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 Crème de la Crème
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French master chefs and American top chefs gathered to celebrate French cuisine at the Citymeals-on-Wheels annual Chefs Tribute event in Rockefeller Center. |
“Unmatched elegance, style, sophistication, grand French dining” ... were the words used to describe Citymeals-on-Wheels annual “Chefs’ Tribute” gala fundraiser which took place at the outdoor plaza of Rockefeller Center which was transformed for the occasion into a Parisian boulevard by architect and set designer David Rockwell and his team. Live music and dancing. The bar area, dubbed “The Ooh La La” was decorated with a “Can-Can” theme.
A dozen of France’s gastronomic legends were flown to New York for the Citymeals’ gala where the American superstar chefs they once mentored paid them tribute by each preparing two exquisite dishes – one of the masters’ classics and a signature dish of their own. More than 1,100 leaders of business, industry, fashion, entertainment, media, government and the food world then feasted on the culinary creations in the outdoor plaza.
French master chefs Jean Banchet, Georges Blanc, Paul Bocuse’s son Jerome, André Daguin, Pierre Gagnaire, Gaston Lenôtre’s son Alain, Jacques Maximin, Louis Outhier, Jean Jacques Rachou, André Soltner, and Pierre Triosgros’s son Claude flew in from France to watch their protégées prepare mouth-watering masterpieces. Unable to attend were Chefs Gérard Boyer, Michel Guerard, Fredy Girardet, Marc Meneau, Alain Senderens, and Roger Vergé. Chef Paul Haeberlin was also honored in memoriam.
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Honored French chefs Georges Blanc and Andre Soltner; Gael Greene, Co-Founder, Citymeals-on-Wheels; Jacques Torres, chef, Jacques Torres Chocolates; and Daniel Boulud, chef, Daniel |
The legendary André Soltner cooked with his protégé, Bill Peet and Jacques Maximin with his protégé, Joachim Splichal. Among the special dishes they created for the evening were smoked Louisiana wild prawns, roasted tomato and mango vinaigrettes, and baby herb salad prepared by André Soltner and Mousse de saumon fumé et saumon mariné concombres aigre-doux (smoked salmon mousse with marinated salmon and sweet and sour cucumbers) prepared by Bill Peet. Jacques Maximin served braised Kobe beef short ribs in fresh morel cream with chive essence and Joachim Splichal served gratin de homard aux macaronis à la parmigiane (macaroni and lobster gratin.)
Bottom line and more important than all the specialities and gourmand delicacies in the world: The event raised more than $900,000 for Citymeals, a non-profit organization that provides home-delivered, nutritious meals to frail, homebound elderly in New York City. |
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Arlene Ocontrillio, Drew Nieporent, Marcia Stein, Kathleen Turner, and award-winning chef Paul Liebrandt |
Crème de la Crème was chaired by Susie and Kevin Davis, Ninah and Michael Lynne, and Laura and John Pomerantz. Audrey Saunders of the Pegu Club served as the event’s beverage chair.
Nick Valenti / Patina Restaurant Group was the evening’s Grand Host. The evening’s co-sponsor was MF Global. Media Sponsor was Gourmet; Associate Sponsors: The M.O. & M.E. Hoffman Foundation; and Ninah and Michael Lynne. Other sponsors included American Airlines; FIJI Water; MasterCard; Nespresso; and Affinia Hotels. Pro bono sponsors included BPI; Party Rental Ltd.; Rockwell Group; and Tana Seybert. Extraordinary patrons included Bedell Cellars; D’Artagnan; Saks; and Taittinger. |
| Cooking in celebration of their beloved masters were: |
Jöel Antunes, Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel (New York)
Paul Bartolotta, Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare (Wynn Las Vegas)
David Bouley, Bouley (New York)
Daniel Boulud, Daniel (New York)
Terrance Brennan, Artisanal Fromagerie & Bistro/ Picholine
(New York)
Ed Brown, eighty one (New York)
David Burke, davidburke & donatella (New York)
Jawn Chasteen & Michael Gabriel, The Sea Grill (New York) |
Vincent Guerithault, Vincent on Camelback (Phoenix)
Hubert Keller, Fleur de Lys (San Francisco)
Jean Joho, Everest (Chicago)
Henry Meer, City Hall (New York)
David Myers, Sona/Comme Ça (Los Angeles)
Charlie Palmer, Aureole (New York)
Roland Passot, La Folie/Left Bank (San Francisco)
Bill Peet, Patroon (New York)
Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar & Grill (New York)
Antonio Prontelli & Juan Branez, Rock Center Café / Cucina & Co. (New York) |
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Citymeals-on-Wheels Chefs Tribute 2008 Crème de la Crème honored masters of French Cuisine. |
Tom Colicchio, Craft (New York)
Franck Deletrain, Café Centro (New York)
Christian Delouvrier, La Goulue Christian Delouvrier/ Brasserie
Ruhlmann (Bal Harbour, FL/Chicago)
Traci Des Jardins, Jardinière (San Francisco)
Luc Dimnet, Brasserie (New York)
Todd English, Olive Restaurant Group (Boston, MA)
Tony Esnault, Adour at The St. Regis Hotel (New York)
Larry Forgione, An American Place (Wynn Las Vegas/
St. Louis) |
Michel Richard, Michel Richard Citronelle/Central (Washington
D.C.)
