At Great Performances, we embrace creativity and continue to look outside our walls to find inspiration from our friends and partners. We regularly invite innovators, creatives, business leaders, chefs and others to contribute their expertise to us and to our blog.
We’ve invited Katie Workman, cook, writer, mom of two and food activist to contribute some of her favorite spring recipes to our blog. Ms. Workman has written two cookbooks, The Mom 100 Cookbook (2012) and Dinner Solved! (2015), recognized in notable publications, and also writes a blog, The Mom 100. We’re delighted to feature some of her favorite spring recipes below.
11 Ways to Make the Most of Spring Vegetables!
by Katie Workman
Spring is the beginning of the best produce months of the year. Even with the world feeling so precarious, hopefully we can take some time to support the farmers’ markets in our areas. Of course maintain social distancing — the markets, where open, will look different than they have in the past, perhaps with advance orders being taken, perhaps with some grab and go options of produce already bagged. But if there is a market safely open in your neighborhood and you can safely get there, we should all try and get some business to the farmers who work all year long for the warm weather crops.
So once you find yourself back home with bunches of radishes, bundles of asparagus, piles of lettuces, baskets of sugar snap peas, you may well need some recipe inspiration. Here are 11 ways to put that spring produce to work.
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Simple Sauteed Spring Greens: This is stupidly easy, but really one of the nicest ways to enjoy a selection of green vegetables. Sugar snap peas, arugula, spinach and peas….you can use any combo you like, but it’s nice to have an assortment of types and textures.
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Ramp and Pea Risotto: The perfect risotto to celebrate the arrival of spring. These wild scallions, which grow in some parts of the country for a short period in the early spring, are always a hot commodity. Grab them while you can.
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Farro and Vegetable Salad : I love the way the additional of a couple of handfuls of cooked whole grains adds so much heft and interest to a salad. If you can find watermelon radishes, then you will have even more color and excitement in this bowl.
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Spinach and Radish Salad with Feta: What’s green and white and red all over? This perfect little side salad.
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French Potato Salad: This mayo-free potato salad is very clean tasting, with fresh herbs and a touch of mustard and a lovely vinaigrette dressing.
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Stir Fried Chicken with Pea Shoots: Pea shoots are in season in the spring, as they are the first part of the pea plant to sprout. The tendril-ey leaves are beautiful and delicious, tasting much like, you know, peas, but milder. This stir fry takes less than 30 minutes.
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Simple Roasted Asparagus with Shallots and Parmesan: Roasting asparagus deepens it flavor and it couldn’t be easier. Some melted Parm and crispy shallots make this dish perfect for entertaining.
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Sesame Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms: Crisp tender asparagus and savory and chewy mushrooms come together in this super quick Asian stir fry.
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Grilled Lemony Chicken and Baby Artichokes: A reason to uncover that grill early. This grilled chicken shares a super simple citrusy, tangy marinade with tender baby artichokes. 10 minutes on the grill!.
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Simple Vegetarian Spring Pasta Salad: Sometimes people have an impression of pasta salad as a bit boring or dowdy or dated. Nope. This pasta salad is portable and flexible and fresh, and it’s also a nice way to play around with the vegetables of the season. Have at it.
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Mosaic Crudite Confetti: It looks fancy, but it is in fact a little salad of thinly sliced vegetables. Spring onions, baby leeks, radishes, and whatever looks fresh and sliceable at the market is fair game for this pretty little salad presentation.
Hungry for More?
EASTER TIPS & RECIPES FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS
APRIL IS TOTALLY RAD...ISH
Radishes belong to the cabbage (brassicaceae) family and like many of its cousins, can be crunchy, peppery and spicy. They’re high in vitamin C, low in fat and calories, and add a refreshing crunch to a variety of dishes. They can be eaten raw or cooked. Popular varieties include watermelon, French Breakfast, Cherry Belle, Daikon, Horseradish and, of course, Wasabi.
Radishes are also incredibly versatile. Grated, it’s a spicy condiment that lends itself well to rich dishes needing a peppery, spicy kick, or added to dressings and sauces. Sliced thinly it adds color and texture to a dish, or even be used as a mini-taco shell. And left whole, it can be eaten raw or cooked. Even the radish tops can be used, making this the perfect root-to-tip vegetable. Just be sure you know your radish before taking a big bite!
Let us know how you like to eat your radishes and try our featured recipe below. We love to get pictures — tag or direct message us on Instagram @gpfood or email them to us directly.
RADISH TARTINE
Serves 6
We love this recipe because although we included measurements, it really doesn’t really need them, and it’s easily adapted to serving 1-2 people.
Ingredients:
½ lb mixed radishes, thinly sliced
Reserved radish tops, cleaned and chiffonade
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 lemon, juiced
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
6 hearty slices of country bread or a bread of your choice, toasted
Procedure:
Combine the ricotta with lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil to taste.
Lightly dress the radish top chiffonade with olive oil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
Spread evenly over the toasted bread, and layer with the dressed radish top chiffonade and then the sliced radishes.
Drizzle with olive oil and serve.
By Great Performances
Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!
Apollo Comedy Club
Thursday, March 5 at 10:00 pm
Featuring: Natasha Face, Lamarr Todd, Mickey Housley
Hosted by: Fig
Music by: DJ Qool Marv
The Apollo Comedy Club celebrates the Theater’s rich comedic roots. Presented in partnership with the legendary Bob Sumner (producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of LaffMobb on Aspire), the Apollo Comedy Club features the best up and coming talent in comedy today. The comedy shows precedes the Theater’s weekend music series, Apollo Music Café, extending the Theater’s late night offerings. Purchase tickets.
