Foods of Love Culinary Demo @ New Canaan Library, Feb. 12

The New Canaan Library invites you to prepare for Valentine's Day with "Foods of Love", a culinary demo centered on foods known to get us in the mood for love, hosted by Silvia Baldini and Analiese Paik. The event will take place Thursday, February 12th from 10 - 11:30am in the Adrian Lamb Room at the Library, 151 Main Street, New Canaan.

There is a $25 fee per person to cover ingredients and beverages.

Learn about everyday aphrodisiacs including strawberries, honey, figs, artichokes, chili peppers, edible flowers, chocolate and coffee, and how to incorporate them into an irresistible Valentine’s Day menu.

Chef Baldini will teach guests how to prepare a three-course, restaurant quality Valentine’s Day menu inspired by these foods of love, while Paik will inform guests about the importance of sourcing high quality, sustainable ingredients and highlight local resources including retailers, farms and artisan food producers. The morning culminates with a tasting of all three menu items and networking.

Special guest Ed Freedman of Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters will demonstrate how to brew the perfect cup of espresso roast coffee and provide guests with tastings of three different roasts.

Tasting Menu:

Artichokes, Honey and Figs with Hot Chili Bruschetta
Strawberry Risotto
Artisan Chocolate, Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters Espresso, and Vanilla Ice Cream Affogato

Each guest will receive Chef Silvia’s recipes to prepare at home and sourcing guidance for each ingredient from Paik.

Background on the presenters:

Baldini always dreamed of being a chef, even during her successful career as an art director. After 17 years in advertising, she realized her dream by returning to school, graduating from the Cornell and French Institute and ultimately receiving a Grand Cuisine Diploma from Le Cordon Bleu, London. After working as a chef at prestigious Michelin star restaurants throughout Europe, Baldini returned to the East Coast and established her creative food group, Strawberry and Sage. She has been featured in Saveur, the James Beard Blog, and has appeared on national TV  cooking shows. Among her many clients are Bank of America, Royal Scottish Society and Vista Caballo, as well as private individuals, celebrities, food photographers and cookbook authors.

Paik is founder and editor of the award-winning website www.fairfieldgreenfoodguide.com and the food editor of Natural Awakenings, Fairfield County. Following a successful career in marketing, she attended the Institute of Culinary Education and studied wine at the International Wine Center. Analiese has served as a judge for the Connecticut Specialty Food Association’s Product Awards Competition for the last four years. She has also been featured as a green food advocate and expert in Fairfield Magazine, Fairfield County Life Magazine, Stamford Advocate, Connecticut Cottages and Gardens and Westport Magazine, among others. Analiese was a regular monthly guest on News Channel 8’s Good Morning Connecticut show for two years, covering local and sustainable food topics.

Event registration is a MUST: https://newcanaanlibrary.ejoinme.org/?tabid=580053