For Immediate Release July 25, 2011

Contact: Diane Maxwell, 408.961.5841 dmaxwell@montalvoarts.org

Montalvo Announces Chefs Tasting Salon Series

Montalvos Culinary Fellow Andrea Blum Curates Inspiring Workshops Featuring Award-Winning Chefs

Saratoga, CA MontalvoArtsCentersChefsTastingSalonSeriescelebratestheculinaryintersectionoffresh ingredientsandinspiredrecipeswithprofessionalcookingtechniques.CuratedbyMontalvosCulinaryFellowAndrea Blum,theseriesrunsSeptember2October28andfeaturesthreeawardwinningchefsatthetopoftheirgame.These renownedchefswillbeshowcasingtheirareaofexpertiseandpassioninpastrymaking,Charcuterieandhautecuisine. Eachsalonwillincludehandsoninstructionandadelicioustastingmenuandwillculminatewithafourthevent,titled, thePopUpCaf.HostedbyBlum,thisdynamiceventwillturnthehistoricVillaintoanenchantingdiningspotforone nightonly.Theeveningwillfeatureexquisitefood,artandfascinatingstoriesfromBlumastheCulinaryFellowat Montalvooverthelastyear.Aprixfixmenuwillbeserved.

CHEFSTASTINGSERIESSALON
September2,2011October28,2011 Priceperworkshopforfirstthreesalons:$75persession/$65Members SeriesPrice(IncludingthePopUpCaf):$270/$200 PriceforPopUpCaf:$45/$35Members;spaceislimited Topurchasetickets,call4089615858.

PastrieswithClairPtak Friday,September2,6:30pm9:30pm LucasArtistsResidencyCommons

JoinCulinaryFellowAndreaBlumanddistinguishedpastrychefClairePtak,ownerofVioletBakeryinLondon, inthefirstworkshop.Ptakhasbeenbakingsinceshewasfouryearsold.Stillinher20sandwithnoformal training,shewalkedintoChezPanisseandherhuckleberrytartletswithrosegeraniumpastrycreamso impressedAliceWatersthatPtakwasofferedajob.AftermovingtoLondonin2005,shebecamethecitys cupcakequeen.HerlusciouscreationswithorganicfrostingshaveacultfollowingfromlocalkidstoStella McCartneyandsuperchefJamieOliver.Shereleasedherfirstbook,TheWhoopiePieBook,inthefallof2010. Ptakwillleadaninspiringtalkandhandsondemonstrationofafavoriterecipe,followedbyaprixfixdinner preparedbyAndreaBlumincelebrationofmodernpastries.

 CharcuteriewithPeterTemkin Sunday,September11,3:30pm6:30pm LucasArtistsResidencyCommons

JoinPeterTemkinforafascinatinginsightintothedeliciousworldofcharcuterie.TemkinisaBayArea culinarianspecializingintheartofcuredmeat.Aclassicallytrainedchef,hehasbeenintegrallyinvolvedin openingsomeofSanFrancisco'smosthighprofilerestaurants,includingNopaandSpruce,wherehe developedtherestaurant'swellregardedcharcuterieprogram.JoinTemkinandAndreaBlumoveraglassof Proseccoforafascinatingdemonstrationofthisancientartisanalfoodtechnique.Thedemonstrationwillbe followedbyaprixfixmealpreparedbyAndreaBlumincorporatingcuredmeatsandlessonslearnedthatday.

HauteCuisinewithMichelinStarExecutiveChefJosephHumphrey Thursday,October6,6:30pm9:30pm HistoricVilla Havingspent16yearsintheBayArea,JosephHumphreysculinaryapproachcelebratestheregionslocal, sustainableandorganicfarms,itsranchesanditsartisans.HumphreyiscurrentlytheexecutivechefofMurray CirclerestaurantatCavalloPointinMarinCounty.Beforethat,hewasexecutivechefatAubergeduSoleiland atTheRestaurantatMeadowoodinNapaValley,which,underhisguidance,wontwoMichelinstars. HumphreyalsohelpedopenFifthFloor,oneofWineSpectatorsTop20RestaurantsintheU.S.In collaborationwithAndreaBlum,Humphreywilldemonstratetheartofhautecuisine.Aseatedtastingand conversationwillfollowthedemonstrationwiththechefs.

PopUpCafwithCulinaryFellow,AndreaBlum Friday,October28,7:30pm10:00pm HistoricVilla Tickets$45/$35Members;spaceislimited

AstheculminationofBlumsCulinaryFellowship,shewillcreateaonenightonlyPopUpCafinthehistoric Villa.Theintersectionoffoodandartisthecreativeleadfortheevening,whereAndreawillenvisionaspace thatembodiesherexperiencesoverthepastyear.Blumwillengagewiththeartistsshehasmetovertheyear, capturinganddeliveringtheinspirationsshehasexperienced.Theprixfixmenuwilltransportyoutoaplace ofabundantcreativity,witheachcourseembodyingastoryandthetastesofMontalvo.

AboutMontalvoArtsCenter MontalvoArtsCenterisanonprofitorganizationthatfosterscommunityengagementthroughthecreationand presentationofmultidisciplinaryart.Byunitingthebroadestpossibleaudienceswithaglobalcommunityofartists, Montalvoexpandstheroleofartsandcultureasanessentialcommunityresource.Montalvosprogrammingincludes: anannualthemebasedartsprogram;musicandperformance;educationandpublicprograms;newmediaandvisual arts;andtheSallyandDonLucasArtistsResidency.LocatedintheSaratogafoothillsinthemidstofSiliconValley, MontalvoArtsCenteroccupiesaMediterraneanstylevillaon175stunningacres,whichSenatorJamesPhelanlefttothe peopleofCaliforniafortheencouragementofpromisingstudentsintheareasofart,music,literatureandarchitecture. InJanuary2005,theorganizationchangeditsnamefrom"VillaMontalvo"to"MontalvoArtsCenter"tobetter communicateitsmissiontoincreasinglocal,nationalandinternationalaudiences.Montalvocelebratesitscentennialin 2012.FormoreinformationaboutMontalvoArtsCenter,call408.961.5800orvisitwww.montalvoarts.org.