NEWSLETTER March 2022
Message from Joe Murphy
We wish everyone a happy spring! As you know, The Chefs Table Foundation has two missions: to help the visually impaired become more independent by offering them training courses in the culinary arts. As a visually impaired and legally blind individual myself, I can attest to the feeling of hope and freedom that cooking has given me in pursuing an independent life. Our second missions second mission is to offer culinary skills training and placement assistance to struggling veterans who are interested in a career in the culinary arts. |
We’ve made great progress with both our missions. State Representative Rob Consalvo graciously hosted a video call with representatives of the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOL). EOL helps unemployed veterans in Massachusetts. EOL has agreed to help CTL get information out to veterans about CTL’s sponsored culinary skills training. We thank EOL for their help!
Raffle Update
As mentioned in our February newsletter, we are suspending our raffle for February and March 2022 in order to concentrate on fundraising. For those who have already purchased raffle packages, these will be entered into the next raffle.
We will be back with an update in April. Request for Equipment Donations CTF has launched a funding drive to complete a project to support our veteran candidates who participate in our culinary courses and on-the-job training. The on-the-job training involves a three (3) |
month paid education that will prepare them for career opportunities when they complete the program. We are building a mobile kitchen to assist with the training and have already received $30,000 worth of high-end commercial restaurant equipment. This is an expensive project to complete. As it stands right now, we need your generous financial support. When this full mobile kitchen is completed, it will be used as a training vehicle for our veterans as well as a foundational platform for raising needed revenue for Chefs Table Foundation' operating expenses. This mobile kitchen will provide catering for events requiring food service. Your support is invaluable. Please donate online at: https://www.chefstables.org/donate.html
Chef Joe’s March 2022 Recipe
Chicken (Chien) Limoncello Ingredients: 1.5 lbs. boneless chicken breast 1 cup flour Salt & pepper to taste 1/4 cup of Canola oil 1.5 tbsp. unsalted butter 1/8 cup Limoncello 3 oz. white wine 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 clove garlic finely diced 1 grated lemon (do not use any white peel as it is bitter) ¼ cup of fresh parsley |
Method: Cut chicken diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick medallions. Place the flour on a dish and season with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in the flour on both sides and knock of excess flour. Place the chicken into a 10-inch sauté pan on the burner and pour canola in the pan and heat to medium. Sauté the medallions until golden brown and turn over and repeat the other side. Place the cooked medallion on a warm plate and cover with a towel until ready to serve. Drain the excess canola oil from the pan. Save the chicken bits from this as it will help flavor the sauce. Pour the limoncello and white wine into the hot pan and be sure to cook off the alcohol. Add the butter and grated lemon to the sauce and whisk. Transfer the medallions to a serving plate (s). Spoon this sauce over the medallions. If you are having spinach as a side dish, heat a clean sauté pan on a medium high flame and add the extra virgin olive oil. Put the finely diced garlic in the pan. Do not allow it to burn. When adding the garlic keep in mind it is an ingredient not the dish. Too much garlic can overwhelm the dish. Side dishes: one bag of baby spinach, one fresh garlic clove finely diced, salt and pepper to taste. Add the spinach and cook down. A Basmati rice or a rice pilaf is a great substitute We continue to need more dedicated volunteers. To learn how you can participate, contact Joe Murphy at 617-645-9043 or email [email protected] .
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NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2022
Greetings and wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
During February 2022, Chefs Table Foundation (CTF) continues to work on two projects involving training programs in the culinary arts. These are long-term contracts that will enable us to offer in-person culinary training to the visually impaired. We are targeting one class in Worcester and an additional class in the Boston area. CTF also produced a 25-minute cooking video for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind’s virtual Christmas party in December. It was shown to Commission employees and generated a lot of interest. As a result, we hope to expand our class offerings in 2022. The second area of CTF’s mission is to help struggling veterans by offering culinary training to those seeking a new career path in the industry. We |
are reaching out to groups like the Massachusetts Office of Labor and Workforce Development to help us identify candidates they may benefit from our culinary program.
