Foods of Love with Local Culinary Gurus

The New Canaan Library invites you to prepare for Valentine's Day with another amazing event by culinary experts Silvia Baldini and Analiese Paik. Join them both on Thursday, February 12th from 10 - 11:30am in the Adrian Lamb Room for Foods of Love, a culinary demonstration, centered on foods known to get us in the mood for love.

There will be 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 Silvia Baldini will teach guests how to prepare a three-course, restaurant-quality, Valentine’s Day menu inspired by these foods of love. Analiese 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 Analiese Paik.

Silvia 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 Silvia 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.