BY KAREN BOSSICK
A “First Class New York Adventure,” complete with Dinner at Tatiana, lunch at Le Café Louis Vuitton, a $1000 gift certificate for shopping Louis Vuitton, first-class passage on United Airlines, three nights in a two-bedroom Chelsea apartment and more, is among the live auction items being auctioned off at the Sun Valley Culinary Institute’s Welcome Party this coming weekend.
The dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21 at a stunning residence north of Ketchum.
It will feature a variety of food-inspired adventures up for grabs, including a four-day epicurean adventure at the Puerto Rico Wine & Food Festival, a culinary experience in New Orleans, six days of exquisite food in Phuket, Thailand. Auction items are up for bid even if you can’t make the party.
But the party is sure to be a treat, what with James Beard-Award-winning Chef Jonathan Waxman as the celebrity guest chef and keynote speaker.
Waxman was one of the pioneers of California cuisine, later introducing California fresh cuisine fused with French cooking techniques to New York. He even made Esquire’s list of most influential Americans and has been featured on TV’s “MasterChef,” “Tournament of Champions” “Guy’s Grocery Games” and “Top Chef Masters.”
In addition to a unique multi-course dinner, there’ll be dancing with rhythm dancers Karina Smirnoff, who won the 13th season of Dancing with the Stars, and Dimitri Timokhin, an eight-time National Russian Champion specializing in international-style Latin dance.
The party is designed to raise funds for supporting Sun Valley Culinary students. The program, now in its third year hosted 10 students this past year. They are working in some of the finest kitchens in Sun Valley, Ketchum and Hailey this summer as part of their education.
“A solid culinary foundation can really do wonders for those looking to enter the restaurant and hospitality world,” said Jonathan Waxman, chef/owner of New York’s Barbuto. “The Sun Valley Culinary Institute is a perfect example of a program that supports and inspires young individuals looking to enter the culinary arts, providing them with tools, training, mentorship and career opportunities. I’m in awe of what Karl and his team accomplish each year and am happy to play a role in The Welcome Party to support the SVCI Scholarship Fund and ensure that students have access to education cost assistance.”
SVCI’s small class size enables students to be recognized as individuals, emphasizing quality education and training. As part of their one-year program, students complete 700 hours of training in the SVCI kitchen and take part in two four-month externships at various restaurants in the valley to acquire real-world restaurant experience.
“When you support an education in the culinary arts, you are contributing to the future of the community and the hospitality industry’s workplace, central to Sun Valley,” said SVCI Executive Director Karl Uri. “Our students become ambassadors of the valley. And, in turn, we benefit from a more stable and sustainable community and great food.”
For tickets to Saturday’s Welcome Party, visit https://www.sunvalleyculinary.org/. To bid on live auction item, email info@sunvalleyculinary.org.
The Sun Valley Culinary Institute was founded in 2020. A nonprofit organization, it provides professional culinary education to both students and food enthusiasts.