Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/385222
photography by bryce Vickmark left: A Fresca cocktail (made with rosemary-infused grapefruit vodka and elderflower) complements the meal. below: Lynch and Greenspan discuss Mass General's programs to promote healthy eating. "Part of the solution is education and exPosure to quality food. the funds that come out of storybook ball are really making a difference." —melissa lynch PG: These tomatoes look amazing. ML: Their salads are fresh and delicious.... It's interesting to look at both global and community health, because global health is every where and MGH shows a lot of exposure. PG: Financing and developing the right interven- tions, like child life programs, are important. Storybook Ball has evolved over the years in an incredibly nice way to a place where, yes, it's a great party, but now we have so many people who care about Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. I also feel like the focus by the cochairs over the last three or four years has been really extraordinary. ML: I think it's really important to focus on the fact that this is a community event. This year's theme, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," is going to be wonderful, and to tie it back to some of the focus is all incredibly good…. We're raising awareness and funds, but what are other things that people can do to move this initiative forward? PG: Getting involved in a particular program in an ongoing way is important. We have an advisory board, and we also have a family advisory council, which is much more involved in education for parents and residents. ML: I like the shift that's happening: It's not just people raising money for a party, but they're actually involved in the cause. the waiter serves charcoaled chilean sea bass with roasted parsnips and puff pastry of parsleyed escargot, and charcoaled duck with celery root sformato, red beet, and fresh cherry gastrique. ML: Wow, that looks delicious. Look at that sea bass. PG: This is pretty spectacular. ML: It is a beautiful presentation. I'm going to share some of this with you. This is what you should do every Friday at 5 pm. Do you love fish? PG: I do. I'm also a sucker for these puff pastries. I actually bake in my spare time. ML: What do you bake? PG: Desserts. I make a really good chocolate mousse cake. the waiter presents the dessert menu. ML: I don't think there's a morsel left on my plate. Do you have room for dessert? PG: Yes, I do. ML: The numerous times I've been here I've had the cookies and milk, but you choose. PG: I'll have the Chocolate Divinity.... So I guess I would say there are a few general categories. One is to fund nonreimbursable projects, like some of the nutrition work in the community where you need to have a health coach. The second area is research. ML: I think it's important that we focus on community and global health and what are the priorities, and some of those will be told through the patient stories. the waiter serves chocolate divinity, with dark chocolate crémeux, toasted butterscotch marshmallow, and cocoa nib ice cream with cookies and milk. PG: Oh, these are like s'mores. ML: This was delicious. PG: We surrender, we surrender. storybook ball takes place on october 18 at 6 pm. the castle at Park Plaza hotel, 64 arlington st., 617-724-3637; storybookballboston.org. BC 98 bostoncommon-magazine.com taste On the town