It was a night in India for those who love to eat well and who love and support the arts. The dinner, held to benefit the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, was preceded by the most tantalizing odors of roasting cumin seeds and cinnamon sticks. The menu featured steaming spicy rice, coconut chicken, coriander dolphin, ground lamb, mint yogurt soup, spicy fried shrimp and cashews, cooked pappadam lentil crackers, and ended with a vermicelli pudding.

There is something so satisfying about Indian cookery, even more so when it is fresh and home-cooked by June Girard, Chair of the Council of the Arts. June hosted this fundraiser at her house. She especially enjoys preparing Indian food because of the imaginative use of spices, some hot, some not.

Guests donated $100 each to the Arts Council to attend the dinner. In addition to the outstanding food, each female guest was given an Indian Sari and wore it for the evening's festivity.

The event raised $1200 for the Arts Council and raised the awareness of the need to support all the arts in all the Keys. A previous dinner was held at the home of Roger and MaryAnn Westerlund and more are planned in the future.

Anyone else who wishes to hold a benefit dinner may call Mary Ann Westerlund at 294-7158, or Penny Johnson at the Arts Council at 295-4369.

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