SPAC Logo 2023A farm-to-table feast followed by two evenings of culinary tastings, and author and chef conversations hosted by WAMC’s Joe Donahue

Saratoga Springs, NY (August 20, 2026) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center announces the return of its celebrated CulinaryArts@SPAC initiative this fall, presented in partnership with lead sponsor Franklin Square Market at SPAC.

The series begins on October 1 with Vermont Adventure Dinner, an immersive farm-to-table feast featuring a multi-course, family-style dinner prepared over open flame and showcasing the bounty of Vermont farms and artisan producers. On October 28, former New York Times food journalist and bestselling author Mark Bittman will celebrate his newest book, How to Cook Everything Vegan, with a conversation, tastings and a book signing. The series concludes on November 18 with chef and first-generation Lao-American Saeng Douangdara, who will share the stories, traditions and flavors of his new book, The Lao Kitchen. Each event offers a distinctive culinary experience centered on exceptional food, connection, and the stories behind what we eat. The October 28 and November 18 events will feature opportunities for book signings with the authors and a recorded conversation with WAMC host Joe Donahue on The Roundtable as part of its “WAMC On The Road” series.

“CulinaryArts@SPAC invites us to experience food as a way of connecting to place, culture, tradition and one another,” says Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “This fall’s series offers three wonderfully distinct perspectives—from Vermont’s farms and open-fire cooking, to Mark Bittman’s joyful and practical approach to plant-based food, to Saeng Douangdara’s deeply personal exploration of Lao foodways. Each evening is an opportunity to gather around the table, discover something new and celebrate the extraordinary stories that food can tell.”

Beyond its amphitheater stage, SPAC has become a year-round gathering place celebrating the artistry of food in building connection while empowering individuals to understand how what we eat influences our communities and our planet. The CulinaryArts@SPAC initiative, founded in 2020, combines culinary excellence and education with exquisite meals that emphasize socially conscious cultivation and consumption, local procurement, and fair wages.

The full schedule is as follows:

Vermont Adventure Dinner

October 1, 2026 | 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

For the first time, Vermont's acclaimed Adventure Dinner is stepping across the state border, partnering with CulinaryArts@SPAC to host an unforgettable outdoor dining experience beneath the stars.

The Colchester-based culinary collective is known for immersive food and drink experiences in unexpected corners of Vermont. Now they're bringing that celebrated outdoor feast to SPAC's natural park setting — a multi-course dinner cooked over open flame on Adventure Dinner's signature grills and served family-style at long communal tables, fostering connection and conversation all evening.

Guests will enjoy their award-winning Grazing Table with Vermont charcuterie and cheeses, and a family feast featuring a Crisp Autumn Salad, Cider-Brined Coal-Roasted Pork, Roasted Delicata Squash and Cast-Iron Maple-Miso Apple and Pear Crisp. Complementing the menu is a curated pour of wine, distinctive beers — including selections from Hill Farmstead — and inventive culinary cocktails and mocktails.

Adventure Dinner champions the farms, producers, and small businesses behind Vermont's "Brave Little State," in alignment with CulinaryArts@SPAC's mission to support socially conscious cultivation, consumption, and local procurement.

Tickets to attend are $150 and are available at spac.org.

How to Cook Everything Vegan with Mark Bittman

October 28, 2026 | 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

In How to Cook Everything Vegan, New York Times bestselling author Mark Bittman offers a practical roadmap to plant-based cooking, demonstrating how real, wholesome ingredients can become delicious, satisfying meals without relying on ultra-processed alternatives or junk food.

In conversation with WAMC host Joe Donahue, Bittman will explore the possibilities of plant-based eating, sharing straightforward recipes and variations, helpful cooking techniques and ingredient guides, and strategies for creating delicious, flexible meals. He’ll cover everything from building flavor with seasonings and making smart ingredient substitutions to reimagining leftovers.

Guests will enjoy family-style tastings from How to Cook Everything Vegan, including dishes such as Falafel Fritters, Rootshimi, Cold Soba Noodles with Vegetables and Dipping Sauces, Stuffed Whole Cabbage, Creamy and Crunchy Baked Polenta, and Chocolaty Fruit Bonbons, alongside wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages.

A book signing will follow the conversation and Q&A. The conversation will be recorded for future broadcast on WAMC’s The Roundtable. 

Tickets are $99 and are available at spac.org.

The Lao Kitchen

November 18, 2026| 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Chef Saeng Douangdara, a first-generation Lao-American, leads an evening of food and conversation as he shares his essential guide to Lao cuisine. 

In The Lao Kitchen, Douangdara explores the heart of these South Asian foodways, which are often overlooked, and shares recipes and food knowledge passed down through generations of his family. The evening offers a taste of this vibrant culinary tradition while illuminating the cultural stories behind the food.

In conversation with WAMC host Joe Donahue, Douangdara will share his personal journey as a member of the Lao diaspora and explore how food connects him to his roots. Drawing on a culinary tradition historically preserved through oral storytelling, he will share the family knowledge, techniques, and traditions that have shaped his approach to Lao cooking.

Douangdara will join CulinaryArts@SPAC resident chef Kevin London in the kitchen to create a unique family-style meal, serving vibrant dishes like Sakoo Yat Sai (tapioca dumplings), Sai Oua Wontons, Nam Khao Tod (crispy rice salad), Khao Niew (sticky rice), Tom Khem (caramelized braised pork stew), and Thum Mak Hoong (papaya salad), alongside wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. A book signing will follow the conversation and Q&A.  

The conversation will be recorded for future broadcast on WAMC’s The Roundtable. 

Tickets are $99 and are available at spac.org.

CulinaryArts@SPAC is presented in partnership with lead sponsor Franklin Square Market, downtown Saratoga’s community market and bar. The initiative is produced by Culinary Consultants Pam Abrams and Kevin London.

*All menus and ingredients are subject to chan

###

Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its exquisite setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts.  

SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.

ge.