GP Family Recipe: Auntie Joan’s Black Cake
What brings me joy every holiday season is the arrival of my Auntie Joan’s Black Cake. Not too sweet, perfectly moist, and of course just
Senior Event Director, Morgan Golumbuk, has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to planning the perfect event. In addition to planning spectacular events for clients across the city, she often plays host for her family and friends. Whether you’re planning a casual social gathering, dinner party, or stunning engagement party, we’ve tapped her brain for the top five tips to help you get started planning the perfect party at home.
Tip #1: The more you can do in advance, the better.
This can be said for a lot of situations, especially hosting. Rearranging your furniture, cleaning, setting the table, and picking up centerpieces and party favors are best done before the morning of the event. And get yourself dressed and ready before you think you need to; that doorbell will ring before you know it.
Tip #2: Pull and plan out your vessels.
Seeing all your serving pieces laid out ensures that all items on your menu have a place to land. In the style of a Great Performances Buffet Captain, use sticky notes to make sure everything is accounted for in the days ahead.
Tip #3: Personal touches go a long way.
Catering to your guests’ tastes can make even the chilliest visitor feel warm and fuzzy. Asking for dietary or beverage restrictions in advance makes people feel heard and eliminates any awkward conversations on the day.
Beyond asking about what they don’t want, I like to bring in personal favorites as much as I can. In my years of hosting, I’ve accumulated enough wine to avoid ever needing to buy alcohol again, but it took me five minutes to buy a bottle of gin that I knew my best friend would appreciate.
I also like to bring in my own personal favorites, much like my family’s Hanukkah gift tradition. It makes the experience just that much more special to truly welcome people with things they love.
Tip #4: Don’t forget the ice!
The party is over once the ice is out; make sure you’re fully stocked for both chilling and serving.
2024 has been a year of beautiful beginnings at Great Performances, as we’ve welcomed a new generation to our extended family. These moments of joy remind us of the importance of connection and growth—values that resonate deeply with our work and community. We’re thrilled to introduce you to the newest members of the GP family!
Meet Mila Deuel
Chef Mike Deuel, Executive Chef of Catering Operations welcomed a beautiful baby girl this year:
She was born on November 1st at 8:53pm. Another Scorpio in the family!!
She currently has been enjoying many walks outside at the NY Botanical Gardens and the Bronx Zoo. As well as visits to The Met, The Guggenheim, and the Museum of Natural History. Anastassia and I have had the great pleasure of spending the last weeks getting to know her.
She wakes up with the cutest stretches I’ve ever seen, eats, then takes a nap on me. She also gives us a great concert during “the witching hour” on a daily basis. Each day something new happens and we cannot wait to see what happens next!
Meet Bowie Mayer
Zachary Mayer, Director of Fulfillment, welcomed his second child:
Bowie is 3 months old already and doing great! He loves being a part of the action, especially when his toddler sister is singing Disney songs right in his face. He’s smiling and growing each day and we’re excited to see what he has in store for us next!
Meet Olivia Asimeni Georgedakis
Chef Stratos Georgedakis, Executive Production Chef, also welcomed a darling daughter:
Olivia Asimeni Georgedakis was born on 12/20 at 6:58am. She weighed 7lbs 10oz. Her big sister, Meli, is very excited to have a baby sister and is taking her new role as big sister very seriously.
We celebrate these precious moments with our team members and their families, knowing that they enrich the heart and soul of Great Performances.
Legacy, Lineage and Liberation
Monday, January 13th
Location: The Apollo Stages at The Victoria
Tickets: FREE
The Apollo celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Black women-led theatrical dance company and social activism ensemble, Urban Bush Women with a stunning visual exhibition in the Laura and Frank Baker Gallery. With special pop-up performances on select dates, Lineage Legacy and Liberation: An Examination of Urban Bush Women’s Art-Making and Community Organizing Praxis contains rare photographs, performance footage, manuscripts, costumes and memorabilia from the groundbreaking ensemble’s 40-year history.
Claudine
Friday, January 17th at 7:00pm
Location: The Apollo Stages at The Victoria
Tickets: Start at $25
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1974 classic film Claudine and the life of the late James Earl Jones at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria, in partnership with the Harlem Festival of Culture Foundation.
