Italian Cuisine at Chelsea Market, July 17th 

Special Guest: Paola Munzi, Deputy Counsel General, Italian Consulate, New York

Acclaimed Chefs and Monroe College Culinary Students to Showcase Italian Cuisine at Chelsea Market, July 17th ( press release )

Monroe College in the Bronx and New Rochelle, NY will celebrate the art of Italian Cuisine and other gourmet foods at a "grazing cocktail reception" that will feature a menu prepared by leading chefs from throughout New York City and Westchester County, as well as by Monroe College culinary students who will be studying in Italy this coming fall semester.

The July 17th event, "A Chef's Legacy," will be held at the Chelsea Market, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

It is a fundraiser named in honor of the college's first Director of Culinary Arts, Chef Craig Rutman, who suffered a fatal heart attack last summer at the age of 45. The money raised will help underwrite the cost of the culinary students' semester in Parma and Otranto, Italy, where they will be studying at the Barillia Institute, the University of Ferrara, and the University of Lecce. "The spirit and theme of the evening will be for all who knew Chef Rutman to come together to share their love of food and the culinary arts and their passion for educating and mentoring others," said Dean Carol Genese, co-chair of the event.

Several Chefs who worked with Chef Rutman during his career will be participating in the event, which will run from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, including Sarabeth Levine, Honorary Chair of the event, and Marcelo Gonzalez, both of Sarabeth's Bakery at the Chelsea Market. Also participating will be Chef Michael Ayoub, Fornino Restaurant, Brooklyn, Executive Chef Jim Botsacos, Moylvos Restaurant, New York, Roe Dibona, owner, Rocking Horse Cafe, New York, Executive Chef Rafael Palomino, owner, Sonoroa and Pacifico Restaurant, Port Chester, NY, and Chef Brian Macmenamin, owner, Macmenamin's Grill, New Rochelle, NY.

Monroe College culinary students, under the direction of Chef Daniel Hinder, an internationally trained chef who now heads up the college's culinary program, will prepare pastries and other delicacies. The study abroad program, now in its second year, is coordinated by the Marco Polo Institute in Italy and is offered by the Monroe College Department of Hospitality and the Culinary Arts.

"Chef Rutman had found a place at Monroe College where the values he held dear were put into practice every day," said Genese. "Monroe is as committed to all of its students as was Chef Rutman to developing young people, some of whom may not ordinarily have had the opportunity to go to college, and to preparing them for lifelong careers where they could be happy, satisfied and well-rewarded for their work. The Monroe students who have already studied in Italy have become unofficial 'Ambassadors for Italian Cuisine' and the new students who will be going to Italy in September will carry on this tradition."

The suggested donation for the event is $100. For more information, call Carol Genese at 718-933-6700, ext. 8460.