Nancy Silverton, Pizzeria Mozza/ Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles)
Joachim Splichal & Theo Schoenegger, Patina Restaurant Group/ Patina Restaurant (Los Angeles)
Jacques Torres, Jacques Torres Chocolates (New York)
Laurent Tourondel, BLT Restaurants
Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean Georges (New York)
Bob Waggoner, Charleston Grill (Charleston, SC)
Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto (New York) |
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Marcia Stein, Executive Director of Citymeals-on-Wheels; John Pomerantz, Co-Chair of “Crème de la Crème”; and award-winning actress Kathleen Turner |
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Henry Meer, chef, City Hall |
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Paul Bartolotta, Jean Georges Vongerichten, chef, Jean Georges; Alfred Portale, chef, Gotham Bar & Grill; Joaquim Splichal, chef, Patina Restaurant Group/ Patina Restaurant |
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Tom Colicchio, chef, Craft and Paul Bartolotta |
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Guests sample French cuisine at the “Crème de la Crème |
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David Colston, Terrance Brennan, chef, Artisanal Fromagerie & Bistro/Picholine, and Richard Farnabe |
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The Southampton Fresh Air Home’s 21st annual American Picnic took place on Friday, July 4th, 2008 at a private home on the ocean in Southampton. Following a great picnic dinner, when the sun went down and the clouds miraculously cleared away, Caroline Harding sang “The Star Spangled Banner” to launch the celebration. Southampton Mayor Mark Epley once again led a countdown with the crowd for a spectacular Grucci Fireworks display, set to patriotic music, burst in air over Shinnecock Bay to the awe and wonder of the party guests and the Southampton Fresh Air Home campers.
The sold out event, including guests of all ages dressed in red, white and blue, gathered in the carnival setting – with games and prizes --- that was the perfect backdrop for the Fourth of July celebration. Carts filled with popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream, hamburgers and hot dogs, pulled pork, corn on the cob and other picnic favorites were served by Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs who created every imaginable picnic delight, a spectacle in itself.
For those who were not able to attend the sold-out event, hundreds flocked to Coopers Beach where they were able to enjoy the Grucci fireworks. The Southampton Fresh Air Home is grateful for the generosity of everyone who reached into their pockets to make donations to help underwrite the fireworks and support the camp.
The Event Chairmen were Brenda Earl De Paola, Michaela and Stephan Keszler,
Patricia and George Kraus, Barbara and Jack Kugler, and Christl and Ken Meszkat. Others who joined the celebration with family and friends were SFAH Chairman Emeritus Catherine Di Montezemolo; SFAH Chairman Emeritus Claire Mulholland who along with her husband, Jim Mulholland, hosted the Camper Party at their home; Honorary Chairman of the SFAH Barbara Smith and her husband Randall; SFAH Co-President Susan Nappa Cocke and her husband Philip; and SFHA Co-President Pamela Rollins Comacho and her husband Alex; the Bill Michaelcheck family, Ann Grimm, Jack Grimm, Mildred Brinn, Dianne DiMenna, Joe DiMenna, Dennis Basso, Danielle and David Ganek, Courtney and Wayne Page, Kelsey Grammer and Grammer, Barbara and Alan Glatt, Katie Shah and Shah, Kim White, Kurt Wolfgruber, Kristina and Arthur Ward, Kirsten Solsvig Galef, Lisa Arnold, Maryann Epley, Monica Belag-Forman, Joel Forman, Melanie and John Wambold, Kelly and Scott Johnston, Nancy O’Sullivan, Fiona and Jeffrey Slonim, Nicole Brewer, Gary Crain, James Alan Smith, Jean and Martin Shafiroff, Debra Schuster Tanger, Sheila and Joe Fuchs, Alex McCord, Simon van Kempen, Heather and Steve Mnuchin, Tia Walker, Webb Egerton, Lee Robinson, Christine Smith Gray, Jim Gray, and hundreds more. |
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The Southampton Fresh Air Home, a 501(C)(3) charitable organization, is a residential summer camp with a specialized recreation program for physically challenged youth from the tri-state area. Record proceeds from this event represent approximately 40% of the annual operating budget of the camp that has been built with love, by summer and the year-round Hamptons community for 107 years.
