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Westport Chef Helps Cook A Meal For Operation Hope In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Book-a-Cook took over Fairfield’s Operation Hope Kitchen this week as a part of its efforts to give back to the community.

On Wednesday, Ashley Hart of Westport and Amy Strife of Redding joined Chef Tim Fornero at the kitchens in First Congregational Church on Beach Road to do the preparations for the meal before the dinner service at Operation Hope in Fairfield.

On Wednesday, Ashley Hart of Westport and Amy Strife of Redding joined Chef Tim Fornero at the kitchens in First Congregational Church on Beach Road to do the preparations for the meal before the dinner service at Operation Hope in Fairfield.

Photo Credit: Mike Lauterborn

Book-a-Cook, a personal chef service started in April, has been so well received that co-owners Ashley Hart of Westport and Amy Strife of Redding wanted to do something to help others in their community.

So they asked Chef Tim Fornero, a 25-year veteran, to create a Thanksgiving dinner service for Operation Hope. The dinner includes citrus-brined local turkey with chestnut gravy, mashed potatoes, Sport Hill Farm broccoli with garlic and olive oil, homemade cornbread and apple cobbler.

Hart and Strife said they’re hoping it's not just a one-time meal, but something they will do all year-round.

“Amy and I did some research, and they’re serving two meals a day that are hot to upward of 50 people,” Hart said. “It’s an incredible operation and heavily utilized. We felt that they were the right fit for what we wanted to offer.”

On Wednesday, Hart and Strife joined Fornero at the kitchens in First Congregational Church on Beach Road to do the preparations for the meal before the dinner service at Operation Hope.

“Real healthy food isn’t always a choice,” Strife said. “Most to the food in the pantry is canned.”

In order to make it an event, Strife and Hart decorated the dining room at Operation Hope to bring in the holiday spirit and gave out homemade cookies to those who attended.

On the Wish List for the Operation Hope food pantry are: hearty soups (all varieties), canned spaghetti, canned meats and stews, canned tuna, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, sugar, flour, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, salad dressings, pancake mix, syrup, instant hot cereals, cereals, toilet tissue, shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and deodorant.

To help with Thanksgiving Day Baskets, the following items are welcome: turkeys or gift card to purchase turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, green beans, corn, gravy, pie filling and pie mixes.

Book-a-Cook offers clients the opportunity to hire a personal chef service for events and plans to expand into meal service. Find about more about the new Fairfield company at its website

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