Appetite for Good

The Chef’s Tribute to Citymeals-on-Wheels, appropriately titled “A Taste of Home,” did an exceptional job of celebrating family feasts, while also stressing the importance of sharing them with elderly individuals who no longer have the luxury of sharing meals with loved ones.

There was something for everyone at the Grand Central Partnership’s Grand Gourmet – A Tastes of Midtown, benefiting the Grand Central Neighborhood Social Services Corporation, which provides services for the community’s homeless individuals and families. The donors and participants served generous portions of hearty comfort food, seafood, delicious desserts, and much more!

With a restaurant repertoire like Gramercy Tavern, Maialino, Telepan, L’Artusi and celebrity book signings by Marcus Samuelsson, Floyd Cardoz, and Sandra Lee, Taste of the Nation New York 2011 will kick off on this Monday, May 23rd at Center 548.

The American Cancer Society’s Taste of Hope event was overflowing with delicious and beautifully executed sample dishes from over 50 renowned restaurants and eateries. The open and airy event space had plenty of natural light – great for admiring the food and the stylish guests!

The New York Young Professionals Chapter of the America India Foundation threw a rockin party with great food, drinks, and prizes for the noble cause of educating the underprivileged children of India’s informal sector. The well dressed attendees and generous donors enjoyed delicious Indian fare and raised over $30,000 for this important cause.

I had the great honor of attending a special intimate panel discussion with the Chef of the Century, Paul Bocuse, along with Chefs Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, and Paul’s son, Jerome Bocuse. The president of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Dr. Tim Ryan, introduced Chef Paul Bocuse, highlighting his achievements from receiving and maintaining a three Michelin star …

Sorry for the delay! I’ve started this immediately after the marathon but never had a chance to finish it. Here is the long overdue recap (4 months overdue!) A special thanks to Matsuri and Marwan from Meze Grill for each donating $200 respectively to my marathon cause; I could not have done it without the support from these highly delicious establishments!

At Sacred Chow, you’ll initially be suspect of the waiters’ patience and yogi-like demeanor. I led an interrogation worthy of praise from Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein’s characters during the “Ordering the Chicken” scene in Portlandia, and still this waiter had a smile on his face and no sarcasm in his voice.

The Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea was hopping last weekend as Project By Project held its 12th annual Plate By Plate tasting event to benefit the Hamilton-Madison House. The event was teeming with great food, talented chefs, eager celebrities, and well-dressed attendees, all there to support an amazing cause.

Did you know that, right now, there are 35 grassroots environmental projects in the 5 boroughs of New York City? These are projects started by neighborhood groups hoping to inspire environmental action in the city through their efforts. ioby, which stands for in our backyards, is a microphilanthropy website that connects these projects and its organizers with volunteers and environmental enthusiasts who are looking to make an impact.