Evening at Sundaram Tagore Gallery

Last week, Sundaram Tagore Gallery welcomed Victory Club members and friends, as well as members of The Metropolitical Museum's Apollo Circle and The Rubin's Visionary Circle, for an evening of cocktails and art.

Artist Miya Ando

Chefanie devised a cocktail that created a dialogue between the cocktail and Miya Ando's metal canvases and sculpture. 

Chefanie and VC members

A wonderful evening was had by all. 

A big thank you to our members & friends.  Click here to get in the mix! 

Pop-up at The Red Arrow Gallery, Nashville

Earlier this month, Victory Club popped-up in Nashville! The event was hosted by Katie Shaw and Sarah Beth Paul of The Red Arrow Gallery, an amazing gallery in East Nashville that celebrates and shows emerging artists.

Katie Shaw, Sarah Beth Paul

Guests entered the space and were welcomed by new works by Alic Daniel and Daniel Holland.

The Red Arrow Gallery

Little Harpeth generously donated beer, and textile-designer Andra Eggleston provided beautiful spring flowers and her Electra Eggleston tablecloths. 

The Red Arrow Gallery

Katie Shaw

Teddy Nass, Hope Whalen, Jack Lorge

Lauren Finney, Katy Lindenmuth, Carly Ripp, Cadence Turpin

Chefanie created cakes inspired by the art work of Alic Daniel and Daniel Holland. 

Chefanie's cake on Andra Eggleston's tablecloth

Stephanie Nass, Daniel Holland

Chefanie's cake in front of Daniel's painting 

Victory Club invitation

We are very grateful to The Red Arrow Gallery for an amazing event! We recommend this gallery on your next visit South.

Luncheon at Kostabi World

This past Saturday, internationally renowned artist and composer Mark Kostabi hosted Victory Club members & guests for a luncheon at Kostabi World, Mark Kostabi's studio and home. Known for his paintings of faceless figures, Kostabi has work in the permanent collections of the MoMA, Metropolitan, and Guggenheim Museums.

The tablescape included Bodvar of Sweden Rosé, red tulips in a Kostabi vase, and a Kostabi sculpture. Chefanie loves to put art (and wine) in the center of the table to create conversation. 

Chefanie setting the table for our event at Kostabi world

In the 1990s, Kostabi's work began to be widely exhibited throughout Italy, and shortly thereafter, he established a second home in Rome. The lunch menu took inspiration from Kostabi's time in Rome -- and his vegetarian diet. We thank Whole Foods for generously donating the ingredients that made the meal so delicious! 

Menu drawn by Mark Kostabi & Chefanie

Chefanie's cacio e pepe, photographed by Vicki Morton

A Kostabi painting of a dining scene that inspired Chefanie's tiramisú cakes

Chefanie's tiramisú cakes directly inspired by a Kostabi painting

We thank all members & guests. Click here to get in the mix! 

Afternoon with Benjamin Tischer

This past Saturday, Benjamin Tischer of Invisible Exports and his wife Gala Verdugo hosted Victory Club in their charming West Village apartment. As members and friends arrived, they were greeted with a bold and vibrant Scott Treleaven painting-- the centerpiece of their eclectically curated home.

The tablescape included Bodvar of Sweden Rosé and carrot cake that evoked the drawing of Scott Treleaven.

Before the seated meal, Ben showed members and friends around his home--speaking about his journey to New York (from Ohio) and how he ended up in the art world. 

Mary in front of Walt Cassidy's Attack on the Ascending

The meal was inspired by seasonal ingredients and pieces of art in Ben's home.

Menu hand-painted by Chefanie

For the first course, members and friends were presented with a chilled asparagus soup garnished with a quenelle of creme fraiche, roasted asparagus and scallions.

Chilled asparagus soup

For the second course, members and friends were presented with a cornish hen stuffed with cornbread stuffing atop couscous, roasted green beans and leeks. This was meant to reference the stuffed birds around the apartment. 

