A Taste of Fall: Meatballs And A Charcuterie Board How-To At Hammertown
At Hammertown's cooking classes, you'll enjoy good food, company, and the feeling you get when your entry fee goes to charity.
We started writing about Hammertown founder Joan Osofsky practically on Day One of Rural Intelligence’s history in 2008, and we haven’t stopped since. As we said in 2010, the “furnishings and housewares that fill Hammertown’s original location in Pine Plains have, in many ways, come to define the home décor aesthetic of the RI region: rustic yet styled, relaxed yet impeccably designed.” We also noted that no one is as passionate about supporting local businesses, farmers, craftsmen and charities as Osofsky. This fall, she is combining all of the above and inviting all of us to a couple of cooking classes at Hammertown Barn’s Main House on October 1 and 29.
Each of the classes (they’re more like demos, but don’t worry, tasting is involved) is led by a local food maven and proceeds will go to the nonprofit organization of the chef’s choice. On October 1, Michele Ragussis leads “Let’s Make Meatballs,” sharing her mom’s famous Italian meatballs and her dad’s favorite Greek meatballs. Ragussis, who lives in Kingston, has appeared on "Chopped," "24 Hour Restaurant Battle" (winner), "Food Network Star" Season 8 (runner up) and a host of other shows. She’s currently a repeat judge on the hit Food Network show "Beat Boddy Flay", where she tried her hand as a contestant and a scored a win of her own. All proceeds will benefit her chosen charity, the Hawaii Community Foundation.
Next up, on October 29, is "Cheeseboards for Charity: Mastering the art of cheeseboards with Barrie Prinz." Making artful cheese and charcuterie boards has been the Lakeville resident’s obsessive hobby for many years. In the hands-on workshop, each attendee will make a board that includes cheese, charcuterie, fruit and more to take home. (A glass of wine will accompany the task.) Prinz’s chosen charity is the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service.
Cooking classes at Hammertown aren’t a new concept; in the past, Cynthia Hochswender, executive editor of The Lakeville Journal, offered one on the former Chaiwalla Tea House’s tomato pie (and its deep-rooted history in the area), and the late John Harney gave a tea demonstration. Each event raised over $1,000 for the Salisbury Housing Trust and Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance. But, as we all know, gathering with people has taken on new significance since the pandemic.
“It’s an opportunity to share good food and conversation while helping to raise money and awareness for good causes,” Osofsky says. “It’s a nice way to meet your neighbors. You’re getting taught by people who are really good at what they do, and you’ll leave with skills.” Come early to shop or hang around afterwards and you may leave with more than skills.
Classes fill up quickly, so best to reserve your spot now. While these two sessions are currently the only ones of the calendar, Osofsky hopes to add more “if people are interested.” (Really? Who’s she kidding?) But she wants to do it right.
“Now that I’ve stepped back a bit, it’s the perfect way for me to bring the community and people together. I’ve seen it: people make friends at these classes.”
Besides, she adds, who doesn’t love a meatball?
