The New York Foundling has evolved considerably since it was founded in 1869, from an asylum for abandoned babies founded by nuns in a Village brownstone, to a nonprofit that provides various services to children and families. But its 135th anniversary dinner was designed to look as if little had changed. Virginia Keim, the Foundling’s director of development and public relations, worked with Carol Anderson of Anderson Communications to plan a dinner for 72 people with food and entertainment that recalled the year of, well, the Foundling’s founding.
Even the location came from the 19th century: Foundling supporter Juliana Terian, president and C.E.O. of auto dealership the Rallye Group, hosted the event in her apartment in a well-known Upper West Side building built in the 1880s. (They asked us not to name the building; you can probably figure it out yourself.)
Food historian Francine Segan acted as a consultant for the evening, working with Daniel Boulud and Jean-Christophe Le Picart of Feast & Fetes to design a period-appropriate menu: A plate of oysters started the meal, followed by wild mushroom veloute with a foie gras crostini and black truffle jus with Parmesan cream. The main course was roasted goose with a chanterelle mushroom, artichoke, and pearl onion fricassee. And for dessert: poached Bosc pear with red wine confiture and mascarpone ice cream.
To show how the nonprofit has changed in the past century, Foundling executive director William Baccaglini described its various programs, and a group of people helped by the organization—ranging in age from 19 to 95—related some firsthand, heartfelt stories. After dinner, Jana Robbins, one of the producers of the new musical Little Women, and two other performers sang three songs from the show. Set to open on Broadway in January 2005, the musical is based on the Louisa May Alcott novel, which was published in 1868 and would have served as reading material after a dinner party 135 years ago.
—Chad Kaydo
Even the location came from the 19th century: Foundling supporter Juliana Terian, president and C.E.O. of auto dealership the Rallye Group, hosted the event in her apartment in a well-known Upper West Side building built in the 1880s. (They asked us not to name the building; you can probably figure it out yourself.)
Food historian Francine Segan acted as a consultant for the evening, working with Daniel Boulud and Jean-Christophe Le Picart of Feast & Fetes to design a period-appropriate menu: A plate of oysters started the meal, followed by wild mushroom veloute with a foie gras crostini and black truffle jus with Parmesan cream. The main course was roasted goose with a chanterelle mushroom, artichoke, and pearl onion fricassee. And for dessert: poached Bosc pear with red wine confiture and mascarpone ice cream.
To show how the nonprofit has changed in the past century, Foundling executive director William Baccaglini described its various programs, and a group of people helped by the organization—ranging in age from 19 to 95—related some firsthand, heartfelt stories. After dinner, Jana Robbins, one of the producers of the new musical Little Women, and two other performers sang three songs from the show. Set to open on Broadway in January 2005, the musical is based on the Louisa May Alcott novel, which was published in 1868 and would have served as reading material after a dinner party 135 years ago.
—Chad Kaydo
The New York Foundling’s 135th anniversary dinner took over the apartment of Juliana Terian in an Upper West Side building built in the 19th century.
Aisling Flowers designed centerpieces that incorporated pears and pineapples.
Food historian Francine Segan helped to design a period-appropriate menu and explained its significance to the group.
Jana Robbins, one of the producers of the Broadway musical Little Women, performed a song from the new show after dinner.
