ArtsWestchester Appoints Cuisine Co-Chairs for 2016 ArtsBash Celebration

ArtsWestchester today announced the co-chairs of the 2016 ArtsBash Cuisine Committee. This year’s fundraiser, featuring food by 20+ top restaurants, fun and fabulous art throughout the arts council’s historic downtown White Plains building, will take place on Friday, May 20. This year’s not-to-be missed spring arts party will feature craft beers, open artist studios and the exhibition SHE: Deconstructing Female Identity on view in the gallery at ArtsWestchester.

At the helm of this year’s ArtsBash Cuisine Committee are co-chairs: Leslie Lampert of Café of Love, Josyane Colwell of Le Moulin Catering and Wine Bar, and John Crabtree of Crabtree’s Kittle House.

“We are excited to celebrate spring once again this year with our annual ArtsBash extravaganza and are pleased with the lineup of restauranteurs featured on our cuisine committee,” said Janet Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester. “During this unique art, food and craft beer event, guests will be able to enjoy creative tastings and inspiring art all under one roof.”

About the 2016 ArtsBash Cuisine Committee co-chairs:

Leslie Lampert of White Plains, executive chef/owner of Café of Love and Ladle of Love in Mt. Kisco, has been talking with her mouth full for more than 30 years. As Senior Editor at Ladies’ Home Journal magazine, she produced and wrote scores of food articles and spent countless hours in the test kitchen developing recipes for more than 17 million readers. She has also written dozens of articles on food and lifestyle for many national magazines including TIME, The New York Times, Parents, House Beautiful, and Glamour among others. Leslie appeared frequently on television as a lifestyle expert including The Today Show, CNN and CBS’s 48 Hours. Her 12-year-old, award-winning, locally-sourced, take-out shop, Ladle of Love, inspired the launch of Cafe of Love in 2008. The Cafe's seasonally-driven menu and community-minded philosophies support local growers and farmers, and features the freshest ingredients from neighborhood farms.

Josyane Colwell of Irvington established Le Moulin Catering in 1991. Her culinary creativity and organizational and planning skills have brought her international recognition. She has over 20 years of experience catering for the finest affairs in the region as well as serving diplomats and politicians in Washington, D.C. Born in the south of France, her passion for using the freshest, natural ingredients stems from her days of shopping in the markets in Nice where the produce, fish, meats and poultry, and flowers were all sourced not far from the markets themselves. For Colwell, the best meals are those prepared where the food source is not far from the kitchen. Menus featuring seasonal ingredients and plates that replicate nature through presentation are the basis for Colwell’s cooking style.

John Crabtree of Pound Ridge is the owner of Crabtree’s Kittle House. Since 1981, the Kittle House has been owned and operated by the Crabtree family, who returned the House to its former glory through extensive renovations and enhancements, including the beautification of the grounds, the expansion of the Atrium Dining Room, and the transformation of the former stables into an award-winning wine cellar. The most recent and exciting changes at Crabtree’s Kittle House include a striking redesign by Christan P. Arkay-Leliever of KMS Team. With a mindful use of ecological materials and thoughtful attention to detail, the House exudes a quiet elegance, befitting its charmed past.

The 2016 ArtsBash celebration will take place on Friday, May 20 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at ArtsWestchester, located at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains. Tickets are $75 and available online in advance at artsw.org/artsbash or by phone: 914.428.4220.

In addition, Family ArtsBash will take place on Saturday, May 21 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. For more information or for sponsorship opportunities, visit artsw.org/artsbash

or call (914) 428-4220, Ext. 326.

About ArtsWestchester
For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue.