By Sarah Brown, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Friday, June 27th between 8PM and 11PM, Cheryl Jones, chef to the likes of Tom Hanks, Bill Clinton and Johnny Depp, is visiting Rio and recreating a selection of her clients’ favorite foods for guests at the Special Dinner and Show at the Jubilee Hall in Botafogo.
Guests of the event can experience the tastes of the dishes enjoyed by the rich and famous from Hollywood to the White House. Past menu items include Braised Ox-tails for Richard Pryor, Creole Chicken and Collard Greens with Cornbread, and a popular Spicy Asian Style Salmon for other clients.
“I met many famous entertainers, executives and politicians,” Jones shares. “For daily meals the focus was on healthy, fresh flavorful food.[…] Dessert was always on the menu and I did my own baking.”
On describing how she developed her cooking style, Jones told The Rio Times, “my attention was now on a more global cuisine, specifically on the food ways of the African Diaspora. I continued […] to develop my own culinary philosophy.” She adds, “Edith Bell, former chef for Bill Cosby, has been an inspiration for me through many years.”
Live music performed by the Art and Social Transformation team of musicians and dancers will accompany the array of culinary delights, with traditional Brazilian songs and classic international renditions. In between songs and mouthfuls of food, guests can enjoy a selection of drinks from the open bar.
This special event is co-hosted by the American Society of Rio de Janeiro (AmSoc Rio) and the British and Commonwealth Society of Rio de Janeiro (BCS) in the name of a good cause by raising money and awareness of the Art and Social Transformation – Creating Art Together (CAT) Rio 2014.
The Art and Social Transformation program is built on the foundations that art can cause social change in the community. For the last six years, it has provided the best teachers and mentors to young, talented artists from low socioeconomic in Brazil.
Money raised from this event will go towards the CAT project that brings world-class teachers from universities such as Harvard, Brown and Berklee College of Music to Rio de Janeiro to teach an intensive course for more than one hundred students in favela communities around Rio.
Wainer Guimaraes is the founder of Art and Social Transformation and explains to The Rio Times how this event will help the project. “Art and Social Transformation continues because many people, and various organizations, have come together to help year after year with the costs of the program. The dinner with Cheryl is one special event that will indeed raise some funds that we need to have our third Annual Creating Arts Together.”
He adds, “However, it is more than the financial support […] the young artists will mingle with people from all over the world and this will be a cultural plus for sure. They will also present their arts, dance and music at this event, and thus growing in abilities, and experience as performers.”
Keeping in touch with the World Cup spirit and excitement, there will be a World Cup themed raffle with prizes from some of Rio’s favorite stores, as well as a pop-up shop of World Cup branded merchandise. To make a reservation for what is sure to be a spectacular evening, send an e-mail to Monica at [email protected] to confirm a space on the guest list.
What: Special Dinner and Show with Cheryl Jones
When: Friday, June 27th at 8PM – 11PM
Where: Jubilee Hall, Rua Real Grandeza 99, Botafogo
Entrance: R$100 per person – includes food, open bar, entertainment and for a good cause.