Faith Middleton, of WNPR’s “The Faith Middleton Food Schmooze®,” and Chris Prosperi, chef/owner of Metro Bis in Simsbury, were the featured hosts for an evening exploring signature dishes from cookbook author and television host Ina Garten on Wednesday, November 7 at Gateway Community College.

The tasty menu included an appetizer, entrée and dessert from Garten’s new book, Cook Like a Pro. Part of the Gateway Community College Foundation’s 6th Annual Chefs of Our Kitchen (C.O.O.K.) series, proceeds from the event helped fund scholarships for Gateway students and provided professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.

Guests were treated to a tri-colored salad with oranges, blending a sweet and savory palate of flavors. The entrée served was a hearty stew of beef short ribs simmered in red wine and served over creamy blue cheese grits. Ice cream sundaes topped with sweet and salty peanut caramel corn and drizzled with chocolate sauce completed the meal.

“The Faith Middleton Food Schmooze®” airs on WNPR radio on Thursdays at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. and Saturdays at noon. The two-time Peabody Award-winning Faith Middleton Show has been running for more than three decades and is recognized for encouraging insightful and thought-provoking dialogue.

Chris Prosperi is chef owner of Metro Bis restaurant in Simsbury, Connecticut, a Hartford Courant recipe columnist, an international cooking teacher from Mexico to Italy, a weekly chef on NBC 30, television host of New England Cuisine and a weekly senior contributor on “The Faith Middleton Food Schmooze®” on WNPR. The event was sponsored by People’s United Bank.