This year’s C-CAP Annual Benefit will feature some of our very own C-CAP alumni, Chef Kelvin Fernandez from The Strand American Bistro, and Pastry Chef Thiago Silva from Catch.

In addition, participating C-CAP Graduate Chefs, include Mehdi Chellaoui, Founder & Chocolatier at Dörk Chocolate, will be featuring amazing desserts. Mehdi will be preparing four different chocolate-flavored truffles from C-CAP Founder Richard Grausman’s cookbook, French Classics Made Easy. So make sure you work up an appetite before you come! And for those of you who are unable to join us this year, we have included the recipe for Mehdi’s fabulous dessert.

Truffes au Chocolat à la Crème

Makes 80 to 90 pieces (2 pounds)

Truffle Mixture

12 ounces (340g) Guittard semisweet or bittersweet chocolate

1 cup heavy cream

3 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other liqueur

Chocolate Covering

1 pound (450g) Guittard semisweet or bittersweet chocolate

2 ounces (60g) Guittard unsweetened cocoa powder

1. Make the truffle mixture: In a saucepan, heat the chocolate and heavy cream over low heat, stirring occasionally until the chocolate is melted.

2. Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl. Stir in the Grand Marnier. Place the mixture in the refrigerator until it is firm, a minimum of 2 hours.

3. Cover a baking sheet with a piece of waxed paper. Using two spoons, scoop out and drop mounds of ½ to 1 teaspoonful, depending on the size you wish to make, onto the paper. Refrigerate overnight.

4. When cold, loosen the mounds from the paper and use your fingers to make them as round as you can, if not already so. Refrigerate until ready to coat.

5. Make the chocolate covering: In an ovenproof saucepan, melt the chocolate in a very low oven (see “Melting Chocolate,” page 294).

6. When the chocolate has melted, stir it well from time to time as it cools to body temperature. (This is determined when you notice no difference in temperature when you touch the chocolate with the knuckle of your smallest finger.)

7. Lift the cocoa powder evenly onto a chilled jelly-roll pan or plate.

8. Remove the truffles from the refrigerator and drop two at a time into the coating chocolate. Using two forks, turn the truffles, coating them well with chocolate. Lift a truffle with one fork, tapping that fork with the other to knock off excess chocolate, then drop the coated truffle onto the pan containing the cocoa powder. Using a spoon, quickly roll and coat with the powder, then push it to the side.

9. When the coating has cooled and the truffles are firm enough to handle, transfer them to a bowl and refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve. (They will keep well in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks and can be stored in the freezer for several months.)

10. To serve: Mound the truffles in a serving dish. They are delicious when served at room temperature or cold from the refrigerator.

Stay tuned!

The annual C-CAP benefit offers guests an evening of fabulous food, presented by more than 30 of the city’s long-time favorite and hottest star chefs.

 “The walk-around tasting event raises funds to support C-CAP’s mission of providing scholarships, education, and career opportunities in the culinary arts to underserved youth who are interested in pursuing careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry,” says C-CAP’s president, Susan Robbins. “For more than 20 years, we have been breaking the cycle of poverty for hundreds of qualified students across the country. We continue to manage the largest independent scholarship program and have awarded over $34 million in scholarships.”

 This year’s participating Chefs include:

Chef Chair: Marcus Samuelsson, Red Rooster

Chef Missy Robbins, A Voce Columbus

Chef Philip DeMaiolo, Abigail Kirsch PIER SIXTY

Chef George Mendes, Aldea

Chef Jason Weiner, Almond

Chef Toni Robertson, Asiate

Chef Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto

Chef Yuhi Fujinaga, Bar Basque

Chef Waldy Malouf, Beacon

Chef Philippe Bertineau, Benoit

Chef Clifford Crooks, BLT Steak

Chef Dan Barber, Blue Hill/Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Pastry Chef Thiago Silva*, Catch

