- April 3, 2025
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Jess Kruse is selected to be one of six assistants to help chef Angela Massaro-Fain at the Cooking for Charity event at Meals on Wheels-Plus Sept. 28.
Photo by Jay HeaterAngela Massaro-Fain stirs while Wanda Martinetto pours the Alfredo Sauce over the cheese tortellini.
Photo by Jay HeaterAngela Massaro-Fain and Pamela Modisett show off a spinach salad.
Photo by Jay HeaterHarrietta Krasnoff adds the pepper to the Alfredo sauce.
Photo by Jay HeaterEd Martinetto stirs the candied, sliced almonds that served as a terrific appetizer.
Photo by Jay HeaterMeals on Wheels' Judi Bjork and Sisterhood for Good's Angela Massaro-Fain say their organizations split the Cooking for Charity proceeds 50-50.
Photo by Jay HeaterHarrietta Krasnoff and Wanda Martinetto stir, stir, stir the Alfredo sauce.
Photo by Jay HeaterThe crowd dug into a pile of pesto pasta.
Photo by Jay HeaterAngela Massaro-Fain and Jess Kruse watch as Bill Smock blends the pesto sauce.
Photo by Jay HeaterHarrietta Krasnoff is happy because it is time to eat!
Photo by Jay HeaterEd Martinetto scoops out the candied, sliced almonds.
Photo by Jay HeaterBill Smock, Jess Kruse, Angela Massaro-Fain, Pamela Modisett, Harrietta Krasnoff, and Wanda and Ed Martinetto formed the cooking team.
Photo by Jay HeaterThose who weren't part of the cooking team would watch the preparation from above on big screens.
Photo by Jay HeaterOne of Angela Massaro-Fain's specialties is her lemon pasta.
Photo by Jay HeaterMeals on Wheels' Melissa Ferlazzo handled all the video work during the event.
Photo by Jay HeaterKathy Collums digs into a salad during Cooking for Charity.
Photo by Jay HeaterWhile a group of 37 people enjoyed the Cooking for Charity event Sept. 28 at Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee in Bradenton, the best moment had nothing to do with charity.
It was time to eat.
And that is what those who bought tickets came to do, taste a meal prepared by celebrity chef Angela Massaro-Fain, who prepared recipes with the help of those in her audience, right out of her book "Bacio di Cucina."
There was lemon pasta, pesto pasta, and cheese tortellini with Alfredo sauce for the main courses. A spinach salad with strawberries was whipped up and Massaro-Fain served up some candied, sliced almonds.
The event was the brainchild of Meals on Wheels-Plus President and CEO Maribeth Phillips, who had taken one of Massaro-Fain's cooking classes. Massaro-Fain is the founder of Sisterhood for Good of Lakewood Ranch, so the two non-profits partnered on the event and split the proceeds 50-50.
Six of those who attended were chosen by random to assist Massaro-Fain as the meal was prepared. Melissa Ferlazzo, Meals on Wheels-Plus' donor relations and database administrator, feed a video feed from above the kitchen island to several big screens so the audience could watch each step.
Besides earning some funds for the nonprofits, Meals on Wheels Vice President Judi Bjork said the event showcased the Nutrition Services Center, which available to nonprofits and schools.