Cornbread stuffing stuffed cornish hen

And finally for dessert, guests indulged in carrot cake. The interior was carrot cake (24 Karat Cake) ispired by Walt Cassidy's wall art. The exterior was inspired by Scott Treleaven's painting.

Thank you to our hosts Ben and Gala and to our members and friends for such a special afternoon!

TriBeCa Lunch with Marthe Keller

This past Saturday, New York abstractionist Marthe Keller hosted Victory Club in her TriBeCa home. As an internationally renowned artist, Marthe has paintings, collages and prints in the permanent collections of the Met, MoMa and the Whitney Museum.

At every Victory Club event, we incorporate some of the artist's own work into the tablescape. On Saturday, we came across never before seen tiles that Marthe did 10 years ago. We were inspired to use them as chargers.

Members and friends 

Members and friends with Marthe Keller and her husband Brad

Members and friends

Before the seated meal, Marthe showed members and friends around her home while talking about the development of her vertical style. Everyone sipped on Bodvàr of Sweden rosé as they toured the loft.

The menu took inspiration from Marthe's own work and her childhood in Italy.

Menu hand-painted by Chefanie

For the first course, members and friends were presented with Zucchini Carpaccio, tossed with toasted almonds and parmesan cheese.

Zucchini Carpaccio atop one of Marthe's  tiles

For the second course, members and friends had ramp-pesto filled ravioli. Paying homage to Marthe's vertical lines, the ravioli were striped. Chefanie used spinach, tomato, squid ink and plain pasta dough to create the gorgeously striped ravioli.  

Pesto filled ravioli atop one of Marthe's  tiles

Ravioli in front of Marthe's painting that inspired it

Pesto filled ravioli 

Dessert was a delicious strawberry shortcake that evoked a painting in Marthe's living space.

Strawberry shortcake ready for service

Chefanie 

Chefanie and Marthe 

Strawberry shortcake inspired by Marthe's work

Thank you to our members and friends for a wonderful afternoon!

Click here to get in the mix!

Cassius Clay hosts ChefXchange Collaboration

This past Thursday, Victory Club partnered with ChefXchange to pop up in London at the home of art historian Cassius Clay. His knowledge of art history and keen eye for decorative arts inspired the evening

ChefXchange is an online marketplace that allows gourmands to hire private chefs for meals in the comfort of their own home. The platform has over 500 chefs signed up across EMEA and Washington, DC. What distinguishes this brand is the quality of chefs; many trained in Michelin-starred restaurants. We were lucky enough to work with chef Andrea Zagatti. 

Ciprian Ilie of Frameless Gallery spoke about his gallery including works by Ferdinand Leger and Louise Fishman.

Ciprian Ilie of Frameless Gallery

Chefanie devised a menu inspired by the favorite foods of her longtime best friend, Cassius Clay.

For the first course, members and friends enjoyed Pappardelle with Pistachio Pesto. The second course featured Rack of Lamb with Burnt Leak and Cherry gel.

Rack of Lamb with Burnt Leak, Cherry Gel

Rack of Lamb with Burnt Leak, Cherry Gel

The last and most decadent course, Dolci, featured Mille Foglie with Macadamia and Strawberries. 

Preparing Dolci!

Millie Foglie with Macadamia, Strawberries

ChefXChange created some of the most beautiful plates of food, which aroused conversation between the culinary and visual arts.

Of course, Chefanie made her signature American chocolate chip cookies.

Members and friends had the most wonderful experience, thanks to our partner, ChefXChange, our speaker Cipian Ilie, and of course, our host Cassius Clay!

William Anastasi & Dove Bradshaw Host Lunch

This past Saturday, Victory Club hosted a tour and private luncheon in the studio of the artists William Anastasi & Dove Bradsaw. Anastasi was a contemporary and close friend of John Cage and his work has been exhibited in the Met, MoMA, the Guggenheim, and many others. Dove Bradshaw is a conceptual artist who uses the natural elements (like weather) across artistic media. Anastasi and Bradshow were gracious enough to talk about their own works to Victory Club members and friends.