Fabolous Cold Summer Tour
Friday, March 6 at 8:00 pm
Fabolous brings his Cold Summer Tour stop to Harlem at the Apollo Theater. He will be performing songs off the extremely well received album, Summer Shoot Out 3, as well as many other hits. The F to the A.B. Kid from Brooklyn is going to light up the stage on 125th street.
Many surprises are expected, so get your tickets while you can.
Apollo Music Cafe:
Broadway Uptown – Jason Michael Webb & Lelund Durond Thompson
Friday, March 6 at 10:00 pm
Tonight, Broadway is taking the A-train and coming uptown! Composers Jason Michael Webb and Lelund Derond Thompson (First Noel, Wildflower and Choir Boy) deliver an evening of songs and stories with friends from Broadway. Purchase tickets.
Apollo Music Cafe: Storm Marrero
Saturday, March 7 at 10:00 pm
Tonight’s forecast is warm, steamy and unpredictable as Storm Marrero takes the stage for an unforgettable night of songs. This sought-after diva plans to unleash a flood-gate of music that includes a night of Latin, pop and soul.
Storm Marrero is a proud Brooklyn native who studied voice under the tutelage of veteran opera singers at the University of Puerto Rico’s prestigious musical theater department. Storm recently completed a three-year run with New York’s premier dance company Company XIV and recognized as the first Afro-Latina Ringmaster of the Big Apple Circus. Marrero’s EP entitled Black Gypsy is available on iTunes and Amazon. Purchase tickets.
Amateur Night At The Apollo: Quarter Final
Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30 pm
The winners of recent Amateur Night shows come together to show off their talent in this Quarter-Final and compete for the chance to move on to the Semi-Finals on May 13th. Contestants who make it this far can compete for the title of Grand Finale Winner and a cash prize ($5,000 in the Child Star category and $20,000 in the Adult category) on November 25th!
Aspiring musicians, singers, dancers, comedians, rappers and spoken word artists try their best to please the audiences that can make them an Apollo legend. Then get ready to cheer or jeer as you decide who stays and who gets booted off stage. At Amateur Night, you tell the performers to be good or be gone!
Amateur Night at the Apollo is hosted by the comedian Capone. Each show begins with a festive pre-party featuring video and music by DJ Jess. And keep a lookout for C.P. Lacey, the resident Executioner who sweeps bad talent off the stage. Purchase tickets.
Apollo Live Wire: Aretha!
Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 pm
Live Wire takes a deep dive into the artistry of Franklin with a conversation led by writer and cultural critic Emily J. Lordi and three scholars and culture workers — Fredara Hadley, DJ Lynnée Denise, and Portia Maultsby– offering an opportunity to learn more about the still understudied subject of Franklin’s musicianship. RSVP here.
First Friday Leo Bar
Friday, March 6, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Join us for the return of our First Friday Leo Bars and check out Asia Society Museum’s new exhibition The Art of Impermanence: Japanese Works from the John C. Weber Collection and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection for free. The museum stays open late from 6–9 p.m., offering free admission, exhibition tours, drink specials, and late night shopping at AsiaStore.
FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION
GUIDED EXHIBITION TOURS
DRINK SPECIALS by Great Performances
(Happy hour prices from 6–7 p.m.)JAPANESE GREEN TEA TASTING & MATCHA DEMONSTRATION by Masha Tea
ACTIVITIES INSPIRED BY THE ART OF IMPERMANENCE
ASIASTORE DISCOUNTS
Exhibition Lecture Series
My Thoughts Dyed With You: Perspectives On Impermanence In Japanese Art – Sinead Vilbar
Wednesday, March 11, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
In historical Japan, commentaries on Buddhist scripture and the production of poetry provided two means of communicating about the ephemeral nature of human existence. As our own eyes are dyed with the features of calligraphies, objects, and paintings presented in this exhibition, we reanimate the past performances of words imbued with deep spiritual and emotional significance captured in this art. Learn more.
In conjunction with Asia Week New York, March 12–19+, 2020.
Exhibition Lecture Series
Monuments To Impermanence: New Inspirations From Ancient Japanese Stone Circles And Burial Mounds – Simon Kaner
Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
The ancient preliterate inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago marked the passing of time through the creation of monuments, including Jōmon stone circles and massive burial mounds (kofun), some inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage. New meanings are being sought among these monuments in modern Japan. This lecture addresses how the preservation of these ruins speaks to an aesthetic of impermanence. Learn more.
Theater: Medea
With Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale
Written and Directed by Simon Stone
Extended through Sunday, March 8
Euripides’ controversial icon is reborn in visionary director Simon Stone’s (Yerma) stunning contemporary rewrite. Rose Byrne (Damages, Bridesmaids, You Can’t Take It with You) and Bobby Cannavale (The Lifespan of a Fact, The Hairy Ape, The Motherf**ker with the Hat) face off as a husband and wife in the tumultuous throes of an unraveling marriage. Transposing the devastation of Greek tragedy to a modern American home, Stone’s stripped-bare staging throws the couple’s every raw emotion into stark relief, from jealousy to passion, humor to despair. Who will pay the price? Purchase tickets.
