Hell's Kitchen Union County

The scenes of the hit television show, “Hell’s Kitchen,” took center stage in downtown Westfield Wednesday afternoon and evening, as a veteran of the show came to town to cook for charity.

Chef Vinny Accardi from the show performed two cooking demos at the Savory Spice Shop to benefit the Nana J’s Kitchen, a fledging food pantry in Plainfield. Accardi came to the event after being asked by soup kitchen founder Pastor Shannon Wright, who had found him on Facebook.

“She asked me saying that she liked me on the show,” Accardi said.

Accardi made six dishes during the afternoon and cooking demos, incorporating spices sold at the shop. He noted that the recipes were designed to be quick and easy, spanning appetizers, entrées and desserts. Using Acquaviva delle Fonti on Elm Street as a prep kitchen, Accardi assembled his final dishes for crowds in the shop.

Accardi had planned the menu after consulting the spice list from the shop, noting he tried the dishes out for friends at his Queens home prior to coming to Westfield.

Wright, the pastor of Faith, Grace and Mercy in Plainfield and a Republican candidate for the state Senate in the 22^nd district, said the idea for the event and the food pantry came out of her work with her late mother, Janeice Lawrence.

“Every year, my mom would help us organize gift baskets for those who needed help at the holidays,” she said. “Mom wanted to start a food pantry this year.”

Wright said that Lawrence had been ill for years, including a kidney transplant in 2007 and a 2009 cancer diagnosis. Lawrence passed away at the end of 2010. Wright said the planning for the food pantry helped keep Lawrence going in her final days.

Wright said the food pantry is aimed to deliver gift baskets to families in the Plainfield area, around the holidays and other parts to start. As the group raises, money, Wright said a full-fledged building is possible with the end goal of a seven-day a week soup kitchen. Honoring her mother, the project is named Nana J, a nickname her mother had during her life.

Wednesday’s event was held on what would have been Lawrence’s 64^th birthday. Looking for something to do to distract her from the memories, Wright wanted to help promote the project that had been important to her mother. The Westfield location came about from a distraction Wright and her sister had during their mother’s illness last year.

“During last year when my mom was in the hospital, my sister and I needed something constructive to do, so we shopped,” she said. “We were in Cold Stone and saw Savory Spice Shop. We’ve been regular customers since.”

As part of the fundraising for the food pantry, Wright is working with Accardi on a cookbook due out later this year. The book will feature recipes from Accardi, along with other Hell’s Kitchen alums. Accardi is focusing on the recipe section of the book. Wright said some of Lawrence’s favorite recipes will be included in the book as well.

Wright, who is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Sen. Nick Scutari (D-Linden) in a district, which includes Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Clark, Linden and Plainfield, said the food pantry is part of the plans she is promoting as part of her Senate campaign.

“I’m trying to encourage other folks to do things like this,” she said. “If you want to lower taxes you need non-profits to step in.” 

Menu Served by Accardi

• Curried Chicken Salad with Grilled Pita
• “Cherry Creek” Dusted Shrimp with a Mango Cilantro
• “Barrier Reef” Caribbean Pork served over Jasmine Rice with charred onion and grilled pineapple
• “Homestead” Beef Skewers served with a trip of Benny’s Homemade Barbeque Sauces
• Sweet Spiced Melon Soup
• Toasted Spiced Pound Cake with warm spiced apricots with vanilla cardamom whipped cream