Norwalk Education Foundation's "Taste For Education" Delights Taste Buds

On Wednesday the 8th graders in Ted White's Family & Consumer Science class washed hundreds of button mushrooms.

On Thursday morning, more of Mr. White's middle schoolers stuffed the mushrooms in time for Thursday night's "Taste for Education" fundraiser at Aitoro. The Norwalk Education Foundation's event benefitted Norwalk Public Schools.

The stuffed mushrooms were a big hit. 

"This is butternut squash soup with roasted pumpkin seeds, and these are eggplant-stuffed button mushrooms with a roasted red pepper coulis," explained Mitch Ronzitti, a senior at Norwalk High School, after checking the spelling of coulis with Margaret "Ma" Dolan, his Culinary Arts teacher at NHS. 

Nowalk High School senior Sean Welch, along with  Ronzitti, who hopes to attend Johnson & Wales next year, worked alongside 8th graders from Ted White's Family & Consumer Science class Nathan Hale Middle School.

Wading into the crowd, another popular kitchen station was shared by Andrew Rodriguez and Bryan Tacuri, chefs from Bella Pasta and Cafe Madrid who were busy passing out samples.  Rodriguez mentioned that the owners of the two restaurants are brothers.

The Forever Sweet Bakery buzzed with brightly colored displays of cake pops and cupcakes that ran out early due to popular demand.

All the restaurants made great use of  the kitchen stations throughout the Aitoro showroom and the turnout was high. 

Over by the silent auction table were Lucia Cadena and Harry Rilling, who was enjoying the evening after his victory against four-term Mayor Moccia on Tuesday.

Other participants in the Taste for Education event included Bar Sugo, 
BJ Ryans/ BANC House, Fountainhead Wines, Mama’s Boy, Saffron, Ninety 9 Bottles, Drinx Unlimited, Robeks and Solude Air Roasted Coffee.

For more information about the Norwalk Education Foundation, visit the NEF website.