Artist Circle: Breaking The Waves
Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30 pm
An evening with
Missy Mazzoli
Yannick Nézet-Séguin
in conversation with
Anthony Roth Costanzo
Artist Circle members and above are invited to an intimate evening of enlightening discussion moderated by Anthony Roth Costanzo with composer Missy Mazzoli and maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who share their insights into BAM’s upcoming production of Breaking the Waves (Jun 26—30). Learn more.
Film: Bacurau
Part of Film series Rise Up!: Portraits of Resistance
Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho & Juliano Dornelles
With Sônia Braga, Bárbara Colen, Thomas Aquino, Silvero Pereira
In the tranquil, tightly knit backcountry village of Bacurau, in a not-too-distant future Brazil, something strange is stirring. The town has disappeared from the virtual map, all cellular reception has been lost, and a mysterious UFO-like object hovers ominously overhead. Something sinister is encroaching on Bacurau and even if they don’t know what it is, the residents are ready. Both a hypnotically intense, no-holds-barred sci-fi survival thriller and a stunningly subversive howl of anti-colonialist fury, this genre-bending parable of exploitation and resistance explodes with the force of a Molotov cocktail hurled straight into the eye of racial and political oppression. Learn more.
Studio 54: Night Magic
March 13 – July 5, 2020 (Member Preview March 12)
Studio 54: Night Magic traces the radiant history, social politics, and trailblazing aesthetics of the most iconic nightclub of all time. Behind the velvet rope, partygoers of all backgrounds and lifestyles could come together for nights of music, dazzling lights, and the popular song and dance “The Hustle.”
Following the Vietnam War, and amid the nationwide Civil Rights Movement and fights for LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, a nearly bankrupted New York City hungered for social and creative transformation as well as a sense of joyous celebration after years of protest and upheaval. Low rents attracted a diversity of artists, fashion designers, writers, and musicians, catalyzing the invention of new art forms, including musical genres such as punk, hip-hop, and disco. In a rare societal shift, people from different sexual, sociopolitical, and financial strata intermingled freely in the after-hours nightclubs of New York City. No place exemplified this more than Studio 54.
Organized chronologically, Studio 54: Night Magic uses photography, fashion, drawing, and film, as well as never-before-exhibited costume illustrations, set proposals, and designs, to place the nightclub within the wider history of New York, from Prohibition through the 1970s. Blueprints and architecture models illustrate the club’s innovative development and creation, while documentation of extravagant theme parties traces its thirty-three month run. The exhibition continues through the years after the nightclub’s closure, showing the ongoing influence of Studio 54 aesthetics. Purchase tickets.
Pop-Up Performance: Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, March 15, 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Drop by Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra’s series of intimate pop-up performances, highlighting members and featured musicians as the Orchestra in Residence fills our galleries with a family-friendly range of classical music from across the globe.
Free with Museum admission. Learn more.
Hustle Party
Thursday, March 19, 6:00 – 9:30 pm
Celebrate the art of the hustle in honor of our special exhibition Studio 54: Night Magic! Join us at 6 pm to learn the dance, popularized at the world-famous nightclub, in a class led by Marlene Veras, resident instructor for our monthly Salsa Party with Balmir Latin Dance Studio. Then, get into the Studio 54 spirit with live music, social dancing, and performances by Brooklyn’s best hustle dancers.
This event is free, but RSVP is required before 6 am on Thursday, March 19.
Rosen House Tours
Select Wednesdays through Mid-June at 2:00 pm
Enter a Mediterranean-style house inspired by Old World Europe, cultivated and curated by Caramoor’s founders Walter and Lucie Rosen. Renaissance artifacts from a gilded bed that belonged to Pope Urban VIII to entire rooms shipped from Europe, and a stunning Asian collection are some of the many incredible discoveries waiting here. Learn more.
Schwab Vocal Rising Stars: The Art Of Pleasure
Sunday, March 15th at 3:00 pm
With music by Rachmaninoff, Bernstein, Tom Lehrer, John Musto, and many others, this program will feature four young singers and a pianist selected by Artistic Director Steven Blier for a weeklong residency at Caramoor. Assisted by Michael Barrett, Associate Director of the New York Festival of Song (NYFOS), and developed in conjunction with NYFOS, the week will include daily coaching, rehearsals and workshops, and culminate in this Music Room performance exploring the wealth and breadth of song repertoire. Learn more.
Camille Thurman And The Darrell Green Trio
March 13-15
The multitalented Camille Thurman is a formidable saxophonist and has performed extensively with artists ranging from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Dr. Billy Taylor, George Coleman, Lew Tabackin, and George Benson to Chaka Khan, Alicia Keys, and Missy Elliot. The best way to experience the full scope of Thurman’s artistry is to catch one of her performances as bandleader, such as tonight’s showcase with her regular working band, the outstanding Darrell Green Trio. Purchase tickets.
DIVA Jazz Orchestra Swings Broadway
March 19 – 22, 7:30 & 9:30 pm
The all-female DIVA Jazz Orchestra exudes the excitement and force found in the historic big band tradition. With Dizzy’s Club as its “New York City home,” DIVA performs all over the world, playing contemporary, mainstream big band jazz composed and arranged to fit the individual personalities and styles of the musicians. Tonight’s program features a reimagining of classic tunes from My Fair Lady, The Music Man, Westside Story, Oklahoma, Damn Yankees, The Sound of Music, and more.
Audiences can expect super-charged and swinging takes on these favorite Broadway standards packed with stunning improvisation, spontaneity, and an emphasis on fun. Purchase tickets.
