LEWISTON – The kitchen is modern, sleek and spacious. Stainless steel appliances gleam under the lights. Groups of people gather excitedly around the preparation station, chatting eagerly about what is to come.

This is not the inner sanctum of a five-star restaurant. This is the newly finished kitchen in the Nutrition Center of Maine on Bates Street. The center is part of the Sisters of Charity Health System’s Food Pantry, and was the center of attention Friday night at the first Chef Soiree.

Local chefs Paul Landry, Eric Agren and Theresa Hyatt provided food, fun and demonstrations centering on good, nutritious food purchased on a moderate budget. “We wanted to do something L-A hadn’t done before,” Landry said of the event.

Landry, of Fish Bones in Lewiston, showed the audience how to make a cheesy, spicy seafood crepe. “It’s just like on TV!” Pat Ledlie said of Landry’s demonstration. Ledlie and husband, David, attended to support of David’s position on the Sisters of Charity’s Advisory Committee.

Eric Agren, owner of FUEL, a new bistro inspired restaurant set to open on Lisbon Street in February, prepared braised beef short ribs and asparagus to the delight of the crowd.

Theresa Hyatt, owner of La Cuisine, a catering business based out of Turner, finished the night off with a dark chocolate Concord Torte, and a demonstration on how to create a gold leaf effect.

The event was held to raise money for the Food Pantry, and tickets cost $100 apiece. Local businesses donated items for a silent auction, with prizes ranging from a $50 bread-mix gift basket to a pair of Shaker style bar stools worth $560. Other items included dinner at FUEL, theater tickets and gift baskets. All proceeds will benefit the food pantry for the winter.

“The need is always there,” said Joyce Gagne, Food Pantry manager. “We feed about 200 families each week.”

Though the event was sponsored to raise money for the pantry, there was an added benefit for the Nutrition Center as well. “The real purpose is to educate everyone in the city who has a need to learn about nutrition,” said Jim Cassidy, chief executive officer of Sisters of Charity. He spoke of the need for educational programs for immigrants, diabetics and people who just want to learn to cook better foods for their families.

The Nutrition Center is housed in the former Wallace School. It is planned to use a refurbished classroom for education programs for the community.

“It’s a collaboration with the Downtown Educational Collaborative,” Annette Bourque, director of the Nutrition Center programming, said of the plan to use the space for classes on good nutrition and eating healthy on a moderate budget among others.

Also partnering with the Nutrition Center is Lots to Gardens, an organization with a mission is to use “sustainable urban agriculture to create access to fresh food, and nurture healthy youth and a healthy community.” Lots to Gardens plans to hold programming in the Nutrition Center classroom for children and parents, senior citizens and anyone in the community with a desire to learn how to use the food from their gardens.

For information on upcoming classes and events call the Sisters of Charity Health System at (207) 777-8863.

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