The Community Library will begin holding tie-in events for its "Our Musical Feast" fundraiser, to be held March 8.
The theme book is the American classic "The Joy of Cooking," and the feast will celebrate chefs, particularly the local variety.
Last year's celebration sold out while raising more than $100,000 for the Community Library. To accommodate even more people this year, the committee announced some changes.
"We will have two entrances, so no one will have to stand in line to get in," event Chairwoman Sue Orb said. "In previous years, the Children's Library has served desserts. This year, it will feature Latin American cuisine, complete with a full-service bar and cantina. In addition, more restaurants and caterers are participating than ever before in order to better serve the additional guests we are anticipating."
Peggy Goldwyn is coordinating the concept of all the events.
"We have such wonderful chefs in the valley and we want to salute them and their profession," she said. "This starts with the books selected for each type of cuisine. They are all stories about chefs."
For instance, Latin American food is represented by "Gabriella, Clove and Cinnamon," by Brazilian author Jorge Amado. The American South calls upon "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Truck Stop Cafe" by Fannie Flagg. "Babette's Feast," a story by Isak Dinesen, will be featured as the French selection. "The Mistress of Spices" by Chitra Divakaruni will serve as the inspiration for Indian cuisine.
Dessert will use Maurice Sendak's "In the Night Kitchen" as its theme book.
Four movies, "Eat, Drink, Man, Woman," "Babette's Feast," "Big Night" and "Mostly Martha" will be shown at the library at 7 p.m. each Wednesday in February, with Magic Lantern owner Rick Kessler as the emcee.
Among the auction items are cooking classes with local chefs and "celebrity chef" dinners in private homes by Chris Kastner of CK'S, David Fox of Silver Fox Catering, caterer Rick Lum, Michael Zentner of Knob Hill Inn, Jeff Keys of Vintage and Skylar Barker of Zou 75.
Reservations may be made online at thecommunitylibrary.org, or at the library. Tickets are $100 per person.
The Movable Feast committee consists of (from left to right, back row, Mark Caraluzzi, Tracey Caraluzzi, Connie Hoffman, Ann Taylor, Margie Gould, Patti Lindberg, and Brack Davis. In front, from left is Susanne Orb, Ann Scales, Peggy Goldwyn, Colleen Crain, Martha Jennings and Barbara Mead. Photo by David N. Seelig