Duduka Da Fonseca And Helio Alves Featuring Maucha Adnet: Samba Jazz & Jobim
March 26 – 29, 7:30 & 9:30 pm
With drummer Duduka da Fonseca, pianist Helio Alves, vocalist Maucha Adnet, flutist Billy Drewes, guitarist Chico Pinheiro, bassist Hans Glawisching, & bassist Martin Wind (3/26 only).
Tonight’s samba jazz showcase features three of Brazil’s most in-demand musicians, two of whom worked closely with the iconic Antonio Carlos Jobim. Drummer Duduka da Fonseca (of Trio da Paz), pianist Helio Alves, and vocalist Maucha Adnet are all experts in this music, each of them recognized internationally for expanding the worlds of jazz and Latin music. The music is truly infectious, featuring dazzling rhythms, daring improvisations, and soul-stirring harmonies. Come enjoy samba jazz performed by those who know it best. Purchase tickets.
Juilliard Jazz Ensambles: The Music Of Charles Mingus
Tuesday, March 31, 7:30 & 9:30 pm
The Juilliard School has been a destination for world-class music education since it was founded, and these incredible young musicians will exemplify that legacy in this performance. The Juilliard School Jazz Ensemble features some of the world’s most talented emerging jazz artists, many of whom are already professional musicians. No stranger to Dizzy’s Club, the ensemble has also performed at noted venues such as the Blue Note and Alice Tully Hall.
These gifted young musicians are proof of jazz’s bright future, and tonight they celebrate the essential, almost mythical New Orleans icon Buddy Bolden, the great cornetist and bandleader who helped develop jazz during its earliest stages. Purchase tickets.
Exhibition: Rita Ackermann. Mama ‘19
Through April 11
Hauser & Wirth presents the latest body of work by Hungarian born, New York-based artist Rita Ackermann: a suite of new paintings in which figures and motifs rise to the surface of canvases, only to dissolve and reappear elsewhere again.
In such works as ‘Mama Painting for Mars’ (2019), repeated figurative imagery and expanses of intense color combine in complex visual currents. In other works, Ackermann’s distinctive approach to layering of drawings, yields a framework for a maelstrom of vibrant pigments and textures that seem to advance toward the viewer with velocity.
Like Ackermann’s Chalkboard Paintings (2015), the works on view in ‘Mama ‘19’ are built through an additive and subtractive process. Here, her palette and gestural vocabulary has expanded to evoke a vibrant interior realm through the application of paint. Thick layers of impasto and oil stick are vigorously and repeatedly applied and scraped in such works as ‘Mama, Morty Smoking’ (2019), with both the paintbrush and the artist’s bare hands working to shape a site of ancestry and conception.
As an extension of the exhibition, ‘Rita Ackermann, Mama ‘19’ is accompanied by a publication featuring essays by Scott Griffin and Harmony Korine. Learn more.
Exhibition: Larry Bell. Still Standing
Through April 11
Hauser & Wirth’s exhibition ‘Larry Bell. Still Standing,’ presents a range of the artist’s sculptural works from the 1970s to the present day. A pioneer in his approach to the surface treatment of glass, and a master of unprecedented explorations of light, reflection, and shadow, Bell has documented perceptual phenomena through a tirelessly inventive sculptural practice. This exhibition charts a less explored, but seminal moment in Bell’s practice when he began to radically deconstruct his signature glass cubes into the more architecturally-scaled, fragmented, crystalline forms or what he referred to as ‘standing walls.’ ‘Still Standing’ also presents a number of the artist’s small-scale studies, illuminating Bell’s process as he meditated on scale and translated his ideas into larger sculptural works.
Rather than being contained, Bell’s standing walls were site-specific to every space in which they were presented, wholly permeable to their setting. The immersive environments created by his standing walls were capable of challenging perception in new ways, their expansiveness opening viewers up to other ways of seeing. In examining this body of work, the exhibition highlights the artist’s critical contribution to the history of Minimalism and installation art. The exhibition traces Bell’s evolution after a move to Taos, New Mexico in 1973. Finding conventional gallery spaces of the time could not physically accommodate what he aspired to produce, Bell set out to make work on his own terms. Learn more.
The Artistry Of Jazzmeia Horn: Love And Liberation
March 6 & 7, 7:00 & 9:30 pm
Jazzmeia Horn thinks everyone deserves to “express themselves fully, without fear or reservation”—and she’s here to lead by example. Horn has confidently taken the jazz world by storm since winning the 2015 International Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition, and the Love and Liberation tour is Horn truly coming into her own. An ode to unapologetic self-love and honest expression, this is Horn’s first collection of almost-entirely original material.
This Appel Room feature debut will include the same band from the album: Josh Evans on trumpet, Irwin Hall on saxophone, Keith Brown on piano, Ben Williams on bass, Anwar Marshall on drums, and dancer Alexandria Johnson. Every musician in this young group is a prominent bandleader and first-call sideman, and ’s vivacious leadership brings them together with an unmistakable and infectious chemistry. Purchase tickets.
Ambrose Akinmusire’s Large Ensemble Presents BANYAN
March 27 & 28, 7:00 & 9:30 pm
Trumpeter and composer Ambrose Akinmusire has been one of the most exciting musicians to emerge in the 21st century. As a composer and bandleader, Akinmusire brings truth to the notion that music alone can be as immersive and transportive as any form of art. Though he’s one of the hottest trumpeters around, it’s the full musical worlds he creates as a composer that make each new project so eagerly anticipated.