With thanks and gratitude to all of the people who came together at the Fourth of July celebration, over 150 campers, most of whom receive scholarships, will once again be able to swim, golf, sail and play other team sports. Most of all, they will be able to have a wonderful camping experience and build summer memories with their friends that will last for a lifetime, while their families enjoy a well-deserved rest. To meet our campers and learn more about this extraordinary cedar-shingled camp set on beautifully landscaped lawns just down the winding road from Shinnecock Golf Club, please go to www.sfah.org. |
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Michaela Keszler and Phil Cocke |
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Danielle Ganek, Harry Ganek, and Barbra Smith |
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Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen |
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Darleen Marone, Tatiana Platt, Campion Platt, and Jeremy Platt |
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Alexa Barrett and Darya Schiavetta |
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Brad Marx, Tatiana Byron, Jeffrey Dread, and Salma Fonseca |
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Curtis Erickson and Jennifer Joyce |
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Johan van Kempen, Simon van Kempen, Francois van Kempen, and Alex McCord |
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Caroline Hearting and Johny Walker |
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Kim White, Michaela Keszler, Susan Nappa Cocke, and Christle Meszkate |
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Pamela Rollins Camacho, Susan Nappa Cocke, and Carol Guest |
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Charlotte Bocly, Emilie Ghiloga, and Victoria Ghiloga |
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Brenda and Mike Depaola |
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Charlotte Kirsten and Julia Dean |
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Dennis Basso |
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Catherine Murray and Deborah Landou |
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Carole Reed and Kelly Davis |
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Francesca and Chris Beale |
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Alan Glatt, Cortney Page, Wayne Page, and Barbera Glatt with friends and family |
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Jeffrey Dread and Salma Fonseca |
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Dandridge Myles, Jeff Myles, and Esther Myles |
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Cathy Di Montezemolo |
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Elizabeth Ponce, Lauren Hickey, and Emilie Westhoff |
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David, Rome Arnold, Rome Arnold, and Dhiren Shah |
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Katy Kugler, Kim White, Susan Nappa Cocke, and Rick Shumway |
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Don Sullivan and Mildred Brinn |
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Douglas Fiolla |
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Fiona Moore and Jeff Slonim |
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Joe Fuchs, Sheila Fuchs, Kim White, and Kurt Wolfgruber |
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Joy Corsin and Carolee Youvinco |
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Nicole B. Brewer
with friends and family |
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Michael and Allison Dalewitz |
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Donna and Kenneth Macwhinnie |
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Melanie and John Wambold |
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Claire Mulholland and Kathleen Minder |
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Jennifer Bargmann, Harry Bargmann, Bonnie Ryan, Mike Ryan, John Holahan, Jenniffer Holahan, and Linda Beck
with friends and family |
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Regina Pozvolska, Stephan Roux, Kathleen Ryan, Brent Nicklas, and Laura Pozvolska |
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Alex van Hoek, Debra Schuster Tanger, and Schuster Tanger |
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Katie Shah, Lisa Arnold, and Kirsten Galef |
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Donna Younis and fam |
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Mike Weissman, Maura Weissman, and Sean L'Raurke |
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Ann Schneider, Patty Kraus, and Steve Schneider
with fam |
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Mayor Mark Epley |
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Dr. Marianna Rozinov and Pascal Levy with kiddies |
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Nina Mullan, Lilly Galef, and Sara Reed |
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Nicole B. Brewer and kiddies |
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Diane Dimenna and kiddies |
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Peter and Connie Kuntz |
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Orla O'Conner and Andrew Yew |
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Patty and George Kraus |
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Jack Kugler, Barbra Kugler, Katy Kugler, and kiddies |
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The Harland
family |
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Tim and Carole Reed
and fam |
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The Mnuchin family |
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Susan Havdesven, Jay Flagg, and Carole Nobbs |
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Robert Kligerman, Kurt Wolfgruber, Kim White, Susan Nappa Cocke, Phil Cocke, Barbra Kugler, Katy Kugler |
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Robin Katz and Mike Depaola |
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Kate Roger
and kiddies |
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Peter Cardel and kiddies |
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Richard Wooster and Kirsten Galef with kiddies |
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Jerry Jones and kiddies |
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Thalita Oliveira, Christos Economou, Naddy Ismailos, Angela Ismailos, Fernando Santos, Annette McEvoy, Harold Bronheim, and Cynthia Pires |
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| Photographs by ©PatrickMcMullan.com (SH Fresh Air Home). |
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