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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Food Trends

'Top Chef' Winner Kicks Off Book Tour With Body Painting, Goat Masks

Jenny Berg
October 12, 2011

Stephanie Izard, a Top Chef winner and the force behind Boka Restaurant Group's wildly popular Girl and the Goat, released Girl in the Kitchen this month. Izard kicked off her 15-city book tour with an event at Salvage One on the night of October 5. Also serving as a benefit for Share Our Strength, the farmer's market-themed shindig drew around 500 guests and offered everything from body painting to pumpkin salt cod soup.

Jamie Thompson, owner of Personal Touch Events, planned the launch party in three weeks. "I actually only really met with Stephanie once, and I was able to get a good idea of what she was looking for," said Thompson. "What she did not want was a boring chef tasting event. She wanted a party with some wows." There was indeed a chef's tasting component, with reps from local restaurants serving snacks at light-strung stations. But food wasn't the only focal point.

As guests sampled plates of fennel-potato soup and butter-poached lobster, a body painter worked on a live model. DJ Ochs, also a chef at Girl and the Goat, spun dance tracks, and Izard posed with partygoers at a photo station from ActionBooth. Later in the evening, a flash mob dance saw volunteers juggling vegetables and drumming on various pieces of kitchen equipment.

In a pretty atypical spin on a dessert buffet, a Redmoon performer in a goat's mask strolled around with a snack board affixed to her midsection. Typically, the theater company outfits its servers in rabbit masks. The goat-inspired touch "was the talk of the event and a surprise for Stephanie, which she loved," Thompson said.

Apart from surprises, planners focused on keeping the event eco-friendly. Water stations with recyclable cups replaced bottled beverages, and most of the decor was fashioned out of reclaimed objects such as doors, sawhorses, and butcher blocks.

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Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
The event had a farmer's market theme replete with seasonal produce and strings of patio lights.
The event had a farmer's market theme replete with seasonal produce and strings of patio lights.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
Most of the decor was made from recycled materials. The chefs' working stations, for example, were crafted from old sawhorses, reclaimed doors, and a found butcher block.
Most of the decor was made from recycled materials. The chefs' working stations, for example, were crafted from old sawhorses, reclaimed doors, and a found butcher block.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
To avoid using water bottles, planners set up water stations throughout the event. The cups were made from recyclable materials, and the stations themselves were made from old barrels covered in burlap and printed with the Girl and the Goat logo.
To avoid using water bottles, planners set up water stations throughout the event. The cups were made from recyclable materials, and the stations themselves were made from old barrels covered in burlap and printed with the Girl and the Goat logo.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
Chefs served their dishes on disposables that could be recycled. Chef Dale Levitski served fresh gnocchi with watercress sauce.
Chefs served their dishes on disposables that could be recycled. Chef Dale Levitski served fresh gnocchi with watercress sauce.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
Signage at each chef station promoted the new cookbook.
Signage at each chef station promoted the new cookbook.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
Chefs from Perennial Virant served pan-roasted New York steak with sautéed cucumbers and salted goat milk caramel.
Chefs from Perennial Virant served pan-roasted New York steak with sautéed cucumbers and salted goat milk caramel.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
Primehouse served crispy chicken thighs with black bean tapenade.
Primehouse served crispy chicken thighs with black bean tapenade.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
A body painter worked on a model as part of an art installation. After she had been fully painted, the model hit the dance floor.
A body painter worked on a model as part of an art installation. After she had been fully painted, the model hit the dance floor.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
A flash mob dance saw performers spontaneously drumming on kitchen equipment.
A flash mob dance saw performers spontaneously drumming on kitchen equipment.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
A Redmoon performer donned a goat's mask and served desserts from a hanging tray.
A Redmoon performer donned a goat's mask and served desserts from a hanging tray.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
Guests danced as DJ Ochs, who's also a chef at Girl and the Goat, spun.
Guests danced as DJ Ochs, who's also a chef at Girl and the Goat, spun.
Photo: Rita Shimelfarb/Polaris Productions
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