeni with family—a tradition she hopes to pass on to the next generation.

Read on for their stories, recipes, and a few more favorite springtime dishes from past Chefs’ Choir editions. Here’s to a season of fresh inspiration!

Chefs’ Choir: Chef Anastassia Batsoula-Deuel’s Russian Pelmeni

For Anastassia Batsoula-Deuel, making pelmeni is more than just cooking—it’s a cherished family tradition. She grew up rolling out these hearty Russian dumplings alongside her mother and grandmother, filling the kitchen with warmth and conversation. Now, she hopes to pass the tradition on to her little one, sharing the joy of homemade comfort food, one bite at a time.