For his Jazz at Lincoln Center debut as a headliner, Akinmusire will perform his extended banyan suite, featuring his ensemble with extremely special guests. The powerful, original suite of music explores the role of mentorship in the oral and aural traditions of society and jazz. With living legends Jack DeJohnette and Tom Harrell on board, the performance exemplifies jazz as a living continuum, bringing together generations of distinctive voices through new music. Purchase tickets.
Cambodian Rock Band By Lauren Yee
Through March 15
Guitars tuned. Mic checked. Get ready to rock! This darkly funny, electric new play with music tells the story of a Khmer Rouge survivor returning to Cambodia for the first time in thirty years, as his daughter prepares to prosecute one of Cambodia’s most infamous war criminals. Backed by a live band playing contemporary Dengue Fever hits and classic Cambodian oldies, this thrilling story toggles back and forth in time as father and daughter face the music of the past. Directed by Chay Yew, the New York premiere of this intimate rock epic about family secrets is set against a dark chapter of Cambodian history. Purchase tickets here.
The Hot Wing King By Katori Hall
Through March 22
Ready, set, fry! It’s time for the annual “Hot Wang Festival” in Memphis, Tennessee, and Cordell Crutchfield knows he has the wings that’ll make him king. Supported by his beau Dwayne and their culinary clique, The New Wing Order, Cordell is marinating and firing up his frying pan in a bid to reclaim the crispy crown. When Dwayne takes in his troubled nephew however, it becomes a recipe for disaster. Suddenly, a first place trophy isn’t the only thing Cordell risks losing. Steve H. Broadnax III will direct this sizzling world premiere comedy from Residency 5 playwright Katori Hall (Hurt Village, Our Lady of Kibeho). Purchase tickets here.
In celebration of The Hot Wing King, you can enjoy Memphis Style Wings made by Great Performances on Fridays and Saturdays through the run of the production.
Win your place on The Hot Wing Royalty Portrait if you eat 20 Memphis Style Wings before the performance! We’ll take your Polaroid picture and proudly add it to the display in the Lobby! #HotWingKingNYC
Pre-Concert Tea
Sunday, March 15, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Enjoy Afternoon Tea in the Mark Twain Room prior to today’s concert in Armor Hall. The Café at Wave Hill pairs a classic menu with an assortment of green, black and herbal teas. This traditional tea service includes the four classic elements of savory, scones, sweets and tea. The menu, presented by Great Performances, includes an array of tea sandwiches, scones and bite-sized desserts. Afternoon Tea also includes a glass of sparkling wine. Learn more.
Concert: PUBLIQuartet
Sunday, March 15 at 2:00 pm
Mind The Gap is an original project developed in 2011 by PUBLIQuartet. The concept bridges the gap between diverse musical genres through group improvisation. Their brand of rock meets jazz meets stylistically crazed group composition touches on deeper connections between traditional, modern and contemporary music. Concerts begin at 2PM and last approximately one hour with no intermission. Learn more.
Garden And Conservatory Highlights Walk
Sunday, February 23 at 2:00 pm
After being shown a glimpse of the horticultural world, Uziel Crescenzi dove right in. He changed his major from architecture to plant science and transferred to the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill. Since graduation he has interned at the Arnold Arboretum, Wave Hill and The American Gardener, experiences that prompted him to complete the Master of Landscape Architecture program at The City College of New York, Bernard Anne Spitzer School of Architecture, this past June.
Crescenzi’s talk will focus on the insights he has gained—so far—concerning public and private horticulture and environmental assessment. Learn more.
By Great Performances
In March, the Great Performances’ culinary team pays tribute to the healthy, versatile, and uncomplicated potato. Spuds are heart-healthy because they contain ample amounts of potassium, vitamin C and fiber. Also rich in vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, and iron, they help boost the immune system, improve energy levels and contribute to overall health. Darker colored potatoes also contain antioxidants known as anthocyanins which slow down the aging process and keep the brain sharp.
An easy-to-make food for all seasons and occasions, you can bake, roast, grill, fry or even boil them, and they can be eaten hot or cold. There are fewer foods that lend themselves so well to topping – butter, sour cream, cheese, gravy, bacon bits, and more. The possibilities are endless!
This month, from Signature Cafe’s Potato, Provolone, and Pancetta Flatbread to BAM Cafe’s Patatas Bravas with Pimenton Aioli, enjoy our favorite dishes showcasing potatoes in a variety of delicious ways. You can also make them yourself using the easy-to-make Potato Rosti recipe below or check out the Katchkie Farm recipe archive for even more great potato ideas!
CELEBRATE POTATOES AT GREAT PERFORMANCES’ RESTAURANTS & CAFÉS
BREAKFAST POTATO CAKE, SUNNYSIDE EGG, AND BACON – March 20-21
POTATO ROSTI, SMOKED SALMON WITH SIDE SALAD – March 20-21
POTATO, PROVOLONE, AND PANCETTA FLATBREAD – March 20-21
LEMON, ROSEMARY, AND GARLIC-SCENTED HOMEFRIES – March 21-22
BAM CAFÉ AT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC
PATATAS BRAVAS – with Pimenton Aioli, March 20-21
POTATO ROSTI
By Chef Saul Bolton
A cross between a hash brown and potato pancake, the rosti is a Swiss dish often served for breakfast but is versatile enough to eat with any meal. Delicious eaten as is, it’s also the perfect base for eggs, smoked salmon, a peppery arugula salad or a variety of other toppings.
