PUTNEY-After two sold-out events that brought together film lovers and foodies alike, Next Stage Arts' Feast and Film Series is an event in southern Vermont's cultural calendar.
Curated by James Beard Award winner Deborah Krasner and supported in part by a grant from Vermont Humanities, the series pairs evocative films with dinners inspired by their themes, prepared by local chefs, offering audiences an immersive experience where story and flavor intertwine.
"These evenings invite us not only to watch and taste, but to reflect and connect. It's art you can experience with all your senses," said series organizer Heather Ahrenholz in a news release.
The inaugural event, held on March 9, featured the French culinary romance The Taste of Things (2023), followed by a prix fixe dinner at the newly renovated Putney Diner. Owner Eleni Mak and her team crafted a locally sourced, three-course menu rooted in classic French country cooking, echoing the film's celebration of love through cuisine. The event drew a capacity crowd of over 60 diners, setting the tone for the series' reception.
In April, the second installment showcased the Indian drama The Lunchbox (2013), followed by an Indian meal prepared by Brattleboro-based Leda's Kitchen. Chef Leda Scheintaub, known for her creative, globally inspired fare, served chicken korma, saag paneer, chana masala, and a sweet potato-coconut bebinka dessert.
Once again, the event sold out, with nearly 70 participants filling the Next Stage Community Room for an evening of shared stories and spices.
The grant from Vermont Humanities has enabled the professional curation of this series and provided essential operating resources in addition to a limited number of subsidized dinner tickets, ensuring that the experience remains accessible to the broader community.
The Feast and Film Series continues this summer with Ang Lee's culinary classic Eat Drink Man Woman (1994), screening Sunday, June 22, followed by a Taiwanese-inspired dinner prepared by Cai Xi Silver of Cai's Dim Sum Catering.
Looking ahead to the fall, the series will feature The Gleaners and I (2000) by French New Wave director Agnès Varda, offering another opportunity to reflect on food, sustainability, and storytelling through a distinctly cinematic lens.
Tickets for future events will be announced at nextstagearts.org, with early reservations recommended due to high demand.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.