For the past 10 years, Jane Berryman and Toni Schmid have taught women to cook their way out of poverty through Work Options for Women.
The program, developed after welfare reform required recipients to find a job within two years, teaches more than just how to cook. It gives about 30 students a year, many of them single mothers, life and professional skills to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their children. The students run the employee cafeteria at the Richard T. Castro Human Services Center, serving more than 300 customers daily.
The fourth annual Women Cook! brings the city’s top female chefs together to raise money for the organization. Last year’s event raised $52,000.
In addition to the chefs who share their recipes here, guest chefs include:
Jane Berryman, Work Options for Women: Chicken gallantine with pistachio and herb sauce, and Colorado lamb chops with minted tomato confit and preserved lemons
Kathleen Kenny Davia, Gateaux: Assorted seasonal desserts
Jennifer Jasinski, Rioja and Bistro Vendôme: Spring English pea and morel mushroom risotto, and hamachi tartare with avocado, mango and coconut on a shiso leaf
Katherine Keeley, Katherine’s French Bakery: Organic corn cakes with crème fraîche and spicy mango salsa
Sheila Lucero, Jax Fish House: Smoked Wild Salmon Mousse, pumpernickel crostini, blackberry gastrique
Jean Stone, The Palm: Tuna with seaweed salad soy dressing in an egg-roll wrapper. Kristen Browning-Blas
Women Cook!
When: May 12, 6-8:30 p.m.
Where: Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape St., Denver
How much: $95. To become a sponsor or to purchase tickets, call Jennifer at 720-944-1917 or purchase tickets online at blacktie-colorado.com/rsvp, event code: womencook08
