January 2011

Happy New Year to All,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season and my wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

The December Meeting of the E.C.B. was held at Endicott College in Beverly. Our host for the night was Chef Brendan Cronin CEC, CCE and his students. What a spectacular evening. Chef Cronin put together an unbelievable menu. We had an open meeting going room to room each with a new culinary delight. Each room was filled full of culinary perfection. Our menu consisted of a Baked Brie in short crust with a garlic onion jam, Dates in prociutto with a balsamic glaze, Sautéed Shrimp with a Horseradish Cream in a Phyllo Cup, Roast Smoked Duck Breast with Caramelized Shallots with a Cassis Sauce, a full Sushi Station, Curried Lentils in a Taco Cup, Peruvian Ceviche in an edible Corn Lime spoon, Wesleydale Cheese with cranberries, walnuts, and black sage honey, Quinoa Salad with Shrimp, Tomato Pesto with Feta on a Garlic Baguette, Baked Pumpkin Soup with Sour Cream, an Olive Tapenade on Belgium Endive. Seared Scallops with a Cilantro infused olive oil and an Orange infused Chocolate Mousse. Needless to say, everything was simply delicious. Chef Cronin then gave an educational presentation on "The Importance of Culinary Education for Today's Chefs". Some of the highlights were the importance of an apprenticeship program, the role of a four year degree in a chefs career, how does new calorie legislation affects chefs, personal, professional and entrepreneurial development for culinary professional were some of the subjects Chef Cronin touched on. Let me please express my sincere thanks to Chef Brendan Cronin CEC,CCE, and his students for their hospitality and hard work in hosting a fantastic meeting.

Please join us for our January 24th meeting at Ryan & Wood Distilleries in beautiful Gloucester. We have had meetings at wineries, but this will be our first visit to a distillery. It should be a terrific meeting to start 2011. For those of you that haven't been to a meeting for a while, please join us.

It is with great sorrow that we have lost two people of our Epicurean Family. We have lost one of our great chefs of our club in the passing of Chef Norman Myerow CEPC, CCE, AAC. He headed the baking and pastry department as an instructor at Minuteman Regional High School. Norm always greeted you with his infectious smile and he will be sorely missed. My deepest condolences and prayers go out to his lovely wife Carolyn. I also would like to offer my deepest condolences and prayers to one of our great young chefs, Chef Brian Ray CEC, ACE, in the loss of his beautiful wife Cynthia to a tragic accident. There are no words to explain losing someone so young and I can only ask you to please keep Brian in your thoughts and prayers.

Warmest Regards,

Jim DiMarzio CEC

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