Great Barrington — Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP), the dynamic youth-empowerment organization serving young people in southern Berkshire County, is pleased to announce that this year’s Culinary Arts Apprenticeship Dinner will take place on Saturday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Field, 40 Bridge Street in Great Barrington. Just in time for spring, this special event features a five-course meal prepared by young participants in RSYP’s Culinary Arts Apprenticeship Program and the awarding of the Railroad Street Youth Student Empowerment (RYSE) Scholarship.
Created by and for South County youth in 2000, RSYP has grown over the years from a small, grassroots organization into the region’s leading authority on youth empowerment. This special event is the culmination of RSYP’s Apprenticeship Program, launched in 2006 as a response to the growing number of young people interested in the culinary field. Eight-week apprenticeships led by local professional chefs empower young people to gain the skills necessary for employment in the hospitality field. Youth who have completed the program have gone on to attend prestigious culinary schools, including the Culinary Institute of America, and have launched successful careers in the restaurant industry.
At the event, six young, aspiring culinary professionals, including Donnalee D’Ambrosi, Reece Fagioni, Robbie Germino, Lisa Pantoja, Ely Richards, and Blaise Twing, will prepare a special five-course menu for their families, friends, and the community under the guidance of mentor-chefs who are leaders in the culinary field:
- Zee Vassos of No. 10 in Great Barrington is a Berkshire County native with a 20-year career as a chef. He has worked in the hospitality industry since he was 14 years old and currently resides in Becket. Zee’s extensive background has given him the opportunity to become a head chef at numerous restaurants around the Berkshires. Zee is passionate about everything he does, whether in the hospitality and culinary industry, mentoring youth, or giving back to the community.
- Fabian Domingues of Rose’s Restaurant is an Argentinian native who has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 35 years. He moved to Berkshire County in 2001 to build his career as a chef. Fabian’s extensive background has given him the opportunity to become a head chef at numerous restaurants around the Berkshires. In July of 2022, Fabian and his wife, Andrea Duta, opened Rose’s Restaurant in Lee, a relaxed American breakfast and lunch spot. Fabian is passionate about giving to the community through what he loves most: cooking.
- Megan Kitsock of Supreme Soft Serve has dedicated the last 15 years of her life to ice cream. Prior to ice cream, Megan worked in sales, retail, product development, and manufacturing. Now, Megan likes to consider herself a savant at creating an exceptional ice cream experience for others. Her passion to create, develop, and execute unique, handmade, delicious soft serve flavors and toppings is what differentiates her from other ice cream shops. Megan’s goal is to create delicious ice cream and memories that will last a lifetime.
- Dan Smith, a key player in the Apprenticeship Program since its inception, has been the chef-owner of John Andrews Farmhouse Restaurant since 1990—long before farm-to-table was a trend. Known as the “architect of modern Berkshire cooking,” as coined by Travel & Leisure magazine back in 2004, Dan is well known for his dedication to local food. Dan was brought up on a family farm in Iowa, and his experience growing fresh food is where his connection to cooking began. He studied agriculture at Iowa State University, where he realized his passion was not for growing food, but cooking it. His longstanding connection to food is rooted in his farm experiences and is the starting point for his seasonally inspired cuisine.
The event will include a certificate ceremony to honor the young chefs and a live service auction to support RSYP and its mission to empower youth. It also recognizes Avery Carr, a junior at Monument Mountain Regional High School who is the recipient of the 2023 RYSE Scholarship. This $20,000 annual scholarship is awarded as part of the Railroad Street Youth Student Empowerment (RYSE) Program, which provides an opportunity for students to explore their options after high school in a safe and supportive space. The scholarship may be used over the next four years to assist with tuition at a state or private college or university, a community college or vocational school, a focused curriculum for a gap year, or any GED program.
Avery is passionate about food and is considering a future career as a food chemist or a culinary instructor to people of all ages. “I love cooking and baking and I love working with kids, so it would be amazing to combine those two passions,” she said recently. “Being part of the RYSE program truly put a new lens over how I see the world. I’m no longer scared to start adulting because, even though it takes many steps, I know there are always people there to help me keep climbing to a successful future. I’m always grateful to find new people or resources because that just means more people to bake thank-you cakes for or share a meal with!”
“The Culinary Dinner is an open invitation to the community to see its young people thriving and to celebrate them for their accomplishments,” says Executive Director Ananda Timpane. “It is proof that, when adults support young people to achieve their goals by listening and working closely with them as a team, great things happen.”
Tickets to the event ($150 per person/$1,200 for a table of 8) are available now on RSYP’s website or via phone at 413-528-2475. All proceeds support RSYP’s youth development programs and activities.
To learn more about Railroad Street Youth Project, visit its website.
