Party Pictures 3/15/05 - New York City Opera held its Opening Night Gala; Careers Through Culinary Arts Program raises $525,000; Bill Austin was honored on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars with its 250th star

New York City Opera held its Opening Night Gala

Deanna Dys

Edmee Firth

Fiona Rudin

Indre Vengris

Lorry Newhouse

Last Tuesday night at the New York State Theatre the New York City Opera held its Opening Night Gala honoring ad mogul and media personality Donny Deutsch with a performance of Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” starring John Collum and Judy Kaye.

The evening began with 5:30 cocktails before the 6:30 performance. Afterwards there was dinner on the Promenade, and dancing with Peter Duchin and his Orchestra razz-jazzing up the night.

In the crowd: Brooke Hayward Duchin (the Duchins are big supporters of the opera and chamber music), Paul Beirne, who was one of the gala chairs along with Faith and Phil Geier, Jackie and Barry Gosin, Connie Milstein, Lorry and Mark Newhouse and Pamela Thomas-Graham. Also: City Opera chair Susan Baker and Michael Lynch, Anne Bass, Mary Sharp Cronson, Ashton Hawkins, Maisie Houghton, Arie and Coco Kopelman, Star Jones and Al Reynolds, James Marlas and Marie Nugent-Head, Marcia and Richard Mishaan, Donald and Susan Newhouse, Elaine Sargent, Hunt Slonem, Felicia Taylor, Francine LeFrak and Rick Friedberg, Liz Peek, Justin Rockefeller, Ron Silver, City Opera director Paul Kellogg, K.T. McFarland, Melinda Nix, Yung-Hee Kim, David Bowen and Laura and Will Zeckendorf.

Anne Bass and Coco Kopelman

Al Reynolds and Star Jones Reynolds

Byron Knief, Rebecca Robertson, Susan Baker, and Liz Peek

Bruce Kovner and Suzie Fairchild

Barbara Tober and Donald Tober

Jane Gullong, Christopher Clark, and Bunny Clark

Donny Deutsch, Pamela Thomas-Graham, and Morris Reid

Francine LeFrak and Hunt Slonem

Marcia Mishaan

Yung-Hee Kim

Suzie Fairchild

Sheri Babbio

Mariana Zois

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Elaine Sargent and George Stamas

Faith Geier, Philip Geier, Donny Deutsch, and Stacey Deutsch

Jesse and Patricia Lovejoy

Elia Zois, Mariana Zois, Sandra Weiksner, Keith Lieberthal, and Paul Beirne

Jay Cantor, Maisie Houghton, and Peter Duchin

Jeff Berger, John Cullum, Lilian Groag, and Robin Thompson

Jeffrey Tweedy, Lisa Tweedy, and Levin Liles

Melinda Nix and Lisa Lori

Laura Zeckendorf and Elia Zois

Justin Rockefeller and Ron Silver

Howard Kelber, Barbara Brookes, Michelle Gerber Klein, and Jane Gullong

Michelle Edelman and Asher Edelman

Michele Gerber Klein and Jacque Bouhet

Pamela Thomas-Graham and Paul Kellogg

Photographs by Tara Todras-Whitehill/PMc

Careers Through Culinary Arts Program raises $525,000

Charlie Palmer, Rick Smilow, Maurice DuBois, Richard Grausman, Peter Boyle, Tim Zagat, Chuck Scarborough, Stanley Zabar, Joe Witte. Front: Susan Grausman and Joaquin Fajardo.

The seventh annual Careers through Culinary Arts Program’s (C-CAP) A Preview of Spring Dining tasting event raised $525,000 for the charitable organization that provides foodservice career opportunities for underserved youth. C-CAP manages the largest independent culinary scholarship program in the United States, awarding over $2,000,000 annually.

Amar Santana and Charlie Palmer

The event was held at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan on Monday, February 28, and featured nearly 40 of New York City’s top-rated restaurants presenting savories and sweets from the Chefs’ new spring menus to more than 600 guests.

