Press Release: Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces “SPAC in Conversation: Florence Fabricant” on October 16

Saratoga Springs, NY (September 5, 2024) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center announces that its popular Action Council fundraising event, “SPAC in Conversation,” will return with Florence Fabricant, renowned New York Times food and wine columnist and prolific cookbook author. Moderated by SPAC President & CEO Elizabeth Sobol, the discussion will explore how Fabricant forged a career in food writing, her earliest food memories, her latest recipe discoveries, and her insights into New York’s most iconic dining rooms and bars. Slated for Wednesday, October 16 at the Spa Little Theater and the Hall of Springs, the event is also highlighted by a plated lunch and boutique shopping.

“When I first moved to New York City from North Carolina, Florence Fabricant quickly became my wise guide to navigating the vast and sometimes overwhelming food scene in the city. And now, after following her columns for decades and continuing to grow our own

CulinaryArts@SPAC program, it is a great thrill to bring such a legendary and influential culinary figure to Saratoga,” says Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Florence Fabricant has been a food and wine writer for the New York Times for more than 50 years. She contributes the weekly Off the Menu column, and previously wrote the Front Burner and Pairing columns. Her features cover food, travel and articles about news in the restaurant industry. She has also written 13 cookbooks. The latest, published in 2021, is the 125^th anniversary cookbook for LVIS, The Ladies’ Village Improvement Society, a community improvement organization in East Hampton. Others include New Home Cooking (Clarkson Potter), City Harvest (Rizzoli), The New York Times Dessert Cookbook (St. Martins Press), The New York Restaurant Cookbook (Rizzoli), The New York Times Seafood Cookbook (St. Martins Press), Venetian Taste (Abbeville Press), Park Avenue Potluck, and Park Avenue Potluck Celebrations, both fund-raisers for Memorial Sloan-Kettering, published by Rizzoli. She has begun work on a memoir to be published by Hachette. In recognition of her contribution to French culture and gastronomy she has been awarded L’Ordre du Mérite National and L’Ordre du Mérite Agricole by the French government.

“SPAC in Conversation: Florence Fabricant” is presented by the SPAC Action Council, which supports SPAC’s mission through membership, volunteering efforts, and fundraising events. Past speakers for the event have included author and former New York Times journalist Julie Scelfo; acclaimed food and travel writer Sylvie Bigar; New York Times columnist Pamela Paul; celebrated author of The End of Your Life Book Club, Will Schwalbe; New York Times bestselling author Andrew Gross; award-winning NPR host and correspondent Jacki Lyden, and acclaimed novelist Elizabeth Brundage, among others.

The schedule of events is as follows:

10:00 A.M. | Conversation with Florence Fabricant, Spa Little Theater

11:15 A.M. | Boutique shopping, Hall of Springs

12:30 P.M. | Luncheon, Hall of Springs

1:30 P.M. | Book signing and raffle drawing, Hall of Springs

Cost to attend the fundraiser is $100 and includes admission to the discussion, Hall of Springs luncheon and boutique shopping.

Tickets may be purchased at spac.org or by calling at 518.584.9330, ext. 142.