If you know of a veteran who would be interested in this opportunity, please contact Joe Murphy. An honorable discharge is required. Raffle Update We are suspending our raffle for February and March 2022 in order to concentrate on fundraising. For those who have already purchased raffle packages, these will be entered into the next raffle.
We will be back with an update in April. Recent Equipment Donations We are delighted to announce that our campaign to raise money for the mobile kitchen has received more equipment donations. Through the tireless efforts of Warren Frank and Joe Murphy, we’ve been notified of a donation of a full-fledged refrigerated sandwich unit, with four (4) refrigerated drawers, and a four foot under the counter freezer. We estimate the value of these items to be about |
$15,000. We also received a Vulcan range, valued at $2,000 and a Hobart meat slicer and Hobart commercial mixer. We also have a commitment for a countertop chargrill and a two (2) basket fryer. The total value for this professional restaurant equipment is approximately $27,000.00
We are moving closer to reaching our goal. We need to raise another $20,000 to finish this project and have the mobile kitchen certified by Boston Inspectional Services. CTF needs your continued support to complete this critical project. To donate to the outfitting the mobile kitchen, click on the link below the CTF log: Chef Joe’s February 2022 Recipe
Who doesn’t want to create a delicious dinner without too much fuss, right? Chef Joe recommends: Shrimp Scampi over Linguini |
Ingredients:
-12 shrimp P&D (peeled and deveined) -1 lb. linguini -Fresh parsley (Washed). Cut leaves off stems and chop -1clove (fresh) garlic, finely diced -3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (Good Quality, Italian) -1/4 lb. unsalted butter Pepper to Taste 1/3 cup salt (Kosher or sea salt recommended) Cooking Instructions: In a large stock pot bring the water to a rolling boil and pour the salt into the water. (Remember pasta is made with flour and water so it needs to be seasoned with salt while cooking.) After 10-11 minutes, taste one strand of pasta. It should be al dente. Continue checking every minute or so for doneness. In a large medium hot sauté pan, pour in the olive oil and the shrimp and sauté, but do not overcook. Do not burn and dry out the shrimp. Use a slotted spoon to place the shrimp into a warm holding bowl until ready to plate. Be sure not to break the shrimp. You may want to warm the bowl in your oven to keep the shrimp warm. Cover the bowl with a side towel. Do not discard the remaining oil because it will be incorporated into the sauce. Heat the remaining oil in a large sauté pan. Be sure the pan is large enough to hold the pasta when cooked. Place the diced garlic into the sauté pan and cook until it is translucent. Do not burn. Take the stick of unsalted butter and place in the sauté and allow it to melt while stirring/whipping together the butter and oil. Take two ladles of pasta water and place it in the sauté pan with garlic, olive oil, and butter mixture. This will complete your white sauce. The pasta water was seasoned with salt so only add salt to taste, if necessary. Use tongs to transfer the pasta and do not strain the water. Allow the water to drain. The excess water |
can be used in your sauté pan to increase your sauce volume. Add the fresh parsley and mix into the pasta evenly. Note: I did not mention grated parmesan cheese. The Italian way," NEVER ADD CHEESE TO SEAFOOD." It is, however, your choice and taste. Do it your way.
We continue to need more dedicated volunteers. To learn how you can participate, contact Joe Murphy at 617-645-9043 or email [email protected]
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NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2022
Best wishes for 2022!
Raffle Winner Announced!
Robert Sergi of Falmouth, MA is the December winner of the 10 $100.00 gift certificates. We hope he enjoys having ten (10) great feasts at an assortment of wonderful restaurants.
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Raffle Update Future raffles dates will be announced soon. Prizes will include:
To purchase tickets and for more information go to: https://www.chefstables.org/raffles-and-events.html Pork Tenderloin for Any Occasion What would the Chefs Table Foundation be without some recipes or cooking tips? Chef Joe Murphy 2 agreed to share one of his favorite recipes for pork tenderloin. Bon Appetit! |
Pork Tenderloin
Tenderloins generally come in a two (2) pack. One is usually larger than the other. You can use both if your crowd is larger than four People. Keep in mind the smaller of the two will not hold as much stuffing as the larger piece.