The evening’s festivities also included a silent auction with 30 items to bid on, including once-in-a-lifetime culinary and travel packages. A live auction included A Night Out With Tim and Nina Zagat — two people will be escorted by the Zagats in their private limousine for a custom restaurant tour to 25 top-rated New York City restaurants, followed by dinner at the restaurant of their choice.

Peter Boyle, the irascible dad on CBS’s Everybody Loves Raymond, was the Master of Ceremonies. New York City’s favorite Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit and Riingo restaurants served as Chef Committee Chair. The event was chaired by Deborah and Rick Smilow, Institute of Culinary Education, with vice-chairs Barbara and Donald Tober, Sugar Foods, and Susan and Richard Grausman, founders of C-CAP.

Chef Charlie Palmer was honored for his unique contribution to the industry and his support of C-CAP’s mission to nurture and train the next generation of culinary professionals.

The Benefit featured celebrity chefs from restaurants including Aureole, Daniel, Gotham Bar & Grill, Gramercy Tavern, Nobu, Olives, and Union Square Cafe.

The event showcased the talent of three C-CAP Graduate Chefs including Amar Santana, Sous Chef at Aureole, Rachel Lansang, Sous Pastry Chef at Aureole, and Alfred Stephens, Corporate Pastry Chef at Olives. More than 60 New York City high school students assisted the chefs at the event.

This year’s platinum sponsors were The Institute of Culinary Education, Knorr and Zabar’s.

Benefit Menu

Abigail Kirsch PIER SIXTY
Alison Awerbuch
Foie Gras Crème Caramel with Roasted Fig and Beet Salsa

Amuse
Gerry Hayden
Chilled Asparagus Sabayon in a Hot Porcini Broth

Annisa
Anita Lo
Salad of Shaved Asparagus with Meyer Lemon and Nori

Aquavit
Nils Noren
Bay Scallop with Mango Mustard Puree, Marinated Salmon Roe

Astra
Michael Altman
Roasted Duck Breast with Aged Sherry Lentil Ragout

Aureole
Charlie Palmer and Amar Santana
Seared Diver Scallop with Spicy Arugula and Balsamic-Glazed Strawberries

Aureole
Rachel Lansang
Dark Chocolate and Roasted Peanut Marquise with Salted Peanut Nougatine and Coco Caramel Foam

Beacon
Waldy Malouf
Rack of Lamb with Olives and Lemon

Fifty Seven Fifty Seven
Brooke Vosika
Ahi Tuna and Avocado Tartar with American Caviar

Fleur de Sel
Cyril Renaud and Bill Mickelsen
Parsnip Soup with White Truffle Ravioli

Gotham Bar & Grill
Deborah Racicot
Pineapple Coconut Tart with Cilantro Lime Granite

Guastavino's
Michael Lomonaco
Seared Tuna with Fennel and Orange Salad

Kitchen 22 and 82
Jose Alvarado
Slow-Braised Beef Short Rib with Parsnip Puree and Crisps

Landmarc
Marc Murphy and Frank Proto
Smoked Tuna Salad on Chickpea Pancake

Le Bernardin
Michael Laiskonis
Strawberry - Hibiscus Soup with Almond Foam

Mesa Grill
Vicki Wells
Vanilla - Key Lime Tres Leches

Metrazur
Michael Lockard
Quick-Cured Fluke with Pink Grapefruit, Fennel Pollen, and Truffle Vinaigrette

Joe and Mikel Witte, Richard and Susan Grausman, Loraine and Peter Boyle, and Chef Charlie Palmer

Blue Hill
Dan Barber and Juan Cuevas
Oyster, Apple and Moscato Salad

Calle Ocho
Alex Garcia
Crispy Fried Oyster with Seaweed Salad and Chipotle Cream

Compass
Valdo Figueiredo
Roasted Red Beet Carpaccio with Pine Nuts, Balsamic Vinaigrette and Coach Farm’s Goat Cheese

Craft
Karen DeMasco
Brown Sugar Cake with Apple Compote and Calvados Ice Cream

Cru
Shea Gallante
Braised Berkshire Pork Belly with Micro Herbs Salad, Squid, and Smoked Balsamic Dressing

Daniel
Jean Francois Bonnet
Maple Sugar Chiboust, Praliné Feuilletine, Mangaro Crèmeux, Fromage Blanc

