The counter counted as VIP seating due to high demand for Idler’s Women’s Month celebration in March.
BrandSource member cooks up a gourmet event for a local charity
By Andy Kriege, YSN
Idler’s Home hosted a unique cooking event in March within the live-demo kitchen of its Paso Robles, Calif., showroom.
The gathering, which coincided with Women’s History Month, was a celebration of local businesswomen as conceived and orchestrated by Idler’s principal Jennifer Idler.
“I am an event planner by trade, so I love doing these events like this one,” she said. “It’s a chance to spotlight some great local female owned-businesses, raise money for a wonderful charity, and showcase our own business as well. During March our county features the amazing chefs, wine makers, brewers, distillers, bakers and more who are strong women and movers and shakers in our community. I felt we needed to be part of this too.”
Prior to the pandemic the BrandSource member held regular cooking events in her live kitchens, a popular practice that she has since resumed. This March, Idler wanted to tie it into Women’s History Month by celebrating local businesswomen. “We have so many great local women-led eateries, breweries and wineries,” she said. “We asked a couple of them to come in and cook for us.”
The cooking shows are always held in conjunction with a local charity. Continuing the theme of women’s empowerment, Idler chose as this month’s recipient a local shelter and support services group, Lumina Alliance, which provides shelter, services and support for victims of domestic abuse. The organization is near and dear to Idler, who serves on its board.
“It makes my heart so happy to contribute to and educate the public about the essential services they offer to women and their families in need,” she said.
Beside donating the funds from the cooking event, Idler’s Home is also sponsoring a kitchen makeover at a housing unit for women in need. “The kitchen that was there looked like it was last touched in the ’60s,” Idler said. “We are redoing it entirely.”
The event itself featured a five-course meal that began with an assortment of locally-crafted vegan cheeses, presented and explained by the cheesemaker. The second course included a chilled martini gazpacho followed by salad and crab-cakes, which led up to a main course of freshly prepared duck paella, all capped off with an assortment of dessert delicacies.
“We’ve put together quite the ‘girl gang’ of lady chefs for an unforgettable experience,” the company posted on social media. And that it was, as reflected by the packed house of enthusiastic foodies who were lucky enough to get a ticket.
“Nobody left hungry, and several guests commented on not only how good the food and drinks were, but that it would have cost far more if served in a high-end restaurant” Idler said.
Encouraged, Idler plans on continuing the live cooking events each month. “I really enjoy doing them and it gives us a chance to showcase our store and see our appliances in action,” she said.
YSN publisher AVB BrandSource is the nation’s largest merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.