Cool Hand Series Fundraiser (2026)

The founder of Cool Hand Series, Madison O'Leary, came to us with a request to cater her first major fundraiser. She works with prisons in multiple states to screen films, teach theater, and organize talkbacks with film industry professionals so that inmates may create new art and pursue a creative career upon exiting the prison system.

The Fundraiser Menu

We built the cocktail hour-style menu with a Latin and pan-Pacific theme to match the donation of Cava Antigua tequila. We took our usual cheese graze and swapped out our dried apricots for mango, and added small touches like cassava chips to match the mood.

Our fruit platter featured ripe papaya, sweet mango, and pineapple dusted with spicy Tajin. We added baby corn to the cruidites, which is a new item we never considered for dipping in our shallot vinaigrette.

The first of our hot appetizers were large bacon-wrapped Medjool dates. They're savory, salty, and sweet at the same time.

Our chicken inasal bites are made with marinated and grilled Filipino chicken thigh, atchara (house-pickled papaya)—all stacked on a small potato bun.

These adorable shrimp tostadas were the perfect crunchy bite. We poached shrimp in a chile-cilantro court bouillon and tossed them with lime juice. We fried our own tiny tostadas, piped vegan black bean cream, and layered the shrimp with pico de gallo, pickled onion, and fresh cilantro.

Dessert was graciously donated by Cloudy Donut Co., a vegan shop founded by Derrick Faulcon. He was formerly incarcerated for 11 years before becoming the first black-owned bakery in Brooklyn Heights. We lovingly plated a selection of mini donuts: blackberry mojito, blueberry, and chai sugar.

A Party Tip

To make our goat cheese balls, you need 1/2 cup of crushed shelled pistachios for every 8 ounces of cheese. Make sure your cheese is chilled; it is easier to work with. As it warms up, it tends to get harder to handle.

Divide the goat cheese into 1 ounce or 1/2 ounce balls and roll them in the crushed pistachios. Feel free to experiment with adding spices or swapping out the type of nuts! Chill the finished goat cheese balls until ready to serve with toothpicks.