Simply Sarasota Kitchen and Garden Festival

April 13-15, 2012, perhaps one of the busiest weekends of the year for festivals, the Junior League of Sarasota hosted the Simply Sarasota Kitchen and Garden Festival at the GWIZ Science Museum and the Hyatt Sarasota. The multi-day event offered a series of classes, demonstrations, book signings, luncheons, and of course the Marketplace which comprised 35 booths offering a wide range of home, kitchen, and garden products.

Celebrity Luncheon with The Royal Chef Darren McGradyOn Saturday April 14, 2012 the league presented Chef Darren McGrady, who served as personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales and Princes’ William and Harry, as the Celebrity speaker.

Having served in his official capacity for fifteen years, Chef Darren McGrady offered a unique glimpse into the royal family. Using a PowerPoint presentation for images and speaking for approximately 45 minutes, McGrady shared a number of entertaining and informative stories about serving royalty, presidents, dignitaries, and heads of state. In addition to his official capacity, Darren shared some of his personal anecdotes and reflections on life with the royals which were truly warm and heartfelt.

McGrady’s first book, Eating Royally, now in its sixth printing, showcases over 100 recipes and 150 photos (both food and personal) from Chef McGrady’s years of royal service. Committed to supporting those causes of Princess Diana, all of the proceeds from this book have been donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation. Using these delicious stories to whet our appetites for more, Darren made himself available for photos and book signings immediately following the luncheon.

The Junior League of Sarasota

The Junior League of Sarasota is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism in our community. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. As such, the league sponsors, coordinates, and implements a number of events throughout the year to raise funds, educate, and share within the community. To learn more about upcoming events or the Junior League in general visit their web site at: http://www.jlsarasota.org