Fine Food and Wine
A tasteful tradition at Scranton Cultural Center
On Sunday, April 29, The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple will be filled with the aroma of fine cuisine and the sweet sounds of wine glasses toasting as people from across the region enjoy An Evening of Fine Food and Wine.
A fundraiser for the Scranton Cultural Center, the event has grown into a spring tradition that many look forward to each year. We recently caught up with two people who have been instrumental to bringing this event to life since its inception 12 years ago: Nada Gilmartin, president of the board of the Scranton Cultural Center, and Chef Gary Edwards, co-owner and executive chef of Fire and Ice on Toby Creek, Trucksville.
This event not only showcases the finest food and wine that local restaurants have to offer, it also showcases the beauty of the Scranton Cultural Center. “It really utilizes the entire building,” Gilmartin said. “You begin your evening with appetizers in the ballroom, and then you form into groups and go through the various rooms.” The names of the groups are, appropriately, names of wines, such as Chardonnay and Cabernet. “You’ll stay with that group for the whole evening. And what’s really fun is that you go to all the rooms and they give a cooking demonstration and pair the food with wine. By the end of the evening, you’ve really made new friends,” Gilmartin said.
Among the chefs these new friends will meet along the way is Chef Gary, who will demonstrate how to prepare paella, a dish that’s perfect for parties. A familiar face in the area, Edwards served as the executive chef at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station for six years prior to opening Fire and Ice on Toby Creek. Prior to that, you may have enjoyed his dishes at the (former) Ryah House in Clarks Summit and the Sojourner at the Inn at Nichols Village in Clarks Summit. “I’ve always had some sort of dedication to the Scranton area and the Cultural Center. It’s a beautiful building and a great event for us to support. I think I speak for many of the chefs when I say we put our hearts into what we prepare, and we’re dedicated to providing local foods and supporting the local community and small restaurants. I think it’s important that people support the restaurants and the Cutural Center.”
After enjoying Chef Gary’s paella and a host of other entrées throughout the building, guests will return to the ballroom for desserts. Throughout the night, there will be musical entertainment, inspiring some to close the evening with a dance. “It’s a great experience and it’s an opportunity to see the Scranton Cultural Center and some of the rooms you don’t get to see all the time,” Gilmartin said.
— julie imel
Tickets to An Evening of Fine Food and Wine are $85 and $100. For tickets, visit www.scrantonculturalcenter.org or call the box office at 344-1111.
Featured Restaurants:
Appetizers: City Café – a Mediterranean Restaurant, Constantino’s Catering, Coopers Seafood House, Rustic Kitchen – The Cooking Show, State Street Grill, The Colonnade/POSH at the Scranton Club, The Dunmore Homestead.
Entrées: Carmen’s at the Radisson, Fire and Ice on Toby Creek, Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, Patsel’s, The French Manor.
Desserts and Coffee: Accentuate Catering, BellaFaccias Personalized Chocolates, Electric City Roasting Company, Epicurean Delight, Igourmet.com, Truly Scrumptious, Zummo’s Café
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