▲ all photos by ART & CLARITY ▲ VERVE’S VISIT BY CHEFS FROM AROuND THE wORLD Cultural, culinary diplomacy, Napa Valley style T elbowing his way over to the stove as the chef from Jerusalem Laundry gardener showed up carrying boxes of vegetables from the garden,That evening the kitchen was crowded with chefs calling for spices topunch up marinades and sauces. A loud shout went up when the Frenchhe kitchen was wild with the pulse of creative ferment, andthe excitement was palpable. The young chef from Poland was who had worked as personal chef for the King of Jordan just missed a and soon the grill was covered with copious amounts of eggplant and collision with his pot of water. . peppers. More than twenty-six chefs and food personalities from more than Soon the banquet table was laden with a bounty of dishes that twenty-six countries were gathered in one Oakville kitchen, with everyone represented Napa Valley-centric versions of historical and cultural dishes. chatting, singing, cooking and, of course, drinking Napa Valley wine. We were a loose constellation of the modern world, from the Napa Valley It was the end of a whirlwind tour directed by T Beller of Verve to the People’s Republic of China to Madagascar, all breaking bread Napa Valley, working with the San Francisco Institute of International together as one, and the group toasted to the good food and wine that truly Education. The group was invited by the Department of State, through the brought their nations together. It has been said that goodwill is often forged International Visitors Leadership Program, on a culinary diplomacy tour of at the dinner table, and our impromptu dinner party was a resounding the United States. affirmation. N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2 19
NVLife_NovDec_2012
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