Details

Published: June 22 2012

Dr. Matt Kay, Dr. Lenny Weiss, Jerry Rosenthal, Chef Jack Kane, Dr. Audie Rolnick, Chef Asser Youssef Ghali, David Pearl, Dr. Maury Jayson, and Dr. Jerome Bergheim. Front row: Wendy Chayet, Heidi Rosenthal, Dr. Charles Radlauer, Dr. Eileen Rolnick and Barbara Pearl.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- Costumed dancers, feathered masks and dramatic centerpieces in gold, green and purple conjured the Brazilian Carnival of Salvador da Bahia for the Chaine des Rotisseurs induction dinner.

The black tie affair at the Tower Club began with a reception where members and their guests could admire an on-ice display of a whole, Amazonian fruit-eating pirarucu, a fish flown in especially for the evening’s menu. While servers passed hors d’oeuvres—black bean casserole in custard puffs, salt cod-stuffed olives, vegetable empanadas and black-eyed pea fritters-- everyone toasted with bubbling flutes of French Champagne.

The Fort Lauderdale Chapter was honored to have Dr. Charles Radlauer, the Chaine’s southeast regional president, on hand to perform the impressive induction ceremony in which each candidate is touched on both shoulders with a large sword. New members included David Pearl, Dr. Audie Rolnick, Dr. Leonard Weiss and Wendy Chayet. New professional members were Chefs Jack Kane and Asser Youssef “AY” Ghali, both of the culinary arts program at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Others who rose in the ranks or were recognized for their service included Dr. Matthew Kay, Cindy Rowan Jacobs, Heidi and Jerry Rosenthal, Jerry Bergheim and Dr. Maury Jayson.

After the program, everyone moved into the Tower Club’s elegant dining room, where windows that are nearly floor-to-ceiling offer panoramic views of the ocean, Intracoastal Waterway and cityscape. Dinner included a tower of Brazilian shrimp, the pirarucu, served with a Bahian coconut sauce, beef tenderloin, and for dessert, coconut flan with flambé pineapple, coconut ice cream, chocolate truffle and Brazil nut shortbread. With each dish, servers poured a matching wine, while between courses, professional dancers Varinia Cid and Ivan Sanjuan brought Carnival of Salvador da Bahia to life with a sizzling, highly energized performance.

The Chaine des Rotisseurs is an international food and wine group. To learn more about the Fort Lauderdale Chapter and its events, contact Dr. Eileen Rolnick at  eira2210@gmail.com