Dos Caminos
Scott Linquist
Lamb Barbacoa Tamales with Adobo

Eleven Madison Park
Kerry Heffernan
Lentil Flan with Braised Bacon and Sherry Truffle Vingaigrette

Fauchon
Florian Bellanger
Black Truffles Crèmeux, Tahitian Vanilla Foam with Caramelized Pecans

Felidia
Fortunato Nicotra
Fagiolini e Ricotta e Succodi Pomodoro Arrostiti

Nobu
Dave Meade
Seared Scallop with Sharkfin Black Bean Sauce

Olives NY
Alfred Stephens
Carrot Velvet Cake with Hazelnut Custard and Vanilla Ice Milk

Payard Patisserie and Bistro
Philippe Bertineau
Snail in Phyllo Cup with Parsnip and Garlic Butter

Riingo
Johan Svensson
Harissa-Smoked Salmon with Sansho Vinaigrette

Sea Grill
Ed Brown
Olive Oil-Poached Salmon with Soy Beans, Wild Chevril and Black Truffle

Tabla
Floyd Cardoz
Wild Salmon Cru with Daikon, Black Pepper, and Lime Juice

Town
John Johnson
Terrine of Cured Foie Gras and Chantrelles with Vin Jaune Gelee

Union Square Cafe
Emily Isaac
Key Lime Cheesecake with Passion Fruit Curd and Tropical Fruit

WD-50
Wylie Dufresne
Mussel, Potato, Leek Soup with Caramelized Water Chestnuts and Orange Zest

Bill Austin was honored on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars with its 250th star

Bill Austin and Mayor Ron Oden

Bill and Tani Austin with her parents Pat and Joe Manhart

Three Fridays ago in Palm Springs, Bill Austin who heads up the Starkey Hearing Foundation was honored on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars with its 250th star at 124 South Palm Canyon Drive, adjacent to the historic Plaza Theater, home of the Palm Springs Follies.

Bill Austin arriving with his family

We saw Mr. Austin at the Elton John party after the Oscars in Los Angeles. Both JH and I said to each other at the same time: how do I know that guy? He’s tall and good looking and has the most perfect head of white hair you’ve ever seen. A close runner-up might be Bill Clinton. Someone later pointed out that a lot of people have seen Bill Austin, and no doubt noticed his thick crop of perfect hair framing his sun-bronzed face: he’s been in more than a hundred movies. Although that’s not his business.

Pattie and Arthur Newman

Jackie Autry, Pat Boone, Peter Graves, Bill Austin, and Norm Crosby

Austin has been in the “hearing” business for years and is credited with restoring, or at least well-assisting the hearing of many a famous man and woman. I don’t think the women are inclined to reveal it but the men include more than one President. He’s been so successful at it that he created the Starkey Foundation to assist hearing impaired people who cannot afford his almost magic brand of assistance.

He’s very well known in Hollywood, obviously. And so when they decided to honor him with “star” in Palm Springs, it turned into a special event and all kinds of “names” (friends of Mr. Austin) turned out including Jackie Autry (widow of Gene), Peter Graves, Pat Boone, Candace and Robert Culp, Garry Collins and Mary Ann Mobley, Paul Newman’s brother Arthur Newman, Frances Allen, Deanne Lund and Norm and Joanie Crosby. Palm Springs mayor Ron Oden proclaimed it “William Austin Day” and proclaimed it so at the ceremony.

Stephanie Hibler, Frances Allen, Pat Riley, and Deanna Lund

Peter Graves, Norm Crosby, and Joan Graves

Photographs by Meile Klein

Veuve Cliquot and Maria Martin celebrated Miami's Ultimate Style Grande Dames at 900 Biscayne Bay with "Grand Dame" tributes. Miami, Palm Beach and New York guests included Norma Quintero, Patty Raynes, Ann Barish, Dori Cooperman, Alicia Cervera, Sr., Olivia Chantecaille, Christina Getty - Maerks, Gillian Miniter, Fabiola Bercasa, Sam Robins, Alison Spear, Lydia Prio Touzet and Dana Shear.