Ancient Iroquois White Corn is focus of April 22 event in Canandaigua
Victor, NY— Iroquois White Corn, the same nutritious food that sustained the original Seneca people of this area including the 4,500 who lived at Ganondagan through the 17th century, is the focus of next month’s “Earth Day Foodie Fundraiser.” The Tuesday, April 22 event is a benefit for the non-profit Friends of Ganondagan, and takes place at the New York Wine & Culinary Center (NYWCC) in Canandaigua.
From 6-9 pm, Chef Jeffory McLean, Lead Chef Instructor at the NYWCC, serves up heirloom Iroquois White Corn with a 21st century twist. Dishes will feature the Iroquois White Corn in varied presentations from appetizers through desserts.
Tickets for this fundraiser are $75. The evening’s schedule is as follows:
- 6:00 pm, hot hors d’oeuvres for sampling; cash bar and silent auction opens
- 6:30 pm, Cooking demonstrations by Chef Jeffory McLean in the Hands-on Kitchen with food for sampling
- 6:30 – 8 pm, additional chef demonstrations and samples in Wine Spectator Theatre
- 8:00 pm, silent auction closes
- 8 – 9:00 pm, educational cooking hour with chefs and corn history from Peter Jemison
- 9:00 pm, event concludes with a White Corn recipe booklet and sample Iroquois White Corn Cookies for all participants
The Friends’ recently developed agri-business—the Iroquois White Corn Project—is reintroducing traditional, low-glycemic index Iroquois White Corn food products to enhance nutrition and provide a healthy food alternative to the high-sugar “sweet corn” found in stores and farm markets. The three products, hulled white corn, white corn flour, and roasted white corn flouralso will be available for purchase at the event.
Professional Chef Jeffory cooks in the “New American” style of cuisine, focusing on indigenous ingredients that are seasonal and fresh. “Working with the Iroquois White Corn truly allows me to express my creativity,” says the Chef . “To cook an item with such a legacy and history has challenged me to both retain its historical culinary value while applying it to modern concepts and cuisines. It’s a fascinating product that lends itself to everything from Latin cuisine to Pennsylvania Dutch Sunday dinners.” He also notes that being able to cook with something unaffected by our world’s industrialized food supply is something from which everyone can benefit.
Silent auction items include a dinner for 12 at the winner’s home cooked by Chef Jeffory.
Presenting Sponsor for the evening is The Pike Company, with Edible Finger Lakes as the media sponsor. The fundraiser supports the Friends’ variedcultural and educational events and programming which connect the community with the living culture of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) through Ganondagan State Historic Site.
Tickets can be purchased by check or credit card through Friends of Ganondagan, PO Box 113, Victor, NY, 14564, (585) 742-1690, or securely online through PayPal; visit www.ganondagan.org/Events-Programs/Informed-Consent-Fundraiser.
