By Amanda DiUglio
Nothing says summer like a weekend in the Hamptons, and nobody does it quite like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bumble BFF. They took over Hero Beach Club for “Saks by the Sea, a Saks and Bumble BFF Bee-Treat,” an amazing weekend retreat for some very VIP guests. We worked with IMG to create an unforgettable weekend with R+R by the beach and pool, specially curated experiences, and of course, incredible local fare. From the Strawberry Basil Prosecco Pops and Charcuterie Plates that greeted each guest, each and every detail was designed to capture the spirit of a weekend in the Hamptons.
Guests relaxed in the sun by the pool or on the beach, made more luxe with the contents of their curated gift bags. There were also opportunities to stretch with a yoga lesson from Hilaria Baldwin, to de-stress with Happy Not Perfect, a meditation session with Poppy Jamie, or to hang ten in a surfing class at Montauk native Austin Avery Eckardt’s Surf Camp.
Dinners each night were focused on community and featured local foods. One night we held a farm-to-table family-style meal which encouraged guests to interact with and over the food, followed by a movie night projected onto the sail of a boat. The following night we held a magical clam bake with Duryea’s Lobsters. Of course, we closed with s’mores made with branded graham crackers as guests relaxed around a bonfire, watched fire dancers perform, and listened to live music.
By Great Performances
the Sylvia Center
12th Annual Farm Dinner: Where Cooking Grows
Saturday, July 13, 2019
In the fields of Katchkie Farm, The Sylvia Center hosted its 12th annual Farm Dinner: Where Cooking Grows that shares the fresh and local ingredients of the summer’s bounty. New and old friends enjoyed delectable hor d’oeuvres, refreshing cocktails and a stunning dinner curated by Great Performances. During cocktail hour, The Sylvia Center’s teens from Philmont Cooperative presented their bruschetta recipes in the Learning Garden. The bruschetta recipes, made by the teens, highlighted their culinary and nutrition skills from the 12-week program that explored various ingredients and cooking methods.
Zoë Jansen, a teen student from the Sylvia Center, took the stage and spoke about her experience with the program. The classes not only offered nutrition and healthy eating lessons, but they also explored activities and topics beyond cooking. She was able to learn about important topics such as food access and food security, teach a sample class with her peers and create recipes for the event. She spoke about her change in attitude for food preparation and how inspirational it is to try new dishes, techniques and ingredients.
Farm Dinner is a wonderful summer event that supports nutrition education and youth development for children, teenagers and families in Columbia County so that they can be inspired and inspire others to eat healthily and lead positive lives.
Brooklyn Museum
Pierre Cardin: Future Fashion
July 20, 2019 – January 5, 2020
In July, The Norm at Brooklyn Museum unveiled its newest experience, Maxim’s at The Norm, as part of the Pierre Cardin: Future Fashion exhibit. The menu, designed by executive chef and Michelin-star recipient Saul Bolton and chef de cuisine Andy Mejias, features seasonal dishes inspired by the food at Maxim’s de Paris, Pierre Cardin’s restaurant in Paris. Guests can also enjoy a 3-course prix fixe meal featuring modern interpretations of French classics from the Maxim’s de Paris cookbook.
Custom hand-crafted cocktails designed by Loriana Sanabria take their inspiration from the art of Pierre Cardin and pay homage to different stages of Pierre Cardin’s life, from his time as a tailor at House of Dior with Tailor’s White Sangria, to his work designing for NASA with the non-alcoholic Fashionable Astronaut.
The restaurant, which has been redecorated in the style of Maxim’s de Paris with deep burgundy and gold, opened to positive reviews by the press.
Photo Credits: ©Georgi Richardson, ©Chip Klose
By Sarah Prawl
With the official arrival of summer, The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts pulled out all the stops to create memorable experiences for their guests.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America
2019 CFDA Fashion Awards
Monday, June 3, 2019
The night started with an indoor/outdoor cocktail party where guests enjoyed Goat Cheese Bon Bons and Toasted Tomato Tarts. Once inside, they enjoyed a delicious dinner featuring Salad Shirazi with Cucumber, Beet-Pickled Red Onion, Mint, Parsley and Lemon Vinaigrette; Eggplant Chermoula with Agave Roasted Eggplant, Cauliflower Couscous, Cherry Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives and Crispy Chickpeas. During the award ceremony, guests enjoyed Champagne Truffles, Raspberry Hibiscus Cheesecake and Lemon Drop Bretons for dessert.
