The Golden Bloom
Where Pollinators Dance and the Harvest Flourishes
A CIA Student-Run Charity Dining Event
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 5 p.m.
The Culinary Institute of America and the senior capstone class is proud to bring you The Golden Bloom: Where Pollinators Dance and the Harvest Flourishes. At this unique dining event, you’ll step into nature without leaving the building as students escort you through an atmosphere of wildlife and woodlands with decorations of vines, flowers, and leaves in a colorful spring mix of burnt orange and sage green. Once seated, you and your guests will enjoy a four-course menu highlighting the beautiful bounty made possible by the unsung heroes of our ecosystem. In addition to our beloved bees, there are many other pollinators that make our food possible including lady bugs, butterflies, bats, and scallops. Please join us in celebrating all forms of pollination at this remarkable event.
A portion of the proceeds from this evening will support Second Chance Foods, a local Hyde Park, NY organization dedicated to reducing food waste. Second Chance Foods donated more than 300,000 pounds of food and 100,000 fresh meals last year. They believe everyone should have access to fresh food and meals.
An additional portion of the proceeds support the Food Dreams Foundation scholarship at CIA. Food Dreams is a New York City-based organization founded by legendary Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and his children, CIA alumnus Cedric ’04 and Louise Vongerichten Ulukaya, that since its founding in 2016 has helped more than 60 students achieve their culinary-based dreams.
Scholarship: Food Dreams Foundation.
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Time: 5–8 p.m.
Location: Post Road Brew House, CIA, 1946 Campus Drive, Hyde Park, NY 12538.
Dress Code: Upscale casual. (e.g., khakis, polos, button up shirts, suits, dresses, blouses, skirts)
Entertainment/Fundraising Activities: Live music, beautiful springtime ambience, raffle, and guest speaker. (subject to change)
Price: $115, including beverage, food courses, tax, and service.
Additional Notes: CIA gift cards are not redeemable for this event.
Can’t come but want to make a donation? Visit secondchancefoods.org and fooddreams.org/donate.
Menu
Hors d’Oeuvre
Vegan Poached Rhubarb Shooter
elderflower sake-poached rhubarb, brown “butter” leek, horseradish custard
Blue Cheese Beef Croquette
blue cheese beef croquette, red pepper coulis, sweet and sour pickled fennel
Beef Cheek Tartare
tartar, multi-seed cracker, bee pollen fermented whole grain honey
Chicken Terrine
chicken terrine, beet honey, toasted pistachios and walnuts, dried apricots and dried cherries
Asparagus and Honey-Whipped Goat Cheese
butter-poached white asparagus, black pepper-honey-whipped goat cheese, seaweed “caviar”
Beet Arancini
beet arancini, spiced fava bean-chickpea cream
Appetizer
Seared Scallop
avocado purée, saffron foam, blood orange supreme, kataifi, cilantro microgreens, caviar
Peas and ’Shrooms (Allergen-Free Appetizer)
green pea purée, stuffed morels, fried enoki, pickled ramps, snap pea salad
Entrée
Honey Lavender-Glazed Chicken Galantine
crispy rosemary polenta, warm brussels sprout salad
Meatless Monti (Allergen-Free Entrée)
impossible meat monti, garlic-mint yogurt (coconut milk), saffron oil, arugula, grapefruit, and radish salad, honey lemon vinaigrette
Compound Butter
orange blossom and herbs
Vegan Spread
blood orange and kumquat marmalade
Savory Takeaway
Sunflower Seeds
savory team custom seasoning blend
Dessert
Goat’s Milk Bavarian
goat’s milk and elderflower bavarois, poached strawberries, strawberry and tarragon sorbet, honey-juniper sponge, honey tuille, chamomile gel, elderflower blossoms
Alternative Elderflower Bavarian (Allergen-Friendly)
vegan elderflower bavarois, poached strawberries, strawberry and tarragon sorbet, agave-juniper sponge, caramelized agave tuille, chamomile gel, elderflower blossoms
Pastry Takeaway Bags
Macaron Tea Flight
honey buttercream with butterfly pea flower gel, citrus buttercream with chamomile gel, chai-hazelnut buttercream with praline filling
Honey Florentines
Italian cookies flavored with honey and almonds
Honey-Lemon Bee Sugar Cookies
classic sugar cookie with colored royal icing in the shape of a bee
Chocolate-covered Honeycomb
fresh made honeycomb dipped in 72% dark chocolate
Pollinator Cake Pops
vanilla cake with citrus buttercream; decorated as pollinators
Two oz. Jar of Sunflower Butter
Beverage Menu
Welcome Drinks
St-Germain Spritz
St-Germain, Prosecco, club soda, edible flower garnish
Non-alcoholic Option: Blood Orange Rosewater
blood orange juice, lemon juice, rose water, sparking water, simple syrup, edible flower garnish
Cocktails
The Date Keeper
date-infused whisky, orange angostura bitter, smoked rosemary salt half rim, half-moon caramelized orange
The Hummingbird
gin, rosemary thyme-infused oxymel, rhubarb simple syrup, lime juice, egg white, rhubarb twirl garnish
Nocturnal Nectar
rosaluna mezcal, blackberry infused brandy, black cherry syrup, orange juice, honeycomb square
Mocktail: The Beehive
honey-thyme simple syrup, soda water, bee pollen rim, grapefruit wedge
Beer: Newburgh Brewing
NanoBoss NEIPA
Wine
White: Pinot Gris from Sheldrake Point Winery
Red: Merlot
*menu subject to change