With
the busy streets of midtown Manhattan as a backdrop, legendary chefs
from around the country turned Rockefeller Center Plaza into one giant
gourmet food cart tonight as they created delectable interpretations
of their favorite international street foods at the 24th annual Chefs' Tribute
fundraiser, “Street & Savory - A Global Street Food Festival” for
the benefit of Citymeals-on-Wheels on June 8, 2009. Citymeals-on-Wheels
is a non-profit organization that provides home-delivered, nutritious
meals to frail, homebound elderly in New York City. Kelly Choi emceed
the benefit.
Nick Valenti and Patina Restaurant Group hosted the annual
event that attracted nearly 900 business leaders, socialites, young professionals,
gourmet enthusiasts, food industry trendsetters, chefs & restaurateurs.
The menu included unique interpretations of sausages, spring rolls, fries,
bánh mì, tacos, dumplings, gyros and more. Famed architect
and set designer David Rockwell and his team designed the gardens, rink
and esplanades of Rockefeller Center for the event. Live music and dancing
added another rich ingredient to the festivities, which filled the upper
and lower tiers of the plaza. The bar area, dubbed “The Street
Bar,” featured mixologists Audrey Saunders, Pegu Club (New York)
- Beverage Chair; Richard Boccato, Dutch Kills (New York); Matty Gee,
The Randolph on Broome (New York); Brian Miller, Death & Company
(New York); Joseph Schwartz, Little Branch (New York); and Artemio Vasquez,
Yerba Buena (New York).
The event, chaired by Ninah & Michael Lynne,
Laura & John Pomerantz, and Randi & Dennis Riese, raised $734,000
to support Citymeals-on-Wheels.