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS
PROCEDURE
1 pound Idaho or russet potatoes, peeled and grated on the large holes of a box grater
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1 cup canola oil
Salt and pepper
- Squeeze excess water out of grated potato, then season with salt, pepper and thyme.
- Divide seasoned potato into 6 equal portions, molding into discs of equal thickness with smooth edges.
- Add oil to frying pan and heat over medium flame.
- Add the potato discs in batches, being careful not to crowd the pan, and fry until uniformly golden brown and cooked through, approximately 10 minutes on each side.
- Drain and keep warm on a cookie rack in a 200˚ oven.
- Season lightly with salt and pepper then serve with your topping of choice.
More Recipes
A Chef’s Thanksgiving: Cooking Low and Slow — With a One-Year-Old Sous-Chef
Jump to Recipe About Chefs’ Choir® A chorus of culinary voices from Great Performances—our chefs step out of the kitchen to share recipes, stories, and
Farm-to-Table Thanksgiving Recipes from Katchkie Farm
A Thanksgiving Message from Our Farm Family As the fields in Kinderhook settle into their quiet winter rhythm, we take a moment to reflect on
November 2025 Food Festival: Cranberries
This month’s Food Festival celebrates cranberries with a chef-crafted cranberry sauce recipe, pro tips, and serving suggestions for your holiday table.
October 2025 Food Festival: Cauliflower
Cauliflower shines in this comforting October recipe. Our chef’s cauliflower ragu is gently simmered with onion, rosemary, and butter until it melts into a savory sauce that’s perfect for pasta night.
A Sweet Tradition for Rosh HaShana: Barbara Glassman’s Honey Cake
As we prepare to welcome Rosh HaShana, we celebrate with foods that symbolize sweetness, abundance, and new beginnings. Apples dipped in honey remind us of
September 2025 Food Festival: Corn
Corn takes center stage this September! Learn how to make a rich and comforting corn chowder featuring sweet kernels, hearty potatoes, and fragrant tarragon—all simmered in a homemade corn stock that makes the flavors shine.
Plantain & Mullein Green Fritters
Crispy, savory fritters made with plantain and mullein leaves. A Chefs’ Choir(SM) recipe that transforms overlooked weeds into a sustainable, crave-worthy dish, perfect with lemon or a yogurt dip.
Dandelion Salad Recipe with Dayflowers
A fresh dandelion salad recipe featuring Asiatic dayflowers, toasted walnuts, and honey-mustard vinaigrette. Inspired by the wild plants growing in our garden, this dish turns overlooked “weeds” into a vibrant springtime meal.
SURPRISE, WE ARE THE SINATROS!
Planning a Wedding at the Plaza Hotel
By Emily Reifel
It’s not every year that the wedding season kicks off in January, but in 2020 it did just that with an intimate and unique affair – the Sinatro wedding.
I had the pleasure of speaking to Beth, the mother of the groom. A mother of two boys Darren and Alec, and a wife to her amazing husband Tim, she told me how she never in her life expected to plan a wedding, but here she was calling The Plaza to plan one. Her son Darren and fiancée Selin reside in London and really put their trust in Beth to make their celebration memorable.
We met in person because at that point she wanted to see the The Plaza so she could get a feel for what she wanted to do with the space. We started our conversation discussing the big day, but we ended up talking more about life and common acquaintances than the actual wedding.
I was enamored by the international feel of the wedding that Beth envisioned, with the bride originally from Turkey, and the couple now living abroad. Their guest list comprised friends and family from all around the world. We locked down a date and went straight to planning.
Beth and I curated the perfect team to create what Beth had in mind: a classic, formal dinner party. David Beahm’s team was up for the challenge of creating the perfect vibe in The Terrace Room. That’s right – we didn’t use The Grand Ballroom!
Throughout the process, I met with Beth and her husband multiple times. We had an ongoing joke that the wedding would be a complete surprise for Darren and Selin. Soon it was time for our tasting, and I was so excited to finally meet this mysterious couple.
As life has it, though, unexpected life challenges wouldn’t allow the couple to travel to NYC that day, so Beth, Tim, Tiffany and I toasted in their honor and selected a fabulous menu! Darren and Selin were about to be surprised with so many wonderful details! Soon thereafter, I was finally able to meet Darren and his brother Alec. Beth was unable to attend, but I was delighted to reveal some of her thoughtful menu selections.
During the week of the wedding, I got to meet the gorgeous, elegant Selin. I had a great conversation with the couple and we made sure they were thoroughly represented in all aspects of the celebration. They were gracious, appreciative and very much in love. It was apparent that their long-distance relationship and now living abroad together had created such a strong foundation.
The big day finally arrived; it was a long workday, but I enjoyed working on every detail of their wedding day vision. Shawn Connell and his skilled photography team were able to get beautiful shots of the couple, family and guests. These included a beautiful family photo on The Grand Staircase, a Sinatro family tradition. Guests arrived and enjoyed champagne, hors d’oeuvres and our custom Turkish Station, an homage to Selin’s roots.
Then to the guests’ surprise we moved them all to face the iconic Grand Staircase where the ceremony began right then and there on the landing. David Beahm’s team created this stunning arching tree which was the perfect backdrop to say “I do!” Guests loved it as the couple walked down the aisle onto the stairs. Soon it was time for everyone to see the Terrace Room that was adorned with magnolia trees, white flowers and endless glimmering candlelight.
