Auction Chair Ann Vernon and Co-Chair Arthur Posner with Jennifer Starner
Ann Vernon
When it comes to generosity, Jennifer Starner, managing partner of Carrabba’s Italian Grill, epitomizes the term. For the Treats and Talents Charity Auction she is like the gift that keeps on giving! Last spring she and her staff hosted a cooking class for 15 auction attendees who purchased this fixed price event. It was so popular that Jennifer generously offered to host another one during the summer. Those in attendance learned how to prepare several of Carrabba’s dishes which are based on recipes that have been handed down for many years. Not only did guests watch demonstrations and learn interesting tidbits about where the restaurant gets its beef, how long olive oil keeps and so forth, but they also were served generous portions of each delicious dish. Guests did not leave hungry after feasting on shrimp scampi, Caesar salad and an amazing piece of filet mignon which was so tender it could almost be cut with a fork. Wines were served throughout the meal that ended with a fabulous dessert.
Early in November Jennifer donated a wine dinner for 12 people. Authentic family foods including chicken zucchini flatbread paired with Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc, a house salad accompanied by a Mt. Veeder Cabernet, sirloin marsala served with cavatappi Amatriciana and paired with Banfi Centine Toscano wine and a wonderful crème Brule paired with Roscato, Rosso Dolce. All the food was delicious and very plentiful. This wine dinner will be repeated again in February, thanks to Carrabba’s generosity.
Proceeds from these fixed price events which were donated by Jennifer support several local charities including the SaddleBrooke Coalition against Domestic Violence, SaddleBrooke Community Outreach, Catalina Community Services, and Youth on their Own. Keep watching for more news about the next Treats and Talents Auction.