Summertime brings some of the world’s best chefs to New York for exciting culinary events in both Manhattan and the Hamptons. This year’s premier events also give back to important charitable efforts, so as you wine, dine and enjoy the summer season you can also feel good that your ticket purchase is going to a great cause.

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The Grand Affair: Celebrating Chefs of the World’s Great Hotels

Over 40 chefs will gather on Monday, June 11th for the 33rd Annual Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals on Wheels. This year, the tasting event will bring culinary stars from hotels around the world to Rockefeller Center for The Grand Affair: Celebrating Chefs of the World’s Great Hotels. www.citymeals.org/grandaffair

Over 1,000 guests will sample culinary offerings from Chefs Charlie Palmer, Daniel Boulud, Marc Forgione, Jonathan Waxman, and a host of international chefs flying in from Sydney, Dubai, Lisbon, Buenos Aires and beyond. 100% of ticket sales and donations will support the preparation and delivery of nourishing meals by Citymeals – the only nonprofit organization providing home-delivered meals to those New Yorkers in need throughout all five boroughs. The annual event honors Citymeals’ Co-Founder James Beard, and last year raised ove $840,000 to provide 112,000 home-delivered meals.

“Today, the world’s most renowned chefs are serving extraordinary cuisine in hotels across the globe. We’re excited that so many of them are bringing their best dishes to us in New York City, making for an unforgettable night in the heart of Manhattan,” said Beth Shapiro, Executive Director of Citymeals on Wheels.

Rockefeller Center will be transformed that evening, giving business leaders, food aficionados, trendsetters, young professionals and others a unique chance to eat, drink and dance to live musical performances under the stars.

Notable international chefs joining the event include: Brent Savage (Bentley Restaurant + Bar in the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Sydney), Carlos Pardo Figueroa (Qunuq at Sumao Machu Picchu Hotel, Machu Picchu), Ed Cooney (The Merrion Hotel, Dublin), Juan Gaffuri (Elena Restaurant at the Four Seasons Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires), José Júlio Vintém (Tomba Lobos Restaurant, Portalegre, Portugal), Paco Pérez (Enoteca Paco Pérez at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Arts, Barcelona