Great response the class sold out!
From cooking novice to full-blown foodie, this class and dinner had something for everyone. The four-course menu was designed based on what was pulled from the ground and caught off our waters.
This is “chef’s mercy” at its finest, a menu item Marco Davis is known for at the Columbian Café, where he’s worked for 23 years. Chef Marco is now branching off with his own occasional gigs such as this, to teach people to cook and heal through food using seasonal and local ingredients.
The evening kicked-off with a wine spritzer made with organic cranberry juice from Washington’s first organic cranberry farm on the Long Beach Peninsula. Locally-grown food came from Stewardship Farm, plus fresh in-season fish from Skipanon Seafood. Brandborg Winery attended, pairing wines with each course.
Chef Marco happened to attend kindergarten with the chef from Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH), Kurt Rummel, who has been bringing traditional institutional eating to a whole new level, including a salad bar with local, seasonal and organic food. Many of the ingredients for that salad bar have come from the Co-op. That’s where the relationship with the Co-op and the hospital formed.
“Good food is what started our organizations talking and good food is at the heart of collaborating on this event. We’re thrilled to be able to share our resources and expertise to educate the community on how to cook amazing-tasting food, that makes you happy and healthy,” said Astoria Co-op Marketing Director, Zetty Nemlowill.
CMH and the Co-op are fulfilling mutual missions with this event.
“Nutritious, satisfying food and an economically robust community are central to the health and future of our region. We are excited to offer this tasty tour of local seasonal seafood and produce. This collaboration meets CMH and the Co-op’s shared goal of improving our community’s health through better nutrition,” said CMH Community Relations Manager Paul Mitchell.
The sold-out event happened in CMH’s Columbia Center Coho Room and attached gourmet demonstration kitchen on Thursday, September 26th, 2013.