Ingredients
Directions 1. Lay the tenderloin on the horizontal and look for a tendon and remove it. You may lose a little meat which is normal but start with tab at the end. Don’t use a slicing technique but a scrapping down motion. This will hopefully eliminate waste as you remove the tendon. 2. Leave tenderloin on your cutting board and butterfly. Be sure not to cut all the way through so no stuffing leak out one side. Now open the butterfly. 3. Take the prosciutto and lay it evenly across the pork. 4. Grab a large handful of the baby spinach and sauté quickly to soften. If you do this last step, as it will become easier to spread over prosciutto. (Do not overstuff, it will make it difficult to achieve a tight seal when you tie the loin closed. |
5. When tying, butchers twine works best. Cut four pieces of twine approximately eight (8) inches long. Take one piece at a time and place under tenderloin. Be sure to spread in equal distances starting at one end and working your way down. Be sure to pull the knot tight to avoid leakage.
6. Set your oven temp at four hundred (400) degrees. The cook time is short, so I suggest checking the doneness after ten (10) minutes). When the pork is done let it rest on the counter for seven to eight minutes. This will allow the stuffing to set and not leak. When slicing cut in quarter inch (1/4) thick medallions. This a delicious main course for any celebration. A Special Treat Check out the video of Chef Joe doing a prep for the pork tenderloin: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XtBzUQeEpyzw-9fcLXlEmpKo9MgJGySn/view To learn more and donate, go to: Raffles and Events As we expand our fundraising efforts, we also need more dedicated volunteers. To learn how you can participate, contact Joe Murphy at 617-645-9043 or email [email protected] . Thank you!
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NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2021
Upcoming December 20, 2021 Raffle
Wondering about that perfect holiday present? Why not take a chance on winning 10 Boston area restaurant gift cards? That would be enough to take Some of the restaurants include Chiara Bistro; Delfino;753 South; The Capital Grill; Seasons 52; Davios; Brick House; Legal Sea Bar; Bernard’s; and Pineridge. Take a chance at putting a dent in your gift list! To enter and go to: https://www.chefstables.org/raffles-and-events.html |
I came to understand the need for more skills training for the blind through my own personal experience. My vision was affected by a rare virus in my brain causing me to lose my sight as well as my hope as I became more disabled. In 2004, The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind taught me how to regain a greater portion of my independent life. I learned that being disabled does not mean being discarded. Through CTF, we want to show others how they too can reclaim their lives by being able to cook safely and efficiently.
To learn more and donate, go to:
https://www.chefstables.org/raffles-and-events.html
Watch Joe Murphy discuss the Giving Tuesday campaign:
To learn more and donate, go to:
https://www.chefstables.org/raffles-and-events.html
Watch Joe Murphy discuss the Giving Tuesday campaign:
Raffle Prizes and Dates
Future raffle dates will be announced soon. Prizes will include:
https://www.chefstables.org/raffles-and-events.html
- Date: TBD Weber Grill with BBQ Provisions (Valued at $1,000.00)
- Date: TBD Murder Mystery Package (Table of eight) or Valentine’s Romance Package. Each valued at $1,000.00.
- Date: TBD One 70-inch Flat Panel Smart TV with 2 Tickets to Local Sports Teams (such as the Sox, Bruins, Patriots, Celtics, or Revolution) Tickets. Valued at $1,000.00)
- Date: TBD Florida Condo + 2 Round Trip Air Fare & $100 Grocery Gift Certificate (Valued at $2,000.00)
https://www.chefstables.org/raffles-and-events.html
As we expand our fundraising efforts, we also need to increase our number of dedicated volunteers. If you have some extra time to spare, please consider spending some of it helping struggling veterans and the visually impaired. For more information, contact Joe Murphy at 617-645-9043 or [email protected]
Thank you for your consideration. And to those who already donate their time and talent to CTF, a big THANK YOU!
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NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2021
CTF Serves Up the Chowdah!