Chef Tom Colicchio, Colicchio & Sons

Chefs Daniel Boulud and Sandro Micheli, Daniel

Chef John Fraser, Dovetail

Chef Joey Fortunato, Extra Virgin

Chef Fortunato Nicotra, Felidia

Chef Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar & Grill

Chef Ayumu Matsuda, kibō

Chef Kyung Up Lim, Michael’s

Pastry Chef Marc Aumont, The Modern

Chef Scott Campbell, New Leaf Restaurant & Bar

Chef Matt Hoyle, Nobu 57

Chef Ben Pollinger, Oceana

Chef Kevin Lasko, Park Avenue Winter

Chef Michael Lomonaco, Porter House New York

Chef Matteo Bergamini, SD26

Pastry Chef Sarabeth Levine, Sarabeth’s

Chef Shaun Hergatt, SHO – Shaun Hergatt

Michael Tong, Shun Lee Palace

Chef Kerry Heffernan, South Gate

Chef Kelvin Fernandez*, The Strand American Bistro

Chef William Telepan, Telepan

Chef Carmen Quagliata, Union Square Cafe

In addition, participating C-CAP Graduate Chefs, Rachel Lansang and Mehdi Chellaoui, will be preparing special dessert creations.

  *C-CAP Alumnus

 The Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) Benefit is open to the public. Tickets for general admission are $500 (limited availability); Tickets for VIP admission are $600 and $1,000.

For tickets, more information about the event, and sponsorship opportunities, call 212-974-7111 or visit our website at www.ccapinc.org.

 Stay tuned!

Sponsorships for C-CAP’s Annual Benefit are rolling in! We are deeply appreciative of the support that we have received so far from the following Sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors

Zabars

The Grausman Family

Ronne & Alan Fisher

Gold Sponsors

Karen & Guil Gaylord

Silver Sponsors

Brand Aromatics

Bronze Sponsors

The Barakett Foundation

Asset International Inc.

Fried Frank

A.L. Stuart & Co.

Copper Sponsors

Vornado Realty Trust

Esquared Hospitality

Robert Kaplan

Save the Starfish

Joyce Chang & David Robbins

Myrna & Freddie Gershon

Sugar Foods Corporation

Jack Welch

Union Square Hospitality Group

Sealed Air

We are thrilled to have two new industry sponsors this year, Brand Aromatics and Sealed Air.  We hope you will join us in supporting these fabulous companies that are so generous to C-CAP and make all of our good work possible.

Stay tuned!

“Auld Lang Syne” is the tune that we affectionately sing as we pass into a new year. The line “For Auld Lang Syne,” which translates as “For (the sake of) old times,” signals the future but reminds us to look back on old times.

This year, make it a point to mark this celebration with old friends and good food. If you’re in New York, come and check out one of the restaurants below where a C-CAP graduate is working and wish him a Happy New Year for us.

Strand, an American Bistro at The Strand Hotel

Kelvin Hernandez, Executive Chef

Artisanal Bistro

Swainson Brown, Sous Chef

Benoit New York

Brandon Bryan, Line Cook

OLIVES New York

Alfred Stephens, Executive Pastry Chef

To ring in the New Year with a proper Champagne toast, C-CAP Founder and Chairman Richard Grausman recommends “finishing a big meal at this time of year with a glass of Oranges in Champagne.” Here is his recipe from French Classics Made Easy.

Oranges au Champagne (Oranges in Champagne)

Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients:

8 oranges

1 bottle of demi-sec Champagne or similar sparkling wine

Preparation:

1. Peel and section all of the oranges, making sure they are completely free of all membranes. Place oranges in a colander (they will hold their shape better than if allowed to sit in their own juice) and refrigerate until ready to serve.
2. Place the sectioned oranges in a crystal serving bowl or individual goblets and bring to the table with a chilled bottle of Champagne.
3. Pour the Champagne over the oranges and serve.

Cheers from all of us at C-CAP.

Stay tuned!

C-CAP Arizona has had a busy winter, and it is about to embark on an exciting spring. On November 19th, C-CAP Arizona held the event, “Getting Our Just Desserts.” This culinary event featured and showcased the talents of over 30 women chefs  throughout Arizona.  The excitement continues in March, when C-CAP Arizona will hold its annual Heavy Medal Culinary Competition.

 “Getting Our Just Desserts” was a foodie’s dream filled with delicious sweet and savory treats, a decadent silent auction, and live demonstration classes on chocolate, tea, olive oil, and food photography. Honorary chef for the event was Barbara Fenzl, cookbook author and teacher at Les Petites Gourmettes Children’s Cooking School in Phoenix.

The dream doesn’t end there.  On March 11^th the fun moves on to the 4th annual Heavy Medal Culinary Competition hosted at the luxurious Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, where top executive chefs go head-to-head to win the Heavy Medal Culinary Award. Last year, Executive Chef Charles Kassels of El Chorro Lodge Restaurant took home the C-CAP Heavy Medal. Squaring off against Executive Chef Francesco Roccato of InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, the chefs prepared fabulous dishes with the special ingredient: mushrooms. The celebrity judges were Bob Bondurant, Debbie Gaby, and Alvin Gentry.

