Fifth Annual Whole Foods Market New Taste of the Upper West Side

Back and Better Than Ever with a Fresh Line-Up

Wednesday May 16^th  Friday, May 18^th, and Saturday, May 19^th

New York’s Legendary Gael Greene to be Honored at

Best of the West

Comfort Classics, Hosted by Travel Channel’s Dynamic Duo

Adam Richman & Andrew Zimmern

New York, NY (February 2012) – Barbara Adler, Executive Director of the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) and New Taste Event Chair Don Evans announce the return of the fifth annual Whole Foods Market New Taste of the Upper West Side. This year’s line-up features exciting additions to the celebration as well as returning crowd pleasers. Whole Foods Market New Taste of the Upper West Side will include favorite chefs and culinary celebrities, beginning May 16^th through May 19^th, benefitting the Columbus Avenue BID’s streetscape beautification projects, as well as supporting the Greenhouse Classroom and Citymeals-on-Wheels.

“For the past five years we’ve been celebrating the incredible community and bountiful culinary culture on the

Upper West Side. We are pleased again to be able to give back to our neighborhood, extending our reach on a more personal level made possible by the continued success and relationships of the New Taste events” says

Don Evans, Event Chair and BID board member.

For three nights, the Whole Foods Market New Taste of the Upper West Side will showcase top chefs and restaurants for a spectacular line-up of festivities. Kicking things off on Wednesday, May 16^th, is the new and elegant, Vegetables at Dovetail: An inspired five-course vegetarian tasting dinner by an all-star group of chefs, led by John Fraser, Dovetail; Missy Robbins, A Voce: Ed Brown, Ed’s Chowder House; Harold Dieterle, Perilla and Christina Tosi, Momofuku Milk Bar. All net proceeds from this event will benefit the Greenhouse Classroom, a project at the I.S. 44 School, where the New Taste of the Upper West Side is held. The Greenhouse Classroom will educate students about science, while growing organic hydroponic vegetables. Chef John Fraser and Dovetail have a relationship with the project, helping maintain the greenhouse and using its produce at the restaurant.

The festivities continue on Friday May 18^th, with the return of everyone’s favorite, Comfort Classics. Co-hosted once again by Travel Channel’s unforgettably wild Adam Richman and joined by his fellow Travel Channel extreme foodie and new co-host, Andrew Zimmern. This high-energy fête will feature amazing and original bites inspired by classic dishes from 35 chefs including Ditch Plains’ Marc Murphy, Sarabeth’s Sarabeth Levine, Café du Soleil’s Matthew Tivy, 5 Napkin Burger’s Andy D’Amico and Indie Food & Wine’s Shaunna Sargent, plus many more. Wine and spirits will be provided by Southern Wine & Spirits.

Saturday night, May 19^th will wrap up the weekend with the Best of the West and the VIP Reception presented by First Republic Bank, honoring New York’s legendary food critic, humanitarian and culinary pioneer Gael Greene. The star-studded evening will feature such world renowned chefs as Daniel Boulud, Michael Lomonaco, Jacques Torres, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, alongside 40 more celebrated talents from the

Upper West Side, creating signature dishes and spectacular bites. Adding even more excitement to the “high-spirited” night will be The Modern Mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim, serving up his signature cocktails. Net proceeds for the event will benefit the Columbus Avenue BID’s Streetscape Beautification Project, a greening project expected to begin Phase One between West 76^th and West 77^th this summer; Citymeals-on-Wheels founded by Gael Greene, an organization that provides New York’s elderly with nutritious meals and human companionship, and the I.S.44 Greenhouse Classroom project.