Experience the powerful performances of Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones in this timeless story of resilience, love, and community. Claudine tells the tale of a strong-willed single mother raising six children in Harlem, whose budding romance with a charismatic garbage collector is tested by the struggles of life within an oppressive system.
Duration of Mountains and Seas (穿越·山海经): Musical Showcase
Asia Electric
Saturday, January 11th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Tickets: Free with registration!
Duration of Mountains and Seas (穿越·山海经) is a musical showcase that reimagines ancient mythology, creating a fantastic universe where Chinese music meets electronica to traverse through time and space. Conceived and created by composer/ musician Hu Chenyun, the showcase includes the electronic music duo Frankfurt Helmet and a group of renowned musicians from the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra. This contemporary performance is inspired by the great classic of ancient Chinese mythology, Classic of Mountains and Seas (3rd Century B.C.), exploring a world of mythical beings and vast geographies. The creative intermingling of Chinese instruments such as suona, pipa, and konghou with electronic voices creates a space where technology and nature—and past and future—are placed in vibrant dialogue.
Moon Over Manhattan: Lunar New Year Family Day 2025
Celebrating the Year of the Snake
Saturday, January 25th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Tickets: $15 adults, $10 children over 2, $8 members
Join us in welcoming the Year of the Snake at Asia Society’s 2025 Lunar New Year Family Day program! On Saturday, January 25, come watch exciting lion dances and martial arts demonstrations, sing along to fun New Year songs, and enjoy some Year of the Snake-themed arts and crafts! Don’t forget to enjoy some delicious Lunar New Year snacks at the Leo Cafe as well.
TECHNE
Saturday, January 4th through Sunday, January 19th
Location: BAM Fisher
Fishman Space
Tickets: Tickets are $35 for all four experiences or $10 for each individual experience
BAM, Onassis and Under the Radar Present
TECHNE
Four Digital Installations
Curated by Onassis ONX
Part of Next Wave 2024 & Emerging Visions
TECHNE is a multi-part experiential program comprising four large-scale digital artworks. Created with generative AI, real-time interactive displays, and immersive sound, this program transports viewers into four distinctive new realms, brought to life by visionary creators.
The 39th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, January 20th at 10:30am
Location: Peter Jay Sharp Building, Howard Gilman Opera House
Tickets: Tickets are free for this event and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8am on January 20 in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House lobby.
We honor the life and legacy of Dr. King at this vital Brooklyn tradition. Join us for a very special solo presentation by Ailey II, vibrant music with The Fire Ensemble led by Troy Anthony, and more. Ring in the New Year with friends, neighbors, artists, and civic leaders in a day of activism, music, and family-friendly activities.
Salsa Party
Thursday, January 9th from 6:00pm to 9:30pm
Location: Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Lobby, 1st Floor
Register for Free
Celebrate the art of salsa and join in our monthly dance-filled evenings hosted by Balmir Dance Society! Start the night with a class led by professional dancers at 6 pm, followed by live music, social dancing, and performances by Brooklyn’s best Latin dance teams.
Brooklyn Poetry Slam
Wednesday, January 15th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor
Tickets: Register in advance and pay as you wish (suggested admission: $10)
Amplify the voices of Brooklyn at a series of pay-what-you-can slams, presented by poets and cofounders Mahogany L. Browne and DJ Jive Poetic. Come to listen to poets, or arrive early to sign up if you’d like to join the slam (limited availability).
Celebrating Cedar Walton with Willie Jones III and Friends
Tuesday, January 16th through Sunday, January 19th
Tickets: start at $20
On what would have been Cedar Walton’s 91st birthday, we pay tribute to the prolific composer and hard bop pianist whose works have left an indelible mark on jazz. Timeless pieces like “Bolivia” and “Firm Roots” will come to life through an all-star ensemble of artists who shared the stage with Walton. Led by drummer Willie Jones III, a longtime collaborator and mentee of Walton, this group includes Steve Turre, Ralph Moore, Vincent Herring, and David Williams. Joining them is Juilliard’s rising talent, pianist Tyler Bullock, in a dynamic celebration of Walton’s lasting legacy.