Alex from Style Events and a few musicians played the perfect music to entertain this worldly crowd. We seated everyone to a three-course dinner for toasts and special wedding dances, then the party really started. The exuberant crowd didn’t stop dancing for three hours.
Darren and Selin loved how Alex perfectly mixed music from the United States along with Turkish music and other international artists; it was the perfect mix. We passed Shake Shack burgers, fries and milk shakes at the end of the night as on ode to NYC and the crowd loved it all.
Beth, Tim, Darren, Selin, Tiffany and I had multiple group hugs at the end of the night. They really got to enjoy their special day and all of its surprises! The couple was officially the Sinatros and they couldn’t have been happier…and that’s what it’s all about.
Thinking about having your wedding at the Plaza Hotel? Great Performances is the official caterer for the Plaza. Learn more about the Plaza here, and if you are ready to plan your Plaza wedding, just fill out the form below. We will get in touch shortly.
MAPLE CRÈME CARAMEL VALENTINE'S DESSERT
By Chef Geoff Rudaw
Nothing says “I love you” like taking a risk, dabbling in the unknown, and trying something new. Crème Caramel is a dish that can be made with easily available items, and once mastered, it can be simple to make while coming across as a skilled and difficult dish to produce. For a little color, add some pomegranate seeds (optional).
Serves 10-12 portions
INGREDIENTS
PROCEDURE
1 cup sugar
½ cup water
2 Tbsp lemon juice
3 cups cream
1¼ cups milk
1 cup maple syrup
7 egg yolks
2 whole eggs
½ tsp vanilla extract
Heat sugar, water and lemon juice in a pot until a dark amber color. Pour into 4 ounce aluminum cups or ramekins that have been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
Heat cream and milk until hot.
Combine maple syrup, egg yolks and whole eggs and whisk well.
Temper the egg mixture by adding a few ounces of the hot milk mixture to the egg mixture while whisking.
Continue to add a few more ounces of the hot milk mixture, constantly whisking, until the egg mixture warms up. Then add the warmed egg mixture to the hot milk mixture and whisk. Strain to ensure a silky texture, then cool in an ice bath.
Divide the cooled custard mixture into the cups or ramekins (about halfway up the side).
Gently put the cups into a deep baking dish (at least 2” deep) and pour cool water around the cups. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake at 300˚F for 50-55 minutes until the custard jiggles slightly.
Cool, remove from pan and chill overnight.
Once chilled, loosen edges by gently inserting a pairing knife and carefully sliding it around aluminum cup. Invert onto plate.
Pomegranate seeds can be sprinkled on top and around plate, if desired.
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VALENTINE'S DAY TIPS & RECIPES TO MAKE YOUR SWEETHEART SWOON
Chefs’ Choir: Valentine’s Day Cocktails
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January 22, 2025
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Chef Joe Bachman shares his centerpiece recipe for Valentine’s Day: Seared Scallops with Butternut Risotto.
Chefs’ Choir: Chef Brandi Solomon’s Valentine’s Day Menu
January 22, 2025
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Looking for a special yet easy to prepare meal for Valentine’s Day? Chef Brandi Solomon has put together the perfect one!
Chefs’ Choir: Chef Albert Bello’s Valentine’s Day Entremet
January 21, 2025
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Chef Albert Bello shares his Valentine’s Day Entremet recipe, the perfect way to impress your loved one this season.
Chefs’ Choir: Chef Tatiana’s Gluten-Free Super Seed Bread
January 21, 2025
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Chef Tatiana Iglesias shares her Gluten-Free Super Seed Bread Recipe, perfect for baking and sharing with your loved ones.
Roasted Butternut Squash Puree with Miso Recipe
February 6, 2023
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It’s been a delicious year at Great Performances! We introduced even more plant-forward dishes (including our vegan demi-glace) and have thrown a record number of events including corporate events, brand activations, movie and Broadway premiers, weddings, conferences, and of course, holiday parties!
FOOD CONSUMPTION BY CATEGORY
As we looked back at what people ate this year, we noticed a couple trends. First, our customers, clients and diners are spending more on Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Seeds and Nuts compared to any other category. Additionally, we’ve noted an almost 15% increase in the consumption of plant-focused meals, which aligns with the continued growth of plant-based, vegetarian and vegan eaters. It also seems to indicate that people are ready to embrace a balanced plate even at indulgent events! We’ve definitely noticed an uptick in the request for vegetarian friendly dishes as a primary offering at weddings, and our talented chefs have been busy creating new, innovative dishes that look as beautiful as they are delicious.
Focusing on our vegetable and fruit consumption, all the usual suspects made our popularity list.
As we looked back at what people ate this year, we noticed a couple trends. First, our customers, clients and diners are spending more on Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Seeds and Nuts compared to any other category. Additionally, we’ve noted an almost 15% increase in the consumption of plant-focused meals, which aligns with the continued growth of plant-based, vegetarian and vegan eaters. It also seems to indicate that people are ready to embrace a balanced plate even at indulgent events! We’ve definitely noticed an uptick in the request for vegetarian friendly dishes as a primary offering at weddings, and our talented chefs have been busy creating new, innovative dishes that look as beautiful as they are delicious.
Focusing on our vegetable and fruit consumption, all the usual suspects made our popularity list.
