Imagine Academy recently held their first ever Cooking Collective in Deal, NJ. Imagine Academy, a school for children with autism, has a loving, dedicated staff that often go above and beyond for their students. At our very first meeting, Heather Deutsch mentioned they hadn’t had a summer fundraiser in some time and were ready for something new! With that said, The idea for the Cooking Collective was born.
In 14 different homes, chefs from the community held Demo and Dine parties to raise money and awareness for the school. Some chefs demonstrated at their own homes, while others were welcomed by one of our gracious hosts. As the night unfolded, there was cooking, laughing, and bonding! From the flowers to the aprons and sophisticated table-scapes, each and every party was an elegant affair complete with a gourmet meal.
With much thought and preparations from the chefs, each dinner offered a unique experience for its participants. Adele Yedid featured a plant-based menu that was as healthy as it was tasty, while Michelle Gindi invited moms and their young daughters to her demo of a child-friendly meal. Alexis Cohen’s event focused on beautiful desserts and cake decorating, and the group with Aliza Salem were raving about the many innovated cooking tips they couldn’t wait to implement. Fannie Bouganin’s girls hung on her every word and Paulina Ashkenazi’s guests all agreed they felt transported to some European location, thanks to her menu and ambiance. Florence Chera’s crowd had a ball bonding through food, and Claudia Bildirici’s group spent just as much time laughing as they did cooking. Rachel Pahuskin’s gourmet menu had her guests excited from the moment they entered, and Eileen Missry’s dinner was a true family affair, with her mom and grandma beside her bursting with pride.
One guest who visited Sarah Hanan’s demo commented that the elegant setting, coupled with delicious dishes, created the perfect night out with the girls. Susan Harari wowed her guests with a tuna pizza, and Pamela Azizo’s homemade cherry tomato sauce is sure to be a new staple for all in attendance.
The dynamic duo of Stephanie Mosseri and Julie Ebani planned their recipes and menus to perfection, and their attention to detail didn’t go unnoticed. All the chefs and hostesses brought their best, infusing the night with their own personal flavor.
A highlight of the evening included different representatives from Imagine Academy who visited each home to speak about the importance of the school and what it means to them, followed by a moving video that brought their words to life. For the guests, hearing from these individuals in such an intimate setting made an impact. It elevated the night from a social gathering to a meaningful experience.
Guests asked questions and engaged with the speakers. In return, the founders of the school and long-time employees felt truly appreciated and valued by the listeners. As one speaker, Jane Sutton, mentioned, there are certain events that are fundraisers and others that are friend-raisers. This cooking event was definitely both. All the women left feeling moved and inspired. From the generous hosts and chefs to the eager participants, everyone joined together to make the night a memorable success. There was good food and better company! Each woman left with an exclusive cookbook featuring one recipe from each of the participating chefs, a full belly, and an even fuller heart!
Thank you to all the chefs and to the additional hosts: Rachelle Abady, Audrey Adjmi, Janelle Ash, Dianne and Annie Azrack, Jen Jemal, Cynthia Levy and Stephanie Levy. Thank you to the wonderful speakers, Heather Deutsch, Jane Sutton, Marcelle Shasho, Raquel Savdie, Danielle Azizo and Aura Varon. An extra special thank you to Victoria Mamiye for the exquisite flowers at each home, and Lisa Chakkalo for the beautiful photos that captured the night.
The icing on the cake was when chef Pamela Azizo won the raffle for the gorgeous jewelry, so generously donated by Roxana Warat of Warat Jewels. Thank you to Sarah Joy Dweck, Claudette Mathews, Sari Rishty, Adelle Soffer, and Sofia Tawil: your yummy confections were the perfect end to the fabulous meals. To Ruby Dweck, Francis Yedid, Claudia Azizo, Raquel Habert, and Marjorie Eida, and everyone else who donated their time and talent, because of you this night far surpassed anything we could have imagined.
