'Restaurant Confidential' Heading To Hartford's Mark Twain House
Mark Twain had a passion for food and socializing that was reflected at the dining table of his Hartford home and in his books, essays, and speeches.
In that spirit of gastronomical celebration and delicious wit, The Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue, kicks off its series of food talks on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m., with “Restaurant Confidential.” Freelance writer Frank Rizzo will lead a conversation with three of Connecticuts leading restaurateurs about the inspirations, challenges, sorrows, and joys of creating and sustaining high-profile, fine-dining establishments.
Ever think of starting a restaurant, or curious about what its like to run one, or wonder why your favorite eatery is no longer there? These veterans of the food business will tell all.
The panel includes:
Tyler Anderson is chef and owner of Simsburys Millwright and co-owner of West Hartfords The Cook and the Bear, Earlier this year Anderson opened the Spanish-themed Porrón & Pĩna at the Goodwin Hotel.
Anderson has been nominated four consecutive years as Best Chef Northeast James Beard Award (2014-2017) and in 2014 was named Chef of the Year by the Connecticut Restaurant Association. A California native, Anderson was only 16 when he began to learn about the craft of cooking in restaurant kitchens. Anderson has been mentored by some of the best chefs in the business including Charlie Trotter, Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris. In December, 2017. Anderson was featured in Bravo TVs Top Chef series.
Carole Peck, owner and chef of Woodburys Good News Cafe, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. In the 1970s Peck was one of the first women to study Culinary Institute of America. At age 24, she became one of a handful of executive chefs in the country at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head in South Carolina. She has overseen kitchens on Cape Cod, the Berkshires, Key West, and at Miamis Fisher Island. In Austin, Texas, she and husband, Bernard Jarrier-Cabernet, opened their own celebrated restaurant, La Provence. Following Texas, she went to La Greco in Manhattan and earn two stars from The New York Times. In the late 80s, Peck and Jarrier-Cabernet opened a restaurant in New Milford in a 100-year-old farmhouse owned by Skitch and Ruth Henderson, who had launched The Silo cooking school in town.
Steven Abrams, is a partner in the Max Restaurant Group, which includes Hartfords Max Downtown, West Hartfords Max Burger and Avons Max a Mia. Born in Providence, Abrams grew up in his familys retail business but eventually left it for the restaurant industry. After a two-year stint with Tatou Restaurants first in Manhattan and then Aspen, he teamed up with his college roommate, Richard Rosenthal. Abrams joined the Max Group as an assistant manager at Max on Main. In 1996, he became a partner and opened Max Downtown in Hartford. Abrams is also a partner in Maxs Oyster Bar and Trumbull Kitchen.
Anderson is also the chef for the Mark Twain House & Museums annual fundraising gala “Twains Feast” on Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Goodwin Hotel in downtown Hartford. Special guest at the event will be author Andrew Beahrs whose book of the same name has been made into a series of eight celebrity podcasts, which will be available later this year by Audible, and will be previewed at the gala. Tickets can be purchased here.
Tickets are $30 for Restaurant Confidential on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. and can be purchased here.
Upcoming food conversations at the Twain House & Museum will include: “Connecticut’s Passion for Pizza” in late January, and" “The Art of the Cookbook With Dorie Greenspan,” on Wednesday, March 6. Greenspan is a multiple James Beard Award winner whose works include ”Dorie’s Cookies,” “Baking Chez Moi” and her latest book, ”Everyday Dorie”