Citymeals-On-Wheels "Chefs' Tribute" Benefit

CITYMEALS-ON-WHEELS SILVER SPOONS: 25 YEARS OF CHEFS & CELEBRATIONS

Reporting by Leah

Citymeals-on-Wheels celebrated the 25^thanniversary of the Chefs’ Tribute to JamesBeard, an annual benefit held in honor of the charitys co-founder, on June 14, 2010.

Legendary chefs and Beard disciples gathered at the gardens, esplanades and restaurants ofRockefeller Center to honor the Citymeals co-founder and celebrate a quarter century of cooking for a cause.

More than 40 of the great chefs who have participated at Chefs’ Tribute in the past reunited at Rockefeller Centerto prepare the same dish they did at a previous Chefs Tributeevent or a new take on it.The chefs prepared a spectacular movable feast with some of their most beloved signature dishes at this beautiful venue. The event, themed Silver Spoons: 25 Years of Chefs & Celebrations, honored James Beard and benefited Citymeals-on-Wheels, and was designed by renowned architect David Rockwell.

More than 1,000 business leaders, gourmet enthusiasts, food industry trendsetters, socialites, young professionals, chefs and restaurateurs were involvedin oneof the seasons most anticipated culinary events.Live music and dancing added another vibrant dash to the festivities.The event was expected to raise nearly $700,000 for the preparation and delivery of nutritious meals, hand-delivered to frail, homebound elderly New Yorkers. James Beard’s extraordinary legacy lived on at this tribute benefit.

Nick Valenti of Patina Restaurant Group wasthe evenings Grand Host.Beverage Chair was Audrey Saunders of The Pegu Club.Official sponsors of Citymeals-on-Wheelswere American Airlines and FIJI Water. Event sponsors included Affinia Hotel Group, bpi, Party Rental Ltd., Natures Pride bread, Nespresso, Riese Restaurants, and UNIMAC Graphics.

Among the chefs creating culinary magic:

Jody Adams, Rialto Restaurant (Cambridge, MA)

Paul Bartolotta, Bartolotta Ristorante de Mare (Las Vegas)

Jonathan Benno, Patina Restaurant at Lincoln Center (New York)

Massimo Bottura, Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy)

Daniel Boulud & Jean Francois Bruel, DANIEL (New York)

Ed Brown, Ed’s Chowder House (New York)

Cesare Casella, Salumeria Rosi (New York)

Jawn Chasteen & Michael Gabriel, The Sea Grill (New York)

Josh DeChellis, La Fonda del Sol (New York)

Franck Deletrain, Caf Centro (New York)
Robert Del Grande, Caf Annie (Houston, TX)
Traci des Jardins & Morgan Mueller, Jardiniere (San Fransisco)
Todd English, The Todd English Restaurant Group (New York)
Gennaro Esposito, Torre del Saraceno (Vico Equense, Italy)
Claudia Fleming & Gerry Hayden, The North Fork Table & Inn (Southold, NY)
Larry Forgione, An American Place (St. Louis) with Marc Forgione, Marc Forgione (New York)
Melissa Kelly, Primo (Rockland, ME, Orlando, Tucson)
Richard Leach, The Hurricane Club (New York)
Zarela Martinez, Zarela (New York)
Nobu Matsuhisa, Nobu (New York)
Michael Mina, MICHAEL MINA (San Francisco)
David Myers, Sona/Comme a (Los Angeles)
Joe Ng, Chinatown Brasserie (New York)
Bradley Ogden, Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace (Las Vegas)
Charlie Palmer & Christopher Lee, Aureole (New York)
Franois Payard, Franois Chocolate Bar (New York)
Mark Peel, Campanile/The Tar Pit/The Point (Los Angeles)
Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar & Grill (New York)
Antonio Prontelli & Juan Branez, Rock Center Caf/Cucina & Co. (New York)
Wolfgang Puck, Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group (Los Angeles)
Stephan Pyles, Stephan Pyles (Dallas, TX)
Chris Schlesinger, East Coast Grill (Cambridge, MA)
Jimmy Schmidt, Rattlesnake/Morgans in the Desert (Detroit, MI/La Quinta, CA)
Joachim Splichal & Toney Esnault, Patina Restaurant (Los Angeles)
Bill Telepan, Telepan (New York)
Jacques Torres, Jacques Torres Chocolates (New York)
Silvana Vivoli, Vivoli Il Gelato (Florence, Italy)
Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean Georges (New York)
Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto (New York)

About Citymeals-On-Wheels: Founded in 1981, Citymeals-on-Wheels is a not-for-profit organization and public-private partnership with the New York City Department for the Aging that raises private funds to prepare and deliver weekend, holiday and emergency meals to the homebound elderly throughout the boroughs of New York City. Last year, Citymeals underwrote the preparation and delivery of 2.1 million meals to 17,000 aged New Yorkers.

One hundred percent of donations from the public to Citymeals goes toward the preparation and delivery of meals for the homebound elderly. For more informationplease visit www.citymeals.org