Carmel Clay Public Library - Carmel Monthly Magazine

Writer // Janelle Morrison Photography // Staff Tony’s Steaks and Seafood of Indianapolis, Carmel Travel Company and Carmel Monthly are proud to sponsor the second private dinner and wine-pairing event to benefit the Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation (CCPLF). This past June, the first event of this quarterly series was an immediate sellout and astounding success for CCPLF. Owner Tony Ricci and his remarkable staff at Tony’s wowed the attendees, comprised of CCPLF board members and other supporters of CCPLF and the library in general. The proceeds of these specific tasting events are going to CCPL Foundation, which in turn will be used to support the Carmel Clay Public Library’s digest of expansive programs for library members of all ages. “Annually, the Children's Department at the library has about 1,500 free programs and over 2,200 free programs in total for the community,” Elizabeth Hamilton, CCPL Foundation director, said. “Yes, people's tax dollars support the library, keep the lights on, pay the salaries and buy the collection, but there is no way that a library our size could afford that many free programs on tax dollars alone. We would either have to cut back the number of programs or find a way to charge for those programs, and Tony’s, Carmel Travel Company and Carmel Monthly are allowing us not to have to do that by being community partners. Just over 86,000 people attended our free programs last year, and events like these—put on by corporate partners—allow us to continue to offer these programs.” CCPLF Board President Teneen Dobbs attended the first tasting event at Tony’s and offered her thoughts on the experience. “I would like to commend Tony's Steakhouse excellent staff for a wonderful evening of excellent food and wine pairings,” Dobbs said. “Each course was presented beautifully and described with such expertise. Our table's conversation was lively, and all loved the wine choice (Caymus) presented with each course. I can't wait for my next visit to Tony's Steakhouse.” Also in attendance that evening was CCPLF board member David Temple. “As we had never been to Tony’s Steakhouse but had heard good things about it, we jumped at the chance to attend this special evening in support of the Carmel Clay Public Foundation,” Temple expressed. “We were blown away by the food, its artistic presentation, the pairings of wine, and the friendly and educational staff and chef! While we had never met some of our tablemates before, we thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet each other over an excellent meal and made it a night to remember. We will definitely be going back to Tony’s Steakhouse and telling our friends to visit Tony’s. A big thank-you to Tony, Mike and the rest of the staff for supporting the foundation and giving us a delightful and memorable evening.” The Visionary Behind the Delectable Menu The man behind the imaginative and mind-blowing menus is Tony’s Corporate Chef de Cuisine Ryan Montgomery. Montgomery left his position as executive chef at Marriott Hotels four years ago to work with Ricci and his team of extraordinary professionals. He attributes the culture of trust and respect at Tony’s to the success of the restaurant and the growth of its employees. “You have to have the culture behind you because if you don't have that and the respect for food, the respect for people and the respect for your environment, then you really can't do it successfully. As Tony says, ‘It’s an old-school culture with a modern attitude.’” Montgomery’s passion for the culinary arts began with a passion and talent as an artist and painter. His artistic expression is what makes every meal plated and served at Tony’s a true work of art, both for the eyes and the palate. He creates the menus for specialty dinners such as these based on who he’s cooking for and what wines will be paired with the meal. When asked where he developed his passion for food and creating incomparable meals that are some of the finest examples of culinary art, the artist in Montgomery said, “One can't teach passion, only inspire it. Food is truly an amazing medium, a brightly colored oil paint with the uncanny ability to turn the pain into the past and the present a dream one dares to never forget.” Be sure to join us at Tony’s Steakhouse and Seafood of Indianapolis for the next tasting event benefitting CCPLF on September 16. This event will sell out, so register soon. To request more information and/or to reserve your seats for the next Tasting at Tony’s of Indianapolis Benefiting the CCPL Foundation on September 16, 2019, please email Elizabeth Hamilton at ehamilton@carmel.lib.in.us. Tickets are $175 per person and include a themed dinner and selected wine pairings in one of Tony’s private dining rooms.

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