Truly glorious food at library fundraiser

CORNWALL —The sun drifted in and out on Saturday, June 20, and the rain held off until afternoon (when the activities moved indoors) for Food, Glorious Food, a fundraiser on the Green for the Cornwall Library.

Vendors with a wide variety of wares were protected from the elements under festive tents, inviting visitors to sample edibles that included artisanal cheeses, tabbouleh, hummus, fresh fruit salad and baby greens with gorgonzola, walnuts, apples and shrimp or chicken with a homemade vinaigrette. There were yogurt and granola parfaits, delicately spiced homemade duck, chicken or pork sausages served with slow-cooked white beans, savory barbecue sandwiches and more.

There was something for every appetite.

For the younger set, there was an entire tent dedicated to the decorating (and, of course, subsequent eating) of homemade cupcakes, with several icings and any topping one could imagine, including local strawberries.

Another popular attraction was the booth of Longmeadow Farm, where owner Tom Levine had fresh eggs, which sold out, and live chickens, which especially attracted the attention of two young boys who were trying to convince their families to add them to their livestock at home.

Levine said the chickens he had at the event were laying hens, about one month old, and of varying types, all pasture raised.

Nick “The Knife� Jacobs had a booth where he showcased his knife-sharpening skills, as well as offering antique knives of many shapes and sizes for sale. He sharpened knives on site for anyone who brought them along, including six for Leila Baroody of Lakeville (who said she found out about the opportunity to have her knives sharpened by Jacobs by reading about him in The Lakeville Journal, in an article by Karen Bartomioli.)

Jacobs explained the differences between different knives, and he invited volunteers to see for themselves how much easier it is to slice a green pepper with a freshly honed blade. (This reporter tried it, and will confirm those knives were nicely sharp and easy to use.)

Susan Fox of Milkhouse Pottery showed her handthrown ceramics, all useful for serving or cooking food. Fox  is offering classes this summer at her studio in Cornwall Bridge.

Artist Richard Griggs, representing the Wish House gallery, had a range of items for sale, as did Susan Barrett of Baird’s General Store. Innkeeper Stacey Marcin of the Cornwall Inn and Restaurant showcased the chef’s salads and housemade sausages, including duck with fennel and chicken with artichoke. Cornwall’s Ann Schillinger sold handmade cheeses on behalf of the Nuns of the Sacred Heart of Lagrangeville, N.Y., who create 14 different cheeses there at Sprout Creek Farm.

The morning’s farmers market, art exhibit, silent auction and gourmet food sales led into an afternoon reading from her memoir by Madhur Jaffrey, renowned authority on Indian cuisine, then to an evening cocktail party.

The event required the work of many volunteers in Cornwall, all for the good of their library, and was a full day of celebration of all things relating to food and the many ways we enjoy it.