TOP VEGETABLES OF FRUITS OF 2019
Vegetables
Greens
Tubers
Tomatoes
Legumes
Squash
Alliums
Carrots
Peppers
Cucumbers
Mushrooms
Corn
Beets
Eggplant
Asparagus
Fruit
Citrus
Pineapples
Berries
Bananas
Apples
Melons
Mangoes
Grapes
Pears
Peaches
Plums
Kiwi
Pomegranate
Rhubarb
Although there were no real surprises for us, it was exciting to see the distribution of the consumption of the different varieties of food and how very specific items, including tomatoes, carrots and beets, compared to aggregated items, like greens, legumes and alliums. We consumed more greens than tomatoes, carrots and beets combined, which makes sense when considering that greens make the perfect foil for all of our vibrant and delicious produce!
Last year, we explored some of our favorite local products delivered thanks to our partners and friends including Gotham Greens, Koppert Cress, Fossil Farms, Goffle Poultry, our friends at the Green Market and of course, Katchkie Farm. Here’s how we stacked up this year:
6,040 pounds of New York State apples
115,200 cage free chicken eggs
975 pounds of New York State ground polenta, sourced from GrowNYC’s Regional Grain Project
We’re excited to taste and see what 2020 brings!
Our Favorite Wedding Venues, Inside and Out
By Great Performances
Engagement season is at it’s peak and it’s almost time to start planning for the big day! After setting your budget, possible dates and starting your guest list, the next step is finding your dream wedding venue in New York. With so many options in the Greater New York area, it can definitely be overwhelming to search for the best wedding venues in New York, but we’ve got you covered with a list of some our team’s favorite venues for your special day.
A New York Wedding Venue With Amazing Views
If you want to get married in the heart of Manhattan, this secret garden awaits you! Right off of 5th Ave, 620 Loft and Garden overlooks St Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Plaza for some of the best views in New York City. The crisp interior allows for you to bring your vision to life, which is only matched by the elegance of the pristine gardens.
An Iconic Wedding Venue In Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Museum in one of NYC’s most unique venue. Couples have the option to be married and have their reception in the modern, glass pavilion with Brooklyn as their backdrop, or in the timeless Beaux Artes Court, surrounded by historic art and under an extraordinary brass chandelier. Guests get VIP access to art, culture and an experience they will never forget.
One Of The Prettiest Wedding Venues In NY State
Located in northern Westchester County, Caramoor’s flower gardens, picturesque cedar trails and historic home makes this unique space perfect for a wedding. Caramoor can host parties from 50-800 guests allowing guests to experience all 90 archers throughout the course of the evening. Don’t forget to visit throughout the season for one of their amazing summer concerts!
A Truly Unique Wedding Venue In Queens
For the rustic chic wedding couple, The Foundry offers great outdoor space, lots of exposed brick, and a fun industrial vibe. With views of the Queensboro Bridge, the ivy covered oasis is a dream for every couple!
A Mansion Wedding Overlooking Central Park
Located in the Upper East Side, The Museum of the City of New York’s beautifully renovated landmark building on Fifth Avenue’s iconic Museum Mile is the perfect space for your special day. With floor-to-ceiling french doors, a stunning marble staircase, a private outdoor space and views of Central Park, an MNCY wedding is nothing short of breathtaking.
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Museum of the City of New York Weddings
A Classic New York Wedding Venue
The legendary Plaza Hotel is the perfect location for a one-of-a-kind celebration that is modern, timeless and elegant. With 4 enchanting rooms to chose from, there’s no doubt that your wedding will feel like a real-life fairytale.
A Nature Lover’s Dream New York Wedding Venue
Wave Hill is known for its natural beauty. The florals, greenery, landscape and architecture speak for itself. There are so many places on the property to host the various parts of the evening, you are constantly surprising your guests each step of the night. You can have your first look in the Aquatic Garden by the coy pond, the ceremony on the upper lawn with the stunning pergola behind you and cocktail hour on the lower lawn overlooking the Hudson and the palisades just as the sun begins to set. It truly is a hidden gem, and as a public garden a place you can come back to whenever you like for years to come after your wedding.
The Hamptons. The Hudson Valley. The Berkshires. Connecticut. Beyond the city limits, Great Performances can bring the sophistication and elegance of a city wedding to any location. Whether it’s escaping “Out East” to the Parrish Museum, your favorite summer camp in the Berkshires, an estate in Connecticut, or a scenic lawn in the Hudson Valley, your options are limitless.
Search for your dream wedding venue on Great Performances’ Wedding Venue Searcher
LET US CREATE YOUR DREAM WEDDING
Great Performances catering has been around since 1979 when it was founded as a waitress staffing agency to help those women who were working towards a career in the arts. We have now evolved to become New York’s premier events caterer as well as a company that believes in giving back to the community.
Our culinary team works with seasonal, sustainably sourced local ingredients to interpret your dreams into dishes for your wedding celebration.
Throughout the years we have cultivated relationships with some of the best wedding venues in New York. Contact us to learn more about how we work and how we can make your dream wedding come to life.
If you want to learn more about having your wedding at one of these spectacular New York wedding venues, fill out the form below and a planner will reach out to you shortly:
GOINGS ON AT THE BEST WEDDING VENUES IN NEW YORK
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Top NY Outdoor Wedding Venues
THE TOP NY OUTDOOR WEDDING VENUES Be ONE WITH NATURE while saying your vows, find the perfect outdoor venue for your wedding Fresh air and