Chico Pinheiro and Romero Lubambo Duo: Two Brothers
Tuesday, January 28th and Wednesday, January 29th
Tickets: start at $20
Romero Lubambo and Chico Pinheiro, two of the most celebrated Brazilian guitarists, come together to perform music from their new album Two Brothers, a stunning collection of Brazilian and jazz guitar works. Both masters of their craft, Lubambo and Pinheiro have spent their careers perfecting the unique sound that Brazilian music brings to the guitar. Lubambo, known for his performances with Dianne Reeves and Trio da Paz, and Pinheiro, a frequent collaborator with legends like Rosa Passos, promise an intimate evening filled with lush melodies and vibrant rhythms.
The Unity Jazz Festival
Friday, January 10th and Saturday, January 11th
Location: The Appel Room
Tickets: $87
After its successful debut in 2024, the Unity Jazz Festival returns to Jazz at Lincoln Center with a brand-new lineup featuring Rachael & Vilray and brings together acclaimed artists, first-time listeners, and longtime fans. A roster of diverse, intergenerational acts convene in the Ertegun Atrium, Agnes Varis and Karl Leichtman Studio, Dizzy’s Club, and the Appel Room to perform and uplift the JALC community.
Cool School & Hard Bop: The JLCO with Wynton Marsalis
Thursday, January 16th through Saturday, January 17th
Location: Rose Theater
Tickets: start at $42
The cool jazz movement is known for its mellow lyricism and striking, often surprising arrangements, while hard bop is distinguished by its bluesy melodicism and virtuosic vocabulary. Music-directed by JLCO saxophonist Sherman Irby and frequent collaborator, pianist Joe Block, Cool School & Hard Bop explores the shared themes of these two genres. The performance includes reinterpretations of iconic recordings by Miles Davis, the Modern Jazz Quartet, the Max Roach-Clifford Brown Quintet, Horace Silver, and Art Blakey, alongside newly commissioned works by Benny Green and Luther Allison. Benny Green will also perform his newly commissioned piece.
Afro-Futurism and Nike
Thursday, January 23rd from 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Tickets: Free with RSVP
The sports world has often been a critical marker of future trends in celebrity, style, marketing, and youth culture. The museum’s current exhibition, Just Frame It: How Nike Turned Sports Stars into Superheroes, demonstrates how posters of notable athletes set the tone for the future of sports branding, fostering the idea of the “Sports Star.” Poster House is thrilled to host a panel discussion about the ways in which Nike allows us to consider Afro-Futurism within the messaging and styling of a brand that has had special appeal for Black people.This panel will examine Afro-Futurism in the context of fashion history, literature, and visual language to investigate a future that never was. Join us in thinking about Nike branding from a new perspective.
BEARING WITNESS: Black Printmakers “Calling Out” America!
Friday, January 24th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Tickets: Free with RSVP
In conjunction with the acclaimed exhibition Lester Beall & A New American Identity, Poster House is pleased to partner with the EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop for an engaging conversation with esteemed scholar and historian Leslie King Hammond. This presentation reflects on the artistry of African American printmakers in the era of President Roosevelt’s Works Project Administration of 1935 to 1941, work that had a powerful impact on subsequent generations of Black printmakers. Each artist–then and now–sought to create original and truthful prints in their chosen mediums and modalities to “signify on” (or indirectly criticize) the realities of their lives as citizens in the United States.
Family Art Project: Fan of Lunar New Year!
Saturday, January 25th and Sunday, January 26th from 10:00am to 1:00pm
Location: Meet at Wave Hill House
Tickets: Free with admission to the grounds
Celebrate the start of the Year of the Snake by learning about their role in the Chinese zodiac. Then, assemble and decorate a fan inspired by snakes in nature that call the Bronx home.
ICE SEASON IS IN FULL SWING!
Ice skating at Wollman Rink NYC is an iconic winter experience that captures the magic of New York City. Nestled in the heart of Central Park, the rink offers skaters of all ages and skill levels the chance to glide across the ice while taking in breathtaking views of the city skyline. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or a first-timer, Wollman Rink provides a welcoming environment, complete with skate rentals, lessons, and a festive atmosphere that embodies the spirit of the season.
