Kenmore Hall

Luísa Fernandes, a renowned Chopped Chef Champion (2009), is bringing her culinary creativity to St. Catharine's for this year's Trustee Scholar Event, on Sunday, Nov. 3, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. 

At St. Catharine’s, Chef Luisa will share her passion and knowledge as she works her cooking magic in the intimacy of SCA’s newly renovated Dining Hall.  Proceeds will benefit student financial aid and the Trustee Scholar Program.  Seating is limited. She is a native of Monte Real, Leiria, Portugal, Always passionate about cooking, she dedicated the first 30 years of her professional life as an orthopedic surgery assistant. Luisa is always ready to take on new challenges, even serving as a parachute nurse in the Sudan and Rwanda.

In 1998, without any professional culinary experience, she opened her own restaurant in Lisbon, Tachos de São Bento. After a great deal of success and critical acclaim, she decided to move to New York to continue her culinary success. Within 15 days of arriving, Luisa was working as pastry chef in the Portugese restaurant Alfama. She also worked as pastry chef for the Portugal Presidency at the United Nations; executive chef for Georgia’s Bakery and Bistro in New York City and executive chef at Nomad Restaurant, to name a few. Currently, Luisa is the executive chef at Robert Restaurant, located at Columbus Circle in the Museum of Art and Design in New York City.

She brings her experiences of traveling the world to the kitchen, making each dish uniquely Chef Luisa!

Mixed green salad

Beet salad with goat cheese

Risotto cakes with saffron and truffle oil

Scotch salmon with sweet potato purée and grapes

Chicken with cauliflower and mushroom sauce

Paella

Cheese cake

Cheese mousse with passion fruit purée

Rice Pudding Portuguese style

Fruit salad

Farofias

Dinner will be served with wine or non-alcoholic beverages.

All food will be prepared in the SCA renovated kitchen.

Chef Luisa will speak about her experiences as a celebrity chef as well as prepare this delicious meal.