Today at the Little Nell: Top Chefs Collaborate for Charity

Today at the Little Nell: Top Chefs Collaborate for Charity

Montagna's Chef Ryan Hardy and Bravo TV's Top Chef Ilan Hall cook together at the 2007 Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen

ASPEN, Colo., June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Little Nell's charity contribution for the 2007 Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen began at lunch today, as Executive Chef Ryan Hardy of The Little Nell's Montagna restaurant and Chef Ilan Hall, winner of BRAVO's hit reality competition series Top Chef, collaborated to create a superb lunch all in the name of fantastic food and charity. Fifty per cent of the proceeds from the three-course lunch will be donated to Food & Wine's "Grow for Good" campaign, benefiting "Farm to Table," a national initiative dedicated to supporting local farms and encouraging sustainable agriculture.

An impromptu auction by Montagna's Master Sommelier Richard Betts offered surprised lucky guests the chance to bid on the two debut cases of his brand new Betts & Scholl Wine from Italy, Scarpetta, yielding more than $7,000 for the cause. As an added bonus, thanks to Richard Betts and The Little Nell's dedicated food and beverage department, ten per cent of Montagna wine sales throughout this weekend of the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen will also be donated to Food & Wine's "Grow for Good" campaign.

Every seat for the lunch was sold as discerning diners indulged in chicken liver pate, chilled sorrel soup with smoked mackerel, Finocchiona salume, and panna cotta with strawberry rhubarb preserves highlighting Chef Hardy's Rocky Mountain artisan cuisine, Chef Hall's eclectic Mediterranean style, and the freshest produce from Chef Hardy's new farm. The two chefs collaborated on the menu and introduced the lunch to the diners, explaining the influence and the thought process behind each course. Held outside at The Tavern at the Little Nell, Master Sommelier Richard Betts was also on hand to pair and pour the wines while guests were able to meet the chefs and feast to save farms across the country. Food & Wine Magazine's Editor in Chief Dana Cowen introduced the lunch and provided background on the "Grow for Good" charity.

With picturesque Aspen Mountain in the background, The Tavern terrace offered a prime location for the lunch experience offering an intimate atmosphere and breathtaking snow-capped mountain views.

"It was a pleasure to work with Chef Hall to create this lunch for charity," said Chef Hardy.

Food & Wine's "Grow for Good" campaign, launched to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, is committed to raising $1 million to expand Farm to Table's programs and services into 25 cities across the U.S.

For more information contact:
Missy Farren & Associates, Ltd (212) 528-1691
Missy Farren, mfarren@mfaltd.com
Silvie Snow-Thomas, ssnowthomas@mfaltd.com

Source: Little Nell

CONTACT: Missy Farren, mfarren@mfaltd.com, or Silvie Snow-Thomas,
ssnowthomas@mfaltd.com, both of Missy Farren & Associates, Ltd,
+1-212-528-1691

Web site:

http://www.mfaltd.com/

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