| EVENT REPORT 06.09.09 4:44 PM |
|
Big-Name Chefs Hawk Street Food at Citymeals Benefit
|
 | Food trucks at the Citymeals benefit
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash |
|
It's hard to turn a corner in New York without seeing a street food vendor of some kind, whether it's a classic cart selling pretzels or one of the new wave of sophisticated food trucks like Dumpling Truck or Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Nonprofit Citymeals-on-Wheels used all forms of street food as inspiration for this year's "Street & Savory" benefit, which drew more than 1,000 guests to Rockefeller Center's rink and surrounding area Monday night.
Heather Gere, Citymeals' director of special events, said the theme was based on the rising trend of food trucks, as well as a nod to these budget-conscious times. "Nick Valenti and Gael Greene came up with [the theme] last fall. They were discussing what would be the right feel for the times—knowing that this wasn't the year for a theme that felt overly indulgent or rich. We had talked previously with [sponsor] Gourmet about ideas that centered around comfort foods and childhood memories, and eventually settled on this—because really, many chefs do draw their inspiration from classic street foods from their countries and cultures. And everybody loves street food! It seems to have become quite a trend over the last year or so, so we feel that we couldn't have done this at a better time."
MORE >>
RELATED TOPICS
Citymeals-on-Wheels, Patina Restaurant Group, Fiji Water, Nespresso, American Airlines, Riese Restaurants, Gourmet magazine, Affinia Hotels, The M.O. & M.E. Hoffman Foundation |
 |
| EVENT REPORT 06.18.08 3:33 PM |
|
Street Signs Mark Stations (and Menus) at Citymeals Fund-Raiser
|
 | The crowded tent for Citymeal-on-Wheels
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash |
|
The Citymeals-on-Wheels Chef's Tribute benefit doesn't seem to have much luck with the weather. On Monday night—as at last year's incarnation—wet weather forced the event and guests indoors and under tents. Luckily, the signage for the stations became more than just a visual element: The tall signposts allowed guests to see the menu items and chefs' names over the crowds huddled under the tents at the Rockefeller Center rink.
The not-for-profit's annual summer event was dubbed "Crème de la Crème," and took on the look of a Parisian boulevard with plants dotted about and street-sign-inspired signage. Planned by the organization's director of special events, Heather Gere, the fund-raiser honored renowned French chefs such as Georges Blanc, Paul Bocuse, Gaston LeNôtre, Pierre Gagnaire, and André Soltner. U.S.-based chefs cooking for the crowd from stations in the sunken rink-level space included Jean Joho of Everest in Chicago, Gotham Bar and Grill's Alfred Portale, and David Myers of Comme Ça in Los Angeles.
MORE >>
RELATED TOPICS
Citymeals-on-Wheels, Patina Restaurant Group, MK Global, Gourmet magazine, The M.O. & M.E. Hoffman Foundation, American Airlines, Fiji Water, MasterCard, Nespresso, Affinia Hotels |
|
 |
|
|
