Award-winning chef Erin Bevan, formerly of the Four Columns Inn and The Hermitage Inn, is coming to Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) on Saturday, August 26, at 6 p.m., offering a rare opportunity for guests to dine amidst works of art currently on view in the museum’s galleries. Diners will enjoy a four-course meal among the dynamic upcycled-plastic sculptures in “Aurora Robson: Human Nature Walk” and a table arrangement inspired by the still-life paintings in “Alec Egan: Drawing Room.” Trained as a sculptor before shifting to the culinary arts, Bevan is the mastermind behind both the event’s original dishes and the creative table décor. Space is limited. To purchase tickets ($90, $75 for BMAC members), call 802-257-0124 x101 or visit brattleboromuseum.org.
Having grown up on a small family farm in western Massachusetts, Bevan has a deep appreciation for sustainable production and fresh flavors. Her menus draw on seasonal ingredients sourced from local producers. The dinner at BMAC includes products from local farms, including Parish Hill Creamery, Rebop Farm, and Slipstream Farm, as well as the local bakery Against the Grain Gourmet. The dishes are all gluten-free, but some contain nuts and dairy. There is a vegetarian option. Wine pairings are curated by Windham Wines.
After studying at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Bevan broke into her first kitchen under James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schlow at Via Matta, where she developed a love of regional Italian food. For 17 years, she continued studying in Boston under other great chefs of Italian kitchens, including Jody Adams at Rialto, Jamie Bissonnette at Coppa, and Charles Draghi at Erbaluce. In 2016, Bevan relocated to Vermont and took the lead at Newfane’s Four Columns Inn. After the pandemic, she reopened The Hermitage Inn in West Dover, restoring its reputation as a culinary destination. Today, Bevan works as a private chef, bringing her years of expertise into people’s homes and other venues, where she provides distinctly creative, bespoke menus that draw upon her relationships with local producers.
Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
Founded in 1972, Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. BMAC is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10–4. Admission is free. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org.
BMAC is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.
