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Historically-inspired Paterson dishes served by Eva’s Village Culinary School students | Paterson Times

Historically-inspired Paterson dishes served by Eva’s Village Culinary School students

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An appetizer made up of corn, beans, and squash – three staples of the Lenape people – and a submarine sandwich, named after John Philip Holland’s underwater craft – both representing flavors of the Great Falls — were prepared and served at the Eva’s Village on Tuesday.

“Tasting historically inspired dishes makes our shared story come alive and reminds us that Paterson’s rich heritage can be a foundation for a bright future,” said Giacomo “Jack” DeStefano, director of Paterson Museum, to diners, among them mayor Andre Sayegh and City Council president Maritza Davila.

Destefano narrated the historic significance of each viand. Guests were treated to a four-course meal prepared by a 14-member team from the Culinary School at Eva’s Village.

“The students were really looking forward to showing off their skills today,” said James Cwynar, director of the Culinary School at Eva’s Village. He described it as a “pop-up restaurant” experience – hungry patrons were seated at a long table with blue tablecloths, complete with silverware that was wrapped in elegant, cloth napkins.

First came the Three Sisters Street Corn, the amuse-bouche, French for a small appetizer, featuring the main crops of corn beans, and squash, planted by ancient North Jersey inhabitants, the Lenape Indians. Guests were served a twist on traditional Mexican street corn with the incorporation of the three staples of the Lenape. An unusual, but tasty, popcorn drink was also served. Each offering included a different kind of beverage.

The second course arrived on a picnic charcuterie board and featured flavors favored by European immigrants. Recreating the historical picnic of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Marquis de Lafayette at the Great Falls in 1778, guests were served White House-made biscuits with local honey and beef.

Honey, representing the ethic of hard work, was the logo of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (SUM), an organization dedicated to promoting industrial development along the Passaic River during the early years of the republic, according to DeStefano.

Third was the entrée, a submarine sandwich, featuring lamb Kofta served with house made bread, complete with various dips and spreads. DeStefano referenced the brilliance of John Philip Holland who developed the first submarine to be commissioned by the United States Navy, constructed in Paterson, in 1878.

DeStefano said a Paterson shop owner named Domenico Conti, who owned a deli on Mill Street, saw Holland’s invention and was inspired to emulate the name for his meat and bread thus creating the submarine sandwich.

Deniz Vergara, instructor at the school, explained the third course’s Middle Eastern connection. Kofta is popular in Middle Eastern countries. Today, Paterson has one of the largest Middle Eastern populations – whose dishes attract thousands to the Silk City — in the U.S.

The spectacular dessert finale was prehnite crystal cake, a rum cake with green rock candy crystals. Prehnite is a pale green mineral that can be found in abundance in Paterson and Garret Mountain.

Sayegh was impressed by the dishes.

“This is awesome,” said the mayor upon tasting the historically inspired dishes.

The students spent a great deal of time preparing for the “Flavor of the Falls.” Cwynar and culinary staff took a trip to the Paterson Museum to get a feel for the city’s history and culture. Students made sure every vegetable, meat, fruit, and dessert had links to Paterson’s glorious past.

“Here at Eva’s, we make everything from scratch,” said Dontrell Jones, a student at the school. “We’re ready for anybody. We could feed 400 people!”

The school has two semesters every year. Students spend six hours a day, five days a week on becoming chefs.

“Here at Eva’s we get two years of instruction in six months,” said student Terrence Frierson.

“This program has really changed my life,” said student Desiree Keller. “My life has a future, as a whole individual, and I have confidence in reentering society.”

Many of the students come out of the Eva’s recovery program and learn skills to become productive citizens.

“We have five modules,” explained Cwynar. “First, we explain kitchen lingo, teach knife skills, and how to cook breakfast. Secondly, we focus on grilling, sautéing, brazing, and fabricating or tearing down chicken, fish, pork, and starch vegetables. Then we move on to cold cooking and preparation, including salads and soups, and explain how to open a restaurant and run a catering business. Finally, we teach how to bake bread and make desserts such as pies, cakes, and cookies.”

After four months of training, the aspiring culinary artists get internships at a local restaurants and bistros.

The hands-on work experiences have taken place in such eateries as Rod’s Steak and Seafood Grille in Morristown, Viaggio Ristorante in Wayne, Twisted Elm in Elmwood Park, Batello in Jersey City, Osteria Crescendo in Westwood, Wayne’s North Jersey Country Club, Paterson’s Oasis-A Haven for Women and Children, and the Hackensack University Medical Center.

Students also help prepare daily meals for over 300 people served at the Eva’s kitchen.

Updated 1:03 p.m.

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