In the center of the table was Bradshaw's very own take on Marcel Duchamp's Bottle Rack. Eleni's brilliantly captured the work on their famous cookies, creating a dialogue between the culinary and visual arts.

The menu took inspiration from Anastasi and Bradshaw's own work.

Menu painted by Chefanie

Bill Anastasi's Puzzle Puzzle, 2015. Photo credit: Sandra Gering Gallery

Carrot soup with a puzzle piece garnish, referencing Anastasi's famous "Puzzle Puzzle"

Seared tuna with potato puree and asparagus

Chocolate cake dusted with 18K gold powder, beside Bradshaw's sculptures

The remains of the cake...

A good time was had by all. We thank our hosts for their warm hospitality and for inspiring the group!

Valentine's Day at Lesley Heller Workspace

This past Sunday, Lesley Heller Workspace hosted Victory Club's annual Valentine's Day party!  Members and friends came together to celebrate the romantic holiday with sweets & treats and, of course, art. But first, they were wrapped in bows to get into the spirit of Valentine's Day!

Hanging on the walls of the Workspace were multi-media works on paper by Tony Ingrisano. Drawing inspiration from various natural infrastructures, Ignasio's work questions how perspective affects natural systems. Lesley Heller, a former dancer and Goldman Sachs employee, followed her passion for art, opening the gallery that she now owns. Lesley showed members and guests around the space, answering questions and providing insight into the world of art. 

A sweet and decadent V-Day was had by all, thanks to our partners at Urbani Truffles, Neuman's Kitchen, Studmuffin Desserts, Chuao Chocolatier and Eleni's Cookies!

Rosé, Chuao Chocolatiers mini chocolate bars, Urbani black & white truffle bonbons (which we affectionaley call truffle truffles), homeade cotton candy and Neuman's Kitchen macaroons

Bacon, sea salt, caramel and  chocolate ganache macaroons by Neuman's Kitchen

"Love Stinks" and "iCookie" by Eleni's Cookies and Chefanie's famous chocolate chip cookies

"Jackie Os", "Lemon Crisps" and "Sinners & Saints" by Studmuffin Desserts

A warm thank you to everybody who braved the cold and helped make this year's Valentine's extra sweet ;) 

Chefanie holding Eleni's "Emoji in Love Cookie"

Afternoon on the LES

This past Sunday, Victory Club made its was down to the Lower East Side, where it hosted an event in the studio of the late artist, Charles Keller. Located on the second floor of a quintessential LES walkup, the space boasted some of Charles Keller's most prominent works of art, and his daughter, Marthe, was the perfect ambassador to talk about them. The big windows provided a view of the springlike January day -- and a view of a brand new BMW 7 Series. BMW of Manhattan graciously sponsored the event and provided a car that was a great conversation piece for guests throughout the meal. 

GH Mumm champagne to welcome guests at the event

Martha Keller, a world renowned artist and Charles' daughter, and her husband Brad showed members and friends around the studio, answering questions and providing historical background behind Charles's works.

The tablescape was decorated with Chefanie's signature menus, bottles of Brancott Estate sauvignon blanc, Urbani's "truffle truffles" (chocolate truffles with Italian mushroom truffles), and cookies from our event sponsor, BMW of Manhattan. 

The menu took inspiration from Charles Keller's time in Rome, where he lived as a communist in the 1960s. 

Chefanie's ravioli in a white truffle sauce, courtesy of Urbani

Tiramisú in the making

Guests conversing over the lively luncheon

It was a beautiful luncheon that lasted beyond sunset. Thank you to our members, guests, and BMW of Manhattan for making the event the success that it was. 

Chefanie with the BMW 7 Series