On the evening of Monday, July 17, a very special evening of exquisite culinary delights featuring some of the city’s finest chefs will unfold for the first time at the Chelsea Market on 17th Street and Ninth avenue in Manhattan. On that night, Monroe College will present A Chef’s Legacy, to honor the memory of Chef Craig Rutman, the college’s first Director of Culinary Arts, one-year after his untimely passing.

The spirit and theme of the evening will be for those who knew Craig personally or professionally to share a love of food and the culinary arts, a passion for educating and mentoring others, and ultimately, to raise monies for Monroe College students who will be continuing their culinary education in Italy.

“Those of us who knew Chef Rutman appreciate that there was no one as passionate about or as accomplished in his profession as he was,” said Dean Carol Genese, who is one of the co-chairs of A Chef’s Legacy. “This evening is a chance to build the fund that was established in Chef Rutman’s name to continue his legacy and passion for culinary students.” The evening will feature a sumptuous, one-of-a-kind grazing cocktail reception of signature dishes prepared by New York’s finest chefs to benefit the Monroe College Craig Rutman Memorial Scholarship Fund. Along with the Culinary and Pastry Arts Classes and Chef Instructors of the Monroe College School of Culinary Arts, Daniel Hinder, Director, participating chefs include:

• Sarabeth Levine, Marcelo Gonzalez - Sarabeth's Bakery at the Chelsea Market
• Michael Ayoub, Chef – Fornino, Brooklyn, NY
• Jim Botsacos, Executive Chef - Moylvos Restaurant, New York, NY
• Roe Dibona, Owner - Rocking Horse Café, New York, NY
• Rafael Palomino, Owner - Sonoroa and Pacifico, Port Chester, NY
• Brian Macmenamin, Owner - Macmenamin's Grill, New Rochelle, NY