Chefs Table Foundation participated in a fundraising event at the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, MA on Saturday October 16, 2021. This was a terrific opportunity for CTF to reach to a new audience and raise money, by offering up some tasty chowder. For many nonprofit organizations like ourselves, it has been difficult to get out in person and meet people, so this event was a true blessing. CTF was the only nonprofit of record active at this event.
Chefs Table Foundation participated in a fundraising event at the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, MA on Saturday October 16, 2021. This was a terrific opportunity for CTF to reach to a new audience and raise money, by offering up some tasty chowder. For many nonprofit organizations like ourselves, it has been difficult to get out in person and meet people, so this event was a true blessing. CTF was the only nonprofit of record active at this event.
Meet Board Member “Inky”
Sengil Nganda Inkiala, otherwise known as “Inky,” has come a long way from his roots in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. As a teenager, he and his family came to the Unites States seeking a cure for his vision, which was rapidly fading. Despite multiple surgeries, he became totally blind at the age 16. In spite of his vison impairment, Inky went on to finish college and received a graduate degree in Special Education/Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired. He returned to the Congo to help the government create services to help blind students and returned to the US nine years later. Since 1998 he has worked at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. He is currently the Vocational Rehabilitation & Children’s Services Supervisor. Inky met CTF Founder Joe Murphy when Joe became blind. Recognizing Joe’s skills, he had some ideas about how Joe could help his clients. “There’s a good opportunity for you. I bet a lot of people would like to know how to make meals,” he said to Joe. He added, “I’m in charge of the youth as well and I asked him to make a program.” Inky suggested that Joe creates a proposal to help young people and adults to learn to cook at home. Inky believes in the CTF mission of teaching the visually impaired culinary skills. He sees it as a necessary vocational training. As such, he supports the idea of a mobile kitchen that can reach those in need of these skills, as traveling to a location can be difficult. “Take the kitchen to the people.” |
In order to allow enough time for fundraising and getting the word about CTF’s mission and goals, our Board of Directors has decided that we should spread out the future dates of our raffles. As such, our next raffle will be held:
Future raffle dates will be announced by the end of the year. Prizes will include:
To purchase tickets and for more information go to: https://www.chefstables.org/raffles-and-events.html
CTF Participates in Giving Tuesday November 30, 2022
On November 30, Giving Tuesday will help the Chefs Table Foundation (CTF) move forward in expanding its mission in 2022. We are opening up our campaign on November 22, 2021 and it will remain open until December 31, 2021. CTF has been partnering with The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind to increase its service to the visually impaired and blind. We’ve been asked to revise our current eight-class culinary course for the blind to include more cooking. To that end, we’ll be teaching a 20-class culinary course starting in 2022.
Click on the video to watch Joe Murphy discuss the Giving Tuesday campaign:
- December 20, 2021: Ten (10) $100.00 Boston area Restaurant Gift Certificates.
Future raffle dates will be announced by the end of the year. Prizes will include:
- Date: TBD Weber Grill with BBQ Provisions (Valued at $1,000.00) Ten (10) $100.00 Boston area Restaurant Gift Certificates.
- Date: TBD Murder Mystery Package (Table of eight) or Valentine’s Romance Package. Each valued at $1,000.00.
- Date: TBD One 70-inch Flat Panel Smart TV with 2 Tickets to Local Sports Teams (such as the Sox, Bruins, Patriots, Celtics, or Revolution) Tickets. Valued at $1,000.00)
- Date: TBD Florida Condo + 2 Round Trip Air Fare & $100 Grocery Gift Certificate (Valued at $2,000.00)
To purchase tickets and for more information go to: https://www.chefstables.org/raffles-and-events.html
CTF Participates in Giving Tuesday November 30, 2022
On November 30, Giving Tuesday will help the Chefs Table Foundation (CTF) move forward in expanding its mission in 2022. We are opening up our campaign on November 22, 2021 and it will remain open until December 31, 2021. CTF has been partnering with The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind to increase its service to the visually impaired and blind. We’ve been asked to revise our current eight-class culinary course for the blind to include more cooking. To that end, we’ll be teaching a 20-class culinary course starting in 2022.
