Chance for Foodies, Culinary Enthusiasts to Help Valhalla Legion
American Legion Post 1038 in Valhalla is appealing to its members and the community for help to restore its 65-year-old home on Legion Drive that was damaged from flooding more than three years ago.
As part of the effort, the post is offering budding chefs and foodies a fun and informative series of programs that will not only help restore the headquarters but satisfy palates as well.
Starting Friday night and continuing for four additional days this spring, Post 1038 is hosting a Chefs Helping Vets program that will raise money toward renovating the post’s basement. For years, the space has been used by community groups such as the Boy Scouts for meeting, said Post Commander John Creskey. But in December 2012, flooding occurred when nearby drainage pipes clogged, inundating the lowest level of the facility with water making it unusable ever since.
The Chef Helping Vets programs, which range from two to three hours each, are led by several accomplished Westchester chefs and culinary educators, including Phil McGrath, the former owner of Iron Horse in Pleasantville, Tarrytown House Estate and Conference Center Executive Chef Chris Hettinger and Doral Arrowwood Hotel Conference Center pastry chef Stacey Cohen. Each class costs $45, which includes a $30 charitable donation.
“We’re doing food classes because it’s something a lot of people would look forward to and we might be able to attract different types of foodies, so it’s something the community could like and something the people could see,” said Creskey.
He said the effort is part of an ongoing fundraising campaign that needs to raise an estimated $60,000 to $80,000 to complete the project.
The first class, tonight (Friday) at the post from 6 to 9 p.m., is led by Cohen and focuses on cake decorating techniques. The series continues on Sunday, May 1 with a Knife Skills Boot Camp taught by Chef Toni D’Onofrio, who will review how to select, sharpen, care for and safely use knives.
McGrath will lead a tour of the Pleasantville Farmers Market on Saturday, May 7 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Participants will meet local farmers and artisans and while McGrath will provide tips on buying and preparing the produce.
The session on Sunday, June 5, from 1 to 3 p.m., features Hettinger demonstrating how to perfect outdoor cooking techniques with charcoal and gas grills and which cuts of meat, fish and vegetables work best with high and low heat. The session will also include how to enhance grilled food by creating dry rubs and marinades.
Cohen returns for the Friday, June 10 finale that covers the creation of crème puffs, eclairs and other pastries. The class runs from 6 to 9 p.m.
The building first opened in 1951 and was expanded in 1971, Creskey said.
For more information or to register for any of the courses, visit alpost1038ny.org/Chefs Helping Vets. All courses will be held at the post on Legion Drive, except for the May 7 session, which will initially meet at the Pleasantville Diner.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/