CITYMEALS ON WHEELS’ 37TH ANNUAL CHEFS’ TRIBUTE RAISES FUNDS TO DELIVER 90,000 MEALS FOR OLDER NEW YORKERS IN NEED

Dozens of leading chefs rallied to join Citymeals in the fight to end elder hunger

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 – New York, NY – Hundreds of guests and dozens of the country’s most notable chefs joined Citymeals on Wheels last night for the 37th Annual Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals at Cipriani South Street. Thanks to the generosity of Citymeals’ supporters, the annual event raised funds to prepare and deliver 90,000 meals for homebound older New Yorkers. The title sponsor for Chefs’ Tribute was GoldenTree Asset Management.

For 37 years, Chefs’ Tribute for Citymeals has gathered the most creative culinary talents to present their signature dishes at a walk-around tasting event that has become a New York City food world tradition. This year’s theme – “Sauced!” – was a playful homage to dining and mixology. The star-studded chef lineup included Leah Cohen of Piggyback by Pig and Khao (NYC); Scott Conant from Cellaio (Monticello, NY); Alex Guarnaschelli of Butter (NYC); Antonia Lofaso of Scopa Italian Roots, Black Market Liquor Bar & DAMA (Los Angeles); Maria Loi from Loi Estiatorio (NYC); Akhtar Nawab from Alta Calidad (NYC) and dozens more. A host of veteran Citymeals’ supporters, including chefs Daniel Boulud, Marc Forgione, Charlie Palmer, Alfred Portale and Jonathan Waxman, also participated.

“Citymeals is proud to kick off summer with Chefs’ Tribute and to be joined by so many stellar chefs, who care about ending food insecurity as much as we do,” said Beth Shapiro, CEO of Citymeals on Wheels. “Citymeals is committed to ending hunger among older New Yorkers by 2040, and the funds raised tonight will help us make important strides toward that goal.”

“Who better to help fight hunger than chefs?" said Chef Daniel Boulud, Chair of Citymeals’ Board of Directors. “Chefs’ Tribute is a New York City tradition, and I’m so proud to support Citymeals’ in nourishing older New Yorkers in need."

Participating chefs included Cesar Balderas (Cecchi’s Bar and Grill); Aliyyah Baylor (Make My Cake); Daniel Boulud & Christina D’Angelo (Le Gratin); Leah Cohen (Piggyback by Pig and Khao); Scott Conant (Cellaio); Stefano DiSilvestre (Cipriani South Street at Casa Cipriani); Rocco DiSpirito (author of Everyday Delicious); Billy Durney (Hometown Bar-B-Que); Marc Forgione (Respect Hospitality); Alex Guarnaschelli (Butter); Keith Hernandez (RW Prime, Resorts World New York City); Morgan Jarrett (State Bar and Grill); Celine Labaune (Gourmet Attitude Truffles); Antonia Lofaso (Scopa Italian Roots, Black Market Liquor Bar, DAMA); Maria Loi (Loi Estiatorio); Akhtar Nawab (Alta Calidad); Charlie Palmer & Vasiliki Vourliotaki (AperiBar); Alfred Portale (Portale Restaurant); Carolina Perego (Citarella); Richard Sandoval (tán); Stefano Secchi (Rezdôra); Adam Siegel (Lupi & Iris); George Tang (Nobu Downtown); Moussa Thiam (Revelie Luncheonette), Silvana Vivoli (VIvoli il Gelato); Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto); Elena Yamamoto (Bessou) and Sasha Zabar (Glace).

Meaghan Dorman of Dear Irving and Raines Law Room served as Spirits Chair. Bartenders from Bar Goto, PDT, Raines Law Room and Seaborne served bespoke cocktails, alongside brand ambassadors from spirits sponsors Sipsmith Gin, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Select Aperitivo, Seedlip Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Rosaluna Mezcal, Whistlepig Whiskey and Herradura Tequila.

The Wine Chair was Rob Oppenheimer, and the Beer Partner was Sixpoint Brewery.

Reds, whites and bubbly were provided by Independence Wine and Spirits, Regal Wine Imports, Skurnik Wines & Spirits and Wilson Daniels.

The title sponsor for the 37th Annual Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals was GoldenTree Asset Management. Official sponsors were American Airlines and Fiji Water. Additional sponsors included Resorts World New York City, Derby Copeland, Heermance Farm ˗ Sponsored by William Gottlieb Real Estate, Milbank, Northern Trust, and The Soloviev Group.  

The 37th Annual Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals was co-chaired by Beverly and Dan Bartfeld and Alison Lohrfink Blood.