Staten Island chefs cook at legendary James Beard House: How was the food?

REFERENCE – https://www.silive.com/dining/2018/02/staten_island_chefs_cook_at_legendary_james_beard_house_how_was_the_food.html

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — At the James Beard House on Tuesday, Feb. 13, the menu featured spring rolls of chocolate-braised duck and mashed potatoes sweetened with white chocolate.

This presentation came courtesy of the kitchen crew from Staten Island’s Violette’s Cellar and the Stone House at Clove Lakes Park.

The staff cooked for a sold-out house that night. And the theme of the cocktail hour followed by a six-course meal headlined as “Dreaming in Chocolate.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKk7V3OtWcw

The kitchen lead, Peter Botros, chose the theme with Fat Tuesday and Valentine’s Day in mind.

Hors d’oeuvres included roasted beet bites topped with a whisper of fennel pollen over whipped cocoa goat cheese. Dinner started with warm mini cocoa croissants and guajillo-chocolate butter, then moved onto a burrata cheese with Valharona dark chocolate-balsamic vinegar with ancho chili oil, macadamia nuts, and granola.