PHILADELPHIA — Guests aboard Acela Express, the nation’s first high-speed rail service, will be treated to live performances and other special events tied to Northeast Corridor locations along the train route as Amtrak introduces its new event series, “Live On Acela Express.” Amtrak will launch the series on Saturday, January 19th, with a “High-Speed Cooking” demonstration and book signing by Chef Mark Strausman, owner of New York City’s Campagna and author of The Campagna Table: Bring the Style and Cooking of the Italian Countryside into Your Own Home.
Strausman’s “High-Speed Cooking” demonstration will focus on delicious dishes that can be prepared in a hurry by the busy professional and will be presented to Amtrak guests while the chef travels from New York to Boston to participate with other celebrated chefs in the popular Boston Cooks! culinary festival. The “High-Speed Cooking” demonstration will begin at 10:52 a.m. aboard Acela Express #2290 as the train departs from Providence, RI. Strausman’s book signing will be presented periodically from 8:03 a.m., when the train leaves New York’s Penn Station, to 11:47 a.m. when the train pulls into Boston’s South Station.
Amtrak will present “Live On Acela Express” as a recurring feature of the service during the next several months while presenting various events that reflect the exciting pulse of the nation’s Northeast region. Barbara J. Richardson, Amtrak’s Executive Vice President, said, “The style and amenities featured on America’s first high-speed rail service were developed to attract consumers who appreciate a special experience in travel. “Live On Acela Express” punctuates the service’s unique environment as the premier travel choice to traverse the business hubs of the Northeast Corridor.”
Amtrak is an official sponsor of Boston Cooks! and many leading chefs based in the Northeast Corridor will take Acela Express to participate in the culinary festival. Boston Cooks!, a citywide festival of food, wine and culinary events in Boston, is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, and last year drew more than 30,000 visitors. The festival will run from January 18th through February 10th; the Cookbook Dine Around, which pairs 40 world- renowned chef/authors with 40 of Greater Boston’s best restaurants to create specialty menus from their latest cookbooks, runs January 18th through January 30th.
Amtrak will present Strausman’s “High Speed Cooking” and other Live On Acela Express events in a way that the company anticipates will be fun and enjoyable for its guests. The events will be staged so as not to be intrusive to those guests who would rather focus solely on work or quiet relaxation.