Beyond just skating, Wollman Rink NYC is a place where memories are made. The rink hosts special events, themed skating nights, and live performances, making it a hub of wintertime activity. Whether you’re looking for a romantic date night, a family outing, or simply a moment of peace in the bustling city, Wollman Rink offers a unique and unforgettable experience that has been a cherished New York tradition for generations.
Igloo Village
Elevate your skating experience at Wollman Rink NYC inside our cozy, private, heated Rink Side igloos, under the Midtown Manhattan skyline in Central Park. Each of our transparent igloos feature an electric fireplace, soft lighting, and comfy seating for eight, as well as delicious food and beverage options.
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.
One of the most popular dishes to make for a spectacular holiday meal is Standing Rib Roast (or Prime Rib). Although it can be an intimidating dish to make and the pressure to serve a perfectly cooked standing rib roast is high, we’re here to share the easiest tips for the best standing rib roast ever.
Chef Andrew Smith, Culinary Director at Great Performances, condenses his wealth of information and experience into a simple-to-follow recipe to create a mouth-watering standing rib roast that’s sure to impress your guests. He covers what to buy – and how to work with your butcher to get exactly what you need; and how to cook it. It may come as a surprise, but the first few steps are to ignore the meat and work on the components that will help maximize flavor.
Chef Andrew's Perfect Standing Rib Roast Recipe
What to Buy
Ask the butcher for a bone-in ribeye with the cap removed, tied between bones, with the chine bone removed – a good butcher will do this for you. When choosing your meat, you should look for good marbling of fat and red, not browning, flesh. The general rule of thumb is to buy 8-10 oz of raw rib roast per person you’re planning to feed, which will give you a 45-50% yield once you take into account the bone weight and the juices lost while cooking – for example, a five-pound raw portion of bone-in ribeye will produce roughly 2.25-2.5 lb of cooked meat, which will feed 6-8 people.
How to Cook It
First, ignore the meat; step one is to confit some garlic. This recipe is more than you’ll need for your roast, but garlic confit is excellent for any number of holiday dishes and stores well in the fridge if you don’t use it right away.
The Garlic Confit Recipe
Ingredients
- 20 cloves of garlic skins removed
- 2 cups extra virgin olive oil
Method
- In a thick bottomed pot, place oil and garlic over very low heat and bring to a simmer (not a boil!).
- Let cook for 1 hour or until the garlic becomes soft. Remove from heat, let cool, and store in oil for up to two weeks.
Still ignoring the meat; now it’s time to make the spice rub that will give your rib roast its flavor. Fresh herbs are a must!
The Standing Rib Roast Rub Recipe
based on a five-pound rib roast; multiply or divide accordingly depending on your poundage
Ingredients
- 3 oz Garlic confit, blended smooth
- 1 oz reserved garlic confit oil
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp butcher grind black pepper
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients till thoroughly incorporated.
- Slowly drizzle in reserved oil and mix till mixture becomes a paste.
And now the main event:
The Roast
- Take the rib roast straight from the refrigerator and place in a large roasting pan. Using latex gloves, apply the rub to the surface of your roast until all the mixture has been used and the entire roast is covered in a thick coat.
- Let stand for at least an hour at room temperature to temper the meat and allow it to marinate in the rub.
- Pre-heat oven to 475 degrees F.
- Place rib roast in the oven for 10-15 minutes uncovered and allow the outside to brown. Once browned, remove from the oven and drop oven temperature down to 275 degrees F. While the oven is coming down to temperature, cover the entire roasting pan with foil, then return to oven. Allow to cook for one hour and twenty minutes, or till it reaches an internal temperature of 125 degrees F for a medium (insert meat thermometer into center of meat closest to the bone)
- Allow to rest for 20 minutes before serving.
Explore exciting community events around the Bronx this month.
First Friday January 2025 Art, Music, Dancing, & Poetry!
Friday, January 10th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
FREE!
Experience The Bronx Museum after hours!
