Savannah Culinary Institute Chefs to Host Interactif 2019

Staff Report From Savannah CEO

Monday, September 16th, 2019

Savannah Technical College will host its annual Interactif event in partnership with the Savannah Food and Wine Festival at 5:45 p.m., on Thursday, October 17, 2019 in the Eckburg Auditorium (5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, 31405).

“This is absolutely one of my favorite events of the year,” said Michael Owens, co-founder of Savannah Food & Wine Festival and President/CEO of Tourism Leadership Council. “There’s just something special about an evening dedicated to the appreciation of great food, wine, education all in the name of supporting the Patrick Williams Scholarship fund. This event is so important to the mission of the Savannah Food & Wine Festival to fundraise and increase awareness of local non-profits organizations and funds.”

Interactif 2019 will feature four destinations stations along with appetizers and desserts. Guests will travel around the world with elegant tasting opportunities paired with wine selections at the destination stations with take-home recipes. Three stations will feature chef demonstrations where guests work alongside chefs to learn techniques of making chermoula sauce, kimchi and red bean cakes. Guests will learn about U.S. wines paired with artisan Georgia cheeses. International cuisine will include South Korea, Morocco and Spain.

Cost is $100 per person with proceeds supporting the Patrick Ansley Williams Scholarship at Savannah Technical College. Seating is limited to 120. Advance tickets may be purchased online: www.savannahtech.edu/BistroSavoirInteractif.

Guests will enjoy shrimp kebabs with chermoula sauce, barbequed short ribs with kimchi, and red bean cakes with romseco sauce and mango chutney, along with artisan breads, cheeses, charcuterie, and artisan chocolates.

This year Jason Restivo, owner of Atlantic in Savannah, will lead a tour of USA wines paired with artisan Georgia cheeses. Restivo is a certified sommelier with 20+ years of experience in food, beverage and hospitality industries and was named Best Sommelier by Connect Savannah in 2016 - 2019.

Attendees will have the chance for $5 fish bowl raffles at each station and the opportunity to bid on a private Chef’s Table Dinner for 10 with the Savannah Culinary Institute’s team of chef instructors.

In the past five years, Bistro Savoir Interactif raised more than $55,000 to benefit the Patrick Ansley Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund. This scholarship was started in 2012 by Bill Dickinson to honor the late Patrick Williams. Five $1,000 scholarships are awarded annually to STC culinary and hospitality students with a minimum 3.0 grade point average, who are selected by the College’s scholarship committee. Funds are applied toward tuition, fees, books and required supplies.

STC scholarship funds are managed by the Savannah Technical College Foundation, a 501 (c)3 organization whose sole purpose is to raise private funds to support the mission of Savannah Technical College. Gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Last year, the College purchased 7 West Bay Street as the new location for an expansion of its Culinary Arts program. The expansion will more than double the available instructional space for Culinary Arts and Baking& Pastry Arts. Senior level (second year) students will take classes and work in the bakery and restaurant. The hands-on, real-world experience in the restaurant will allow students the opportunity to apply techniques learned in the classroom to practical use, complete a required field placement, and gain first-hand experience in running a restaurant and serving the general public.

Savannah Food & Wine Festival

The Savannah Food & Wine Festival takes place throughout Savannah, November 4-10, 2019, with celebrity chefs and winemakers, connoisseur dinners, one-of-a-kind culinary, spirits, wine and beverage experiences. The most up-to-date festival information is available at www.savannahfoodandwinefest.com, on Twitter @SAVFoodWineFest #savfw, and Facebook at Savannah Food & Wine Festival.