On February 13, Columbia's Chef Mike—Michael DeMartino, the executive chef for campus dining—led a truffle-making lesson at The Forum to encourage more donor support for Columbia Community Service (CCS). Chef Mike and Columbia Dining, longtime supporters of the program, wanted to share their enthusiasm and encourage more donations. Budding cooks participated in a hands-on demonstration of the process, working from Chef Mike's personal truffle recipe and taking home a box of handmade truffles in time for Valentine's Day.
Prior to the lesson, participants heard from Isaac Adlerstein, executive director at Broadway Community, Inc., a longtime CCS grantee that provides hot meals, a food and produce pantry, medical services, clothing distribution, and other necessities to the Morningside Heights community. Participants were encouraged to make a contribution to CCS in order to help support Broadway Community and other organizations that receive CCS grants.