Waste Free Greenwich will host an evening of “all taste, no waste” at their first-ever Zero Waste Dinner.
This unique event, where gourmet dining meets sustainable innovation, will be held on Thursday, October 16 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at St. Catherine of Siena Church Lucey Parish Hall in Riverside, CT.
The evening promises a culinary adventure as local celebrity chefs unite to prepare a multi-course gourmet meal.
The lineup includes Frederic Kieffer, Executive Chef of L’escale; bestselling author and chef Terry Walters; Paul Clarke, Greenwich Country Day School food services director; and Juan Benitez of Juan’s Table. Each dish will showcase surplus or reimagined ingredients that would otherwise be discarded, proving that delicious food and a zero waste ethos are the perfect pairing.
Waste Free Greenwich founder Julie DesChamps, Chef Frederic Kieffer and event co-chair Anne Drake.
The main event of the evening is the “Tossed” Zero Waste Cooking Competition, where top chefs will face off in a sustainable showdown, turning “scrappy” ingredients into culinary masterpieces. From the menu and service ware to table décor, every detail of the dinner is meticulously designed to reduce waste and encourage sustainable habits.
The Waste Free Greenwich team, including event co-chairs Anne Drake and Sara Keller, will guide guests through the program to inspire waste free practices. Dr. Manasa Mantravadi of Ahimsa will share how she is transforming school lunch with healthy, sustainable reusable trays.
A lifetime Waste Warrior Award will be presented to Sally Davies, chair of the Greenwich
Recycling Advisory Board, in recognition of her decades-long efforts to reduce waste in our community. Guests will also enjoy live music by Rick Crossman.
The Zero Waste Dinner will highlight the critical issue of food waste, which makes up almost a quarter of Greenwich’s waste stream. Waste Free Greenwich’s strategies focus on building a more sustainable waste management system by reducing food waste through prevention and donating surplus food to those in need. When waste is unavoidable, they promote composting to return nutrients to the soil. Since 2020, Waste Free Greenwich has been a driving force behind the Town of Greenwich’s food scrap recycling program that has diverted over 600,000 pounds of organic material, a number expected to grow with the upcoming installation of “smart” food scrap collection bins that provide 24/7 access.
“We are excited to host our first zero waste dinner, an event to empower waste free living, heighten awareness and cultivate community spirit,” said Julie DesChamps, Founder and Chair of Waste Free Greenwich.
“Not only will guests share a delicious sustainable meal with neighbors, but they’ll also be inspired by our innovative chefs and speakers to rethink habits and build a just, healthy and zero waste future in Greenwich.”
Tickets for the Zero Waste Dinner are available at www.eventbrite.com on September 15, 2005.
Proceeds from the evening will support the mission of Waste Free Greenwich, as well as benefit Food Rescue US, Fairfield County. For additional information, please visit
www.wastefreegreenwich.org or contact [email protected].