CARAMOOR
Caramoor Opening Night Gala 2019
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Caramoor celebrated the start of their 2019 season with gorgeous weather, delicious food and amazing entertainment. The Gala’s 400 guests were greeted with “Loopy Doopy” Ice Pop cocktails and delicious food stations, which include our Growing Season Vegetable Crudité and Cheese for the Growing Season stations. After the reception, Susan and Peter Gottsegen were honored for their long time dedication and contributions to Caramoor’s programs, followed by a delicious three-course dinner. The meal featured Spinach and Pink Lentil Salad with Radish and Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette; Grilled Branzino with Cured Tomato Relish and Tuscan Olive Oil; and a Chocolate Caramelia Parfait with Chocolate Crunch, Dark Chocolate Mousse and Caramelia Soft Ganache.
After dinner, guests made their way to the Venetian theater for a premium concert, featuring the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, followed by an After Dark post-performance party, and dancing under the stars.
Check out their calendar and enjoy the magic of Caramoor with their incredible line up of music, festivals and events.
On December 5th Great Performances had the privilege of producing a remarkable evening with the top three chefs in the world: Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy; Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain; and Mauro Colagreco of Restaurant Mirazur in Menton, France. We orchestrated this on behalf of the GR8 Group from Miami and the event, dubbed “Once Upon a Kitchen”, was held at one of our partner venues, Gotham Hall. This was our second time working with GR8 Group, as we supported Chef Massimo last year at his Great Arrival Saturday Dinner at Ellis Island. Coordinating three chefs was extremely challenging but also absurdly rewarding. As if that weren’t daunting enough, the great pastry chef Christina Tosi of Milk Bar in New York City prepared the dessert. Not only did we provide and source all of the ingredients at our kitchen for three days of preparation, but our culinary team stayed in sync with them during preparation and serve out. We also directed the show flow and called the timing of all three chefs, taking a turn on stage plating one of their courses in front of three hundred guests (including our Founder & CEO Liz Neumark and our President Dean Martinus).
I’ve never been more proud to be part of Great Performances. There we were working side by side with Massimo, Mauro and Joan along with their respective culinary teams, pairing up for each of the seven courses with five of their chefs and five of ours. There is no greater affirmation than when you are recognized by world class professionals. The great chefs could not have been more complimentary to our team. I have served presidents, kings and queens as well as thousands of clients over five decades as a chef, caterer and producer. But for me, personally, to collaborate and scheme with the undisputed top culinary minds in the world is unquestionably one of the highlights of my more than 50-year career in hospitality. – Ronnie Davis, Managing Director, Great Performances
As a chef striving to be great, the ability to catch a glimpse of greatness from the world’s top chefs required my attendance. It turned out to be the inspiration I needed to stay on this course and continue to push harder. Watching the top chefs manage their respective teams was magical. Everyone worked seamlessly together with an amazing flow. The food spoke for itself, simply tasting. You didn’t want to take the last bite. That night lit a spark in me that was much needed in my development: to strive for greatness everyday with no exceptions. – Corey Samuel, Chef De Cuisine, Dizzy’s Club
While the preparation in the days leading up to the event were challenging to the kitchen and facility itself, the event itself saw our chefs on a world stage, performing a tightly choreographed ballet with these world titans.
As the chef coordinating the event for Ronnie Davis, Managing Director at Great Performances, it was impressive to see our chefs Lauren, Shaquay, Justin, Jon, Corey, Aaron and Veronica maneuvering with finesse alongside cooks from around the world.
It is rewarding to hear from Massimo that he trusts us to control his food over anyone else in the city. – Robert Valencia, Executive Chef of Catering Production, Great Performances
It was amazing seeing and being a part of an event with four of the most acclaimed chefs in the world. Even though they are each from a different country, they had a common language and passion in a love for cuisine. – John Roode, Director of Purchasing, Great Performances
I have worked in the service industry for my entire professional career. In that time I have grown accustomed to making others’ dreams come true. Food service at this level is about creating once in a lifetime experiences every day of the week, but for the cook it is easy to fall into thinking that this is just a job and events are just another service. It is strange that a back of the house cook’s relationship to these events is so rarely considered. I found it ironic that for this event, by providing a once in a lifetime service for our guests, I, in turn, was receiving one. I was afforded the opportunity to work along side three world renowned Michelin Star Chefs with restaurants spread across Europe all in a single evening. The experience was surreal and wonderful.
As an aside, it was gratifying to face a difficult high volume service with a calm that I have earned through experience that our Michelin Star partners did not entirely share. And after working along side them, it was clear that we were every bit as good as they. Their world class technique married with our New York attitude and battle-hardened know-how truly did create a Great Performance. – Justin Schwartz, Production Sous Chef, Great Performances
Photo Credits: Ben Hider Images, Sarah Prawl