NECC CHEF AND FARMER BRUNCH CHALLENGE
UNITES CHEFS, FARMERS AND THE COMMUNITY FOR THE CAUSE
MILLERTON, NY, Aug. 3 –North East Community Center’s (NECC) Chef and Farmer Brunch Challenge was hosted at Hotchkiss School’s 280-acre Fairfield Farm in Lakeville, CT on Sunday, July 31. With stunning vistas of rolling hills and farmland, the tented affair hosted 200 attendees and five local celebrity judges who dined, voted, and crowned the Farm to Table Chef Champion. Corey Chapman, owner of The Black Rabbit restaurant, was the MC and auctioneer, joined by NECC’s Executive Director Jenny Hansell.
A total of $50,000 was raised from sponsors, ticket sales and silent and live auctions. This puts NECC in a great position to meet their fundraising challenge goal of $100,000, which will enable the organization to continue meeting the challenge of providing programs for at-risk teens, meals for children, and support for working families and the elderly.
Present at the brunch was Wendy Curtis, founder of NECC 25 years ago, who commented: “The growth of NECC and the amazing work of Jenny Hansell and her team have eclipsed all our hopes for growth into the stratosphere. I hear from people all over the county how thrilled they are about the effectiveness of this organization. For me, it’s a huge personal joy.”
The Judges: Dafna Mizrahi, Monte’s Local Kitchen & Tap Room Chef and “Chopped” Champion; Dan Kish, Executive Chef of Panera Bread; Joan Osofsky of Hammertown Barn; and Dana Bowen, Martha Stewart Living magazine. And the winners are:
BEST APPETIZER: The Farmer’s Wife, for its Cheese fritter with Alpage cheese from Chaseholm Farm, topped with Carrot-Top Pesto
BEST ENTRÉE: Chiquita Cotija’s Veronica Ochoa and Esperanza Nunez, for their Tamales Stuffed with Beef, wrapped in corn leaves from Rock Steady farm
BEST DESSERT: 52 Main, for its Thai Basil Lime Tart from Ronnybrook Farm and Milkers Basket
TOP CHEF AND FARM TO TABLE CHEF CHAMPION: Charlie Norman, 52 Main
PEOPLE’S CHOICE (voted by diners): The Farmers Wife
Judge Dan Kish lauded “a great turnout of inspired culinarians as well as people who are not just interested in where the food comes from. The notion of who the food comes from in our community is vital.” Justin Friedman, who represented The Farmers Wife, commented about their dual win, “The Community Center is the true winner – that’s the big thing, that’s why we’re here.”
The North East Community Center (NECC) serves northeastern Dutchess County with a wide range of programs for children and youth, families and seniors. NECC operates the Millerton Farmers Market and other food access programs as well as the Partnership with Schools and Business jobs program for teens. (518) 789-4259or NECCMillerton.org.