Click on the video to watch Joe Murphy discuss the Giving Tuesday campaign:
We are fundraising through Giving Tuesday to help us purchase more cooking equipment for home use. We wish to buy 10 countertop convection ovens, 10 countertop griddles, 10 countertop chargrills, 10 countertop fryolators, 12 voice activated thermometers and 12 thermal oven mitts and 12 side towels. The total amount for these is $10,000. If you would like to contribute toward purchasing a particular item, an individual countertop convection oven is $300.
Your active support is extremely important in helping us as we expand our work with the blind. To donate, click here.
Your active support is extremely important in helping us as we expand our work with the blind. To donate, click here.
CTF salutes all who have served our country the Veterans Day, November 11, 2021. Read about one hero, Captain Stephan J. Bielaska, in our Heroes Corner here.
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As we expand our fundraising efforts, we also need to increase our number of dedicated volunteers. If you have some extra time to spare, please consider spending some of it helping struggling veterans and the visually impaired. For more information, contact Joe Murphy at 617-645-9043 or [email protected].
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Thank you for your consideration.
And to those who already donate their time and talent to CTF, a big THANK YOU!
And to those who already donate their time and talent to CTF, a big THANK YOU!
NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2021
Welcome to the Chefs Table Foundation’s (CTF) first newsletter! Our newsletter will act as a quick way to keep you up to date on our fundraising projects, lottery contests, and highlight some of the people who help make CTF successful.
As you know, our goal is to raise funds to offer culinary skills training to veterans and the visually impaired. Our training will promote self-sufficiency and confidence, as well as help prepare those interested in a new career in the culinary industry. We’ll be producing cooking videos to encourage at home culinary creations. We also plan to construct a mobile kitchen to take our culinary “classroom” to students who can learn and practice onsite. We hope you’ll join us as we move forward in these projects. And as always, we appreciate your continued support.
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Recent Equipment Donations
We are delighted to announce our campaign to solicit equipment donations for the mobile kitchen has received its first donations. Through the tireless efforts of Warren Frank, we just received notification that we will be receiving a full-fledged refrigerated sandwich unit, and a four foot under the counter freezer. We estimate the value of these items to be about $5,000. Also donated to us is a Vulcan range, valued at $2,000, and a Hobart meat slicer and Hobart commercial mixer. These two items are valued new at $7,500. Thank you, Warren for your efforts! We’re off to a great start! Donate at: https://www.chefstables.org/donate.html |
Our Raffle Items, Dates, and Prize Schedule
Purchase tickets for all six raffles ($20 savings!)
To purchase tickets and for more information go to:
https://www.chefstables.org/raffles-and-events.html
Purchase tickets for all six raffles ($20 savings!)
- October 31, 2021: Book of 100 Mass Lottery Scratch tickets (Valued at $2,000)
- November 30, 2021: Weber Grill with BBQ Provisions (Valued at $1,000.00)
- December 31, 2021: Ten (10) $100.00 Boston area Restaurant Gift Certificates (Valued at $1,000.00)
- January 31, 2022: TBD Murder Mystery Package (Table of eight) or Valentine’s Romance Package. Each valued at $1,000.00.
- February 28, 2022: One 70-inch Flat Panel Smart TV with 2 Tickets to Local Sports Teams (such as the Sox, Bruins, Patriots, Celtics, or Revolution) Tickets. Valued at $1,000.00)
- March 31, 2022: Florida Condo + 2 Round Trip Air Fare & $100 Grocery Gift Certificate (Valued at $2,000.00)
To purchase tickets and for more information go to:
https://www.chefstables.org/raffles-and-events.html
As we expand our fundraising efforts, we also need to increase our number of dedicated volunteers. If you have some extra time to spare, please consider spending some of it helping struggling veterans and the visually impaired. For more information, contact Joe Murphy at 617-645-9043 or joemurphyctf@gmail.com.
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Thank you for your consideration.
And to those who already donate their time and talent to CTF, a big THANK YOU!
And to those who already donate their time and talent to CTF, a big THANK YOU!