Make sure to reserve your exclusive ticket to Arizona C-CAP’s annual Heavy Medal Culinary Competition. Check with Jill Smith at jsmith@ccapinc.org to secure your spot.

Stay tuned!

It’s that time of year when we’re all looking for a little comfort food to fit into our busy schedules. Richard Grausman, the C-CAP Founder & Chairman, shares his Braised Brisket with Ginger and Coriander recipe from his cookbook, French Classics Made Easy. This meal is equally as delicious as it is easy, the meal almost cooks itself.

“This recipe is a wonderful example of how ingredients not normally associated with classic French cooking can be used to bring new life to a traditional dish. I really should call this recipe Boeuf Braisé Deborah, for it was created on the evening my wife gave birth to our second daughter, Deborah. One of the nurses who attended to my wife was from the British West Indies and a food enthusiast. When she found out my profession, she asked me for my chocolate mousse recipe. In return she gave me her favorite recipe, chicken cooked with fresh ginger, garlic, tomatoes, cilantro, and hot pepper. When I returned home, I took out the brisket of beef I had in the refrigerator and started to prepare a classic braised beef. Finding a piece of ginger in the vegetable drawer, I thought of the nurse’s chicken recipe. Although I did not have cilantro (fresh coriander), I did have ground coriander (the seeds of the coriander plant) and dried hot peppers. My older daughter, Jennifer, and my gourmet mother-in-law were both so pleased with the results that I have been cooking this recipe ever since. As it turned out Deborah was born a “super taster” like her mother, so both find this dish too spicy. Jennifer and I still love it.” – Richard

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

3 to 4 pounds breast of beef (first-cut brisket)

2 onions, halved and thickly sliced

4 large carrots, thickly sliced on the diagonal

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cloves garlicchopped

2 shallots chopped

1 inch fresh ginger sliced, or more to taste

2 cups dry red wine

1 1/2 cups beef stock, homemade or canned

2 teaspoons ground coriander

2 teaspoons tomato paste

1 to 2 dried red chili peppers (optional), to taste Bouquet Garni (** see note below)

⅛ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

12 to 16 small Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled

Preparation

1. In a flameproof casserole or large Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat. Add the meat when the oil is hot and brown it, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove the meat.

2. Add the onions and carrots and cook over high heat until they are lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

3. Sprinkle on the flour and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until browned, 3 to 5 minutes.

4. Add the garlic, shallots, and ginger, and stir for 10 seconds before adding all of the remaining ingredients except the potatoes.

5. Return the meat to the casserole, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat until tender, 2½ to 3 hours. This can be done on top of the stove or in a 300°F to 350°F oven.

6. Add the potatoes during the last hour of cooking. If your casserole is too small to hold them, boil or steam them separately.

7. When the meat is tender, discard the bouquet garni. Reserving all of the cooked vegetables, strain the cooking liquid, which will have thickened to form a sauce, through a fine-mesh sieve. Skim to remove all fat. (This recipe can be prepared to this point in advance. Reheat the meat and vegetables before serving.)

8. Slice the brisket and serve it with the potatoes and vegetables. Spoon some of the sauce over all and serve the remaining sauce separately.

** To create Bouquet Garni A bouquet garni consists of 4 to 5 sprigs of parsley, 1 bay leaf, and 2 to 3 sprigs of fresh thyme (or ¼ teaspoon dried leaves), which I tie up in a celery rib cut in half. The reason for tying the ingredients together is to enable you to discard them easily once the cooking is finished. If you plan to strain the stock or sauce in which the bouquet garni has been cooking, it is not necessary for you to tie up the ingredients, although it makes skimming easier.

Stay tuned!

Artful cakes are so “in” right now, and C-CAP alum Thiago Silva is capitalizing on the current trend and creating quite a name for himself in the process. Check out this past Sunday’s New York Post article on Thiago.

Thiago is the Executive Pastry Chef at EMM’s new restaurant Catch in New York City.
He is being approached by top celebrities, athletes, and New York power players—including Amare Stoudemire, Fabulous, and real estate executive Aliza Avital—to deliver the dessert centerpieces for their lavish celebrations.

