HAUPPAUGE – Renowned Long Island chef, restaurateur and author Tom Schaudel will be displaying his culinary skills to fight hunger on Long Island to benefit Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Food Bank. Schaudel will host a cooking demonstration, dinner, and provide guests with a signed copy of his new book Playing with Fire on Thursday, March 10 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at his acclaimed restaurant Jewel in Melville.
After graduating from The Culinary Institute in 1973 and working in various venues, Tom opened his first restaurant Panama Hatties in Huntington in 1983. He has since been the driving force behind such acclaimed Long Island restaurants as Spring Close House in East Hampton, Downtown Grille and Wine Bar in Montauk, 107 Forest Avenue in Locust Valley, Lemongrass in Roslyn, Tease in Roslyn, Coolfish in Syosset, Thom Thom in Wantagh, Passionfish in Westhampton Beach, Starfish in Merrick, The Jedediah Hawkins Inn in Jamesport and The Mansion at the Woodlands in Woodbury.
Growing up on Long Island and living on the East End has seriously influenced Tom’s culinary sensibilities, and his style has been described by Michael Todd of Grapezine magazine as “Atlantic Rim.” His current line-up of restaurants includes Jewel by Tom Schaudel in Melville, Be-Ju Sashimi and Sake Bar in Melville, Amano in Mattituck, Alure in Southold, The Petulant Wino in Aquebogue, and Ross-Schaudel Catering and Event Planning in Mattituck. Tom also has his own line of wines, under the Tom Schaudel “Reserve” label, made here on the North Fork and served at all of the restaurants.
He has been featured on such television shows as Gordon Elliot’s Door Knock Dinners on Food Network, Chef’s Night Out on Metro Channel, and has been a frequent guest chef on Long Island’s own Channels 12 , 21, and Telecare, The James Beard House in New York City, and Ed Lowe’s Morning Show. He has written a book called Playing With Fire: Whining and Dining on the Gold Coast, about his one hundred wackiest customers from the last forty years, and hosts a weekly food, wine, and lifestyle radio show of the same name on 1100 WHLI AM every Saturday morning from 10:00-11:00.
“We’re very excited to be working with Chef Tom Schaudel on this very special evening to benefit the regional food bank,” said Robin Amato, Chief Development Officer for Long Island Cares, Inc. “Guests will have an opportunity to witness Tom Schaudel’s amazing cooking skills, dine on his creations that will be paired with wines and beer, and take home a signed copy of his book, and all of the net proceeds will support Long Island Cares and the more than 316,000 Long Islanders affected by hunger and food insecurity,” said Amato.
Reservations for this demonstration and dinner with Chef Tom Schaudel at Jewel in Melville are $150 per person and can be made by calling Long Island Cares Special Events Manager Cheryl Steinhauer at (631) 582-3663 x 104.