We stay open late on the first Friday of the month so you can get your weekend started right. Enjoy the FUTURA 2000: BREAKING OUT exhibition currently on view in our galleries. Plus we will have music, dancing, and poetry activations throughout the evening (more details to come).
The Museum also provides complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages to help keep everyone refreshed and energized.
Family Time January 2025: Free Art-Making for All Ages!
Saturday, January 11th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
FREE!
All are welcome to participate in an art-making activity inspired by our current exhibition, FUTURA 2000: BREAKING OUT. The activity is geared towards families with young children, but is fun for everyone!
Mulchfest: Brook Park Street Tree Care
Saturday, January 11th from 11:00am to 1:00pm
FREE!
Come work with NYC Parks Stewardship to care for local street trees! Volunteers will learn how to aerate, cultivate, mulch, and identify street trees. They will also learn about the important role street trees play in New York City.
Holiday Train Show
November 16, 2024 through January 20, 2025
Enter a winter wonderland unlike any other at the Holiday Train Show, where cherished seasonal traditions find a home in our enchanting train displays, by day…or night. The timeless holiday magic of rail travel fills the Garden with nostalgia as model locomotives and trolleys trundle through our picture-perfect outdoor lawn display and bring the Haupt Conservatory to life with the busy sounds of the season. In the warmth of our landmark glasshouse, you’ll find twinkling, plant-based replicas of famed local architecture creating a cityscape in miniature—a meticulously crafted world brimming with the lively energy of New York City during the holidays.
After dark, our roving Train Conductors welcome you to Holiday Train Nights, and set you on your journey through the warm glow of the Holiday Train Show. Experience the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory like never before, with colorful lighting bringing the holiday spirit under glass. During your visit, you can bop along to holiday classics and Christmas pop favorites sung by performers in our Locomotive Lounge. And with sweet and savory bites, spiked cider cocktails and mocktails, and hands-on gingerbread fun for purchase, the night is made complete with your favorite treats. Whether you’re out on the town with friends for our 21+ nights, or bringing the whole family for an all-ages celebration, make new holiday memories while discovering the magic of New York City’s favorite holiday experience.
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden Pop-Up
November 16, 2024 through January 20, 2025
Kids and families can join us in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden Pop-Up for drop-in play that gets your little ones outdoors and engages their creativity!
NYRR Open Run
every Saturday from 9:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Entrance – Lafayette Avenue and Morrison Avenue
NYRR Open Run brings free, 5K weekly community-led runs, to neighborhood parks across the greater New York City area. The program is free and open to runners and walkers of all ages, abilities, and experience levels.
Called the “Gateway to the Bronx River,” 205-acre Soundview Park is located where the Bronx River opens into the East River. This urban green space is filled with grassy baseball and soccer fields, a cricket pitch, basketball courts, a running track, walking/biking paths, picnic fields, and more! With its extensive views of the water, Soundview Park celebrates the beauty of both the Bronx and East Rivers. The back part of our Open Run course has beautiful views of the Bronx River waterfront for participants to enjoy!
New Year's Day Super Hike
Wednesday, January 1st from 11:00am to 1:00pm
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center in Van Cortlandt Park
If your New Year’s resolution is to get healthy, join the Urban Park Rangers on a lengthy hike. Dress warmly, put on your hiking shoes, and head to the park. Urban Park Ranger hiking guides will introduce you to the hidden gems of New York City. Explore nature, discover our city’s urban forests, and unplug from the world to clear your head.
Black-Owned Farms in the Bronx in the Early 1800s with J. Keith Doherty
Thursday, January 9th from 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Location: Van Cortlandt House Museum in Van Cortlandt Park
This talk by historian J. Keith Doherty will focus on a number of early farms in the Bronx that were owned by free Black men during the era of Gradual Emancipation, when slavery was slowly being abolished (1799-1827). Though several Black-owned farms existed in the rural environs of the city at the time, nearly all have been forgotten by history. This talk is an attempt to shed light on a long-buried chapter in our local history when Black men—many of whom had been enslaved in their youth—rose to become successful businessmen. In addition to being one of the only ways of gaining genuine financial independence, land ownership was critical for Black men as the sole means of acquiring suffrage, due to a racist mandate in the state constitution that required them to possess at least $250 worth of property to vote.
J. Keith Doherty is a former Professor of History and Art History at Boston University, where he earned his doctorate and taught for 14 years. Since returning to his native New York in 2012, he has authored several articles and a short book on the early history of the Bronx and Westchester, with a special focus on Black-owned farms in the area at the turn of the nineteenth century (1799-1850). In addition to his academic work, he is a researcher and educator at the Philipse Manor Hall, the VCHM’s architectural “twin” in Yonkers, and leads tours of various parts of Manhattan for the Big Onion touring company.
Warming Winter Yoga
every Sunday in January and February beginning January 12 from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Tickets: Free with admission to the grounds
Location: Armor Hall
Join us for our first ever Winter Yoga series! Held in the beautiful space of Armor Hall, the flow of each session is inspired by the frosty winter weather. While sheltered and warm, we’ll be surrounded by a panoramic view of our Conifer Slope and majestic trees, offering an inspiring winter backdrop. This new series is one you won’t want to miss!
Family Art Project: Freedom Quilters of Gee’s Bend
Saturday, January 18th and Sunday, January 19th from 10:00am to 1:00pm
Tickets: Free with admission to the grounds
Location: Meet at Wave Hill House
In 1966 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the Gee’s Bend Community in rural Alabama and the Freedom Quilting Bee was established. The bold patterns and bright colors of these now famous quilts made from fabric scraps would later go on to fund aspects of the community’s freedom. Create your own fabric collage to honor Dr. King’s Birthday and the inspiring women quilters of Gee’s Bend.
Did you know that Great Performances is headquartered in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx? We love being a part of the Bronx community, supporting other Bronx-based companies, and giving back to our community.
Hosting a winter event should be as exciting as the celebration itself. That’s why we created the Winter Event and Party Planning Guide—a collection of ideas to inspire your next gathering. Whether you’re planning a corporate team-building day, a nonprofit gala, a festive social party, a product launch, a film premiere, or your dream winter wedding, this guide is packed with visual inspiration to bring your vision to life.
From cozy and intimate spaces to bold and festive settings, the guide highlights versatile venues, seasonal decor, and creative activations. Flip through images that showcase everything from elegant table settings to vibrant themes, helping you set the perfect tone for your event. Designed to spark ideas for every host, this guide is your starting point for creating unforgettable moments and unleashing joy.
Ready to get inspired? Browse Winter Event and Party Planning Guide and let the creativity flow.
Looking for a stress-free catering solution for your next meeting or event? Meet Katchkie Kitchen, a delicious chef-crafted, farm-inspired menu from Great Performances designed to make group breakfasts and lunches effortless. Perfect for teams, nonprofits, and casual gatherings, Katchkie Kitchen brings fresh and delicious family-style meals to your table with no hassle and no compromises.
What is Katchkie Kitchen?
Katchkie Kitchen is a packaged catering solution offering thoughtfully crafted breakfast and lunch meal boxes for groups of 10 or more. Ideal for corporate meetings, nonprofit events, or private gatherings, these curated meal boxes are made with seasonal ingredients sourced from our very own Katchkie Farm and trusted local purveyors.
Designed for ease, Katchkie Kitchen lets you mix and match boxes to suit your group’s preferences. Just order in advance, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Why Choose Katchkie Kitchen?
Convenience
Our pre-packaged meals arrive ready to serve, making it easy to host a meeting, workshop, or event without worrying about on-site prep or setup.
Quality
Each box is thoughtfully prepared by our chefs using farm-fresh, seasonal ingredients that highlight the best of local flavors and sustainability.
Sustainability
From eco-friendly packaging to sourcing practices that prioritize seasonal and local produce, Katchkie Kitchen reflects Great Performances’ commitment to the environment.
Scalable
Whether you’re catering for a team of 10 or hosting a larger event, Katchkie Kitchen’s flexibility ensures you’ll have the perfect combination of breakfast and lunch options to meet your needs.
What’s Inside?
Katchkie Kitchen offers a variety of breakfast and lunch meal boxes designed to satisfy every palate. Some highlights include:
- Breakfast Boxes: Freshly baked pastries, yogurt parfaits, chia puddings, sliced fruit platters, and our popular lox box.
- Lunch Boxes: Vibrant salads, flavorful grain bowls, artisan sandwiches, and grazing boards. Add fruit platters, cookies and brownies, and drinks to complete your lunch.
Each meal box is perfectly portioned, beautifully packaged, and ready to enjoy. Explore the full menu on our Katchkie Kitchen page to find the perfect fit for your event.
Who is It For?
Katchkie Kitchen is the ideal solution for:
- Corporate Teams: Fuel your early meetings, lunch-and-learns, or offsite retreats with ease.
- Nonprofits: Affordable, ready-to-serve catering for conferences, workshops, and community events.
- Private Gatherings: Perfect for hosting casual, no-fuss celebrations without the stress of full-service catering.
How to Order
Ordering from Katchkie Kitchen is simple and seamless:
- Visit the Katchkie Kitchen on our website.
- Browse our breakfast and lunch offerings and select the boxes that work for your group.
- Submit your order at least 72 hours in advance
Once your order is placed, you can sit back and relax, knowing that your catering is in great hands.
Ready to Elevate Your Next Event?
Katchkie Kitchen combines convenience, quality, and sustainability to deliver exceptional meals for groups. Whether you’re hosting a corporate meeting, nonprofit event, or private gathering, Katchkie Kitchen ensures every bite is a celebration of flavor and care.
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.
This month, as we celebrate winter holidays, our professional chefs and some of our home cooks share their favorite family recipes. Check out their delicious contributions – and let us know which ones you’ve tried!
Recipes for Winter Holidays
Chef Tatiana Iglesias’ Ajiaco Recipe
Chef Tatiana Iglesias shares her Ajiaco recipe, a heartwarming soup perfect for whenever you want a taste of love and Colombian tradition.
Chef Solanki Roy’s Calcutta Christmas Cake Recipe
Chef Solanki Roy shares her Calcutta Christmas Cake recipe, a British-Indian Christmas tradition that is sure to wow your guests this holiday.
Chef Joe Bachman’s Smoked Bourgon Chicken Chili Recipe
Chef Joe Bachman shares his Smoked Bourgon Chicken Chili recipe, the perfect hearty and warm meal for the holidays.
Through the busy holidays, we normally watch Chefs and Planners do the acrobatics of an event, but the mise en place is a quiet orchestration from every team, bent over slanted desks, pulling levers like Inside Out. When we hear the hums of the season, it’s pies goldening in crusts, and tastings being plated. Silverware rings through the hallways. It can be met at one of our office corners with a faint whirring, a little hum of calculators turning.
In the midst of the busyness, we gained a new member in Accounting, Nino Andre Dionio, in partnership with the SOAR Experimental Learning Program through LaGuardia Community College’s Center for Career and Professional Development, pairing students with experiential learning. He spent the fall with us, and as a student with interests ranging from Finance to Urban Sociology, he has fresh insight into GP’s culture, work, and the food:
Q: Hi Nino. Tell us a bit about yourself!
A: I’m currently a sophomore at LaGuardia Community College. I’m interested in doing something in business, more specifically in Accounting. I found it really unique to work in a catering company. What really hooked me was my interview – when I heard about the people and atmosphere, to me it sounded like a great working environment. It sounded fun but also professional.
Q: What have you enjoyed so far about your last month and a half at GP?
A: What I’ve liked so far is how I’ve gotten close with my coworkers. I’m glad to have a casual conversation with them in and out of the office. It helped a lot by how fast I got accustomed to GP. Another is the desserts and food – they’ve been really good and I’m thankful for the lunches too.
Q: I’m glad good food and conversations are the highlights. Anything interesting you’ve talked about, or anything you found surprising from people?
A: There have been a lot of funny conversations that I hear in the office. But what I found interesting were my meetings with everyone. It was interesting hearing about everyone’s career path. Many things they’ve said have stuck with me every time I think about my career.
Q: Putting this career plan aside for a second, if there were a job at GP you could have for just a day, what would it be?