While Thiago’s creations are beyond masterful, his patience in creating these works of art is not to be reckoned with. It can easily take Thiago 24 hours over a week’s time to produce these outrageous cakes. This includes constructing the cake objects out of cake and Rice Krispies, selecting and stenciling the objects out of gum paste and letting them dry, and lastly, painting and styling the cakes to create his artful masterpieces.

Stay tuned!

Mark your calendar for Thursday, February 16, 2012, for the best foodie event in the Big Apple: C-CAP’s Annual Benefit!

This year we are delighted to be honoring Michael McCarty, Proprietor of Michael’s New York and Michael’s Santa Monica, for his extraordinary achievements and contributions to the culinary industry, his long-time dedication to C-CAP, and his commitment to nurturing the next generation of chefs. (Indeed, some of the country’s finest chefs began their careers at Michael’s, including Jonathan Waxman, Mark Peel, Nancy Silverton, and Sang Yoon.) Michael has been a visionary in the culinary industry, and his groundbreaking initiatives helped establish California Cuisine as a movement that transformed cooking in the United States. Along with Alice Waters, Michael pioneered the organic, sustainable, seasonal, local, ingredient-driven farm-to-table explosion of New American regional food that has now become the gold standard for great American dining. Check out the great story on Michael in the recent issue of Mariani’s Virtual Gourmet.

We are thrilled to have Bette Midler and Martin von Haselberg (longtime friends and eating partners of Michael and Kim McCarty) as honorary chairs. The benefit will showcase creations from more than 30 of New York City’s top chefs. Celebrity chefs will be on hand to offer their creations to our guests and will be assisted by C-CAP students and alums, the chefs of the future.

The funds raised at the benefit are extremely important to our organization. With funds raised last year, we were able to offer over $3 million in culinary school scholarships, career and college advising, and job readiness training to underserved teenagers across the country.

Sponsors—including Zabar’s, Bloomberg, B.R. Guest Hospitality, The Four Seasons Hotels, UBS, Union Square Hospitality Group, Sugar Foods, Workman, and Zagat Survey—are crucial to the event’s success.

Please contact Emily at (212) 974-7111 to procure your ticket for this fabulous event. Here are some pictures from last year’s event, courtesy of Jerry Ruotolo.

Stay tuned!

The Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation (CBWCF) recently hosted the event, “Mirabelle By The Sea.” The funds raised at this event go to support the C-CAP Hampton Roads, Virginia program and the ACCESS College Foundation.

This spectacular event was held at the beautiful home of CBWCF board member and restaurateur, Chuck Patty. The C-CAP students and a few area alumni got involved in making the event a success alongside Daniel Joly, celebrity chef.  Daniel, Master Chef of Mirabelle at Beaver Creek, has a stellar reputation and he is a “natural teacher.”  The C-CAP students had a fabulous experience not only assisting the chef but also sampling such culinary delights as goat cheese and red beet gnocchi salad, herb encrusted elk tenderloin, and roasted duck breast.

Thiago Silva, a C-CAP grad, is the Executive Pastry Chef at EMM’s new restaurant Catch in New York City. His entrance into the upper echelon of the pastry industry is supported not only by his hard work in the C-CAP program and apprenticeship experience with Florian Bellanger, but also by his mentor, Alfred Stephens.

Alfred Stephens is the Corporate Pastry Chef at Todd English Enterprises; he oversees all of the Todd English restaurant pastry chefs nationally. He made the list of “Top 10 Best Pastry Chefs in America” for two years in a row.

Alfred’s rise to the top came with a few struggles, which resulted in sage advice from one of our C-CAP board members, Marcus Samuelsson. Alfred recounts a story from his final competition at C-CAP in 1994. “I remember my Final Competition in 1994,” says Alfred. “I was close to finishing when my chive butter sauce for the chicken entree broke. I panicked. Chef Marcus Samuelsson, who was a judge, saw me struggling. He suggested I put the sauce back on the stove over low heat and whisk it vigorously. It worked! I won a full scholarship to the French Culinary Institute. Today I have a successful career and I’m a judge at C-CAP competitions,” he adds. “I support kids through this difficult but important day because I know what it can mean for them.”

Thiago is now mentoring two recent C-CAP grads himself. He has brought these grads to work with him at Catch.

We look forward to sharing more stories of how C-CAP is generating support not only from the outside but also from within the C-CAP family.

Stay Tuned!