A: I think Culinary is a really fun role to have. I really enjoy cooking at home and wouldn’t mind learning about some cooking from GP. And I really like the food, so I think it would be fun to have insights on how we make our food.
Q: So have you discovered any new favorite dishes or desserts since you’ve been here?
A: One dessert that always stuck out to me was the chocolate cake with banana I brought home. It was really good, and I’m glad I was able to share it with my mom because she also really liked it.
Q: And one last question. What do you find more satisfying – balancing a budget, or perfectly plating a dessert?
A: I find balancing a budget more satisfying, for sure.
When I look back over the 2024 season here on the farm, there are many things that stand out. I generally categorize those things in terms of crops, weather, people, and “other”. Somehow all these categories come together on this 60-acre parcel of land to make a wealth of memories, learning opportunities, and tasty, wholesome food.
In most years, the “other” category is quite minimal. The majority of the time spent on the farm is on crops, weather, or people with the occasional week when all the machines seem to need attention. This year we added a building project to the mix. After many years of barely finding seasonal housing, we decided to add on-farm accommodation for some of the farm employees.
I have to say that when starting a completely new project, ignorance is bliss. Little did I know back in January that it would take over 8 months of paperwork, inspections, engineering plans, a new septic system, and several hundred yards of soil to make on-farm housing a reality. Now that everything is in place, it seems like it has been there forever. As available housing remains an issue for the agricultural workforce, it is such an asset to be able to have this as a resource.
For me, the most dynamic part of the farm is the crops. It is this intersection where weather, people, and soil meet to create something unique. Luckily, the people aspect of the farm has been very steady. For as long as I have been at Katchkie, the core group of workers has remained the same. The farm crew is always ready to do what is needed and that is indispensable!
The weather, however, is not so steady. This year’s spring and part of the summer seemed a bit rainy, but then we had the driest fall that I can remember. The dry weather generally helps us to get our work done, but the only reason we have work to be done is because we have had rain beforehand. We have an amazing irrigation source on the farm that we can lean into during the dry weather. There are also enough rainy times throughout the year when the local water table as well as our irrigation source are replenished. Were this farm in a more brittle environment, a dry stretch would put us in a very different situation.
The dry weather taught me a great deal about fertility management on the farm. For many years I thought of plant nutrition in terms of the root hairs exchanging ions from soil particles. I also still had the idea that nitrogen was the main driver in terms of plant growth. At some point this year I discovered Dr. James White’s work on endophytes and microbial digestion in plants. Plants engulf and digest microbes in order to obtain the minerals they need. The more diverse the microbial population is that lives in the soil, the more there is for the plant and in turn the plant will give even more back to the soil. It is quite a picture both in terms of living nutrition as well as the fact that we do not have to view plants in a parasitic way if we understand how to create healthy growing conditions.
I also became aware of how excess nitrogen (N), even in the form of compost or even cover crops can be detrimental for plant health. Firstly, too much N will cause an imbalance in the auxin and cytokinin hormonal balance in plants which disproportionately sends available photosynthetic sugars to the growing tips and the fruit at the expense of the roots. This will produce a weak, leggy plant. Excess N also creates higher metabolic demands on the plant which in turn will cause an increased need for water. Moving our fertility system away from N dominance and into a more balanced system really shined with healthy fall crops this year that needed much less water. There were many crops that had a completely different expression in their growth. One great example was our fall purple broccoli. We usually have to wait until we cut off the first head for the side shoots to start to grow.
Using a more balanced fertility with minimal N created a plant that was more reproductively dominant which gave abundant side shoots right from the first cutting. As a farmer, the implications of minimizing N usage, focusing plant nutrition in a balanced way through the use of diverse cover crops, and soil stimulating minerals has so much potential. I have to say that as the days were waning this year and the season was slowing down, I was a bit saddened that the season was coming to an end. There was so much more food that I wanted to grow!
For that, I will have a few more months to wait. For the time being I will enjoy searching the seed catalogues and talking to fellow growers for ever more interesting and tasty varieties that will bring new color or depth to the CSA for 2025. I am very much looking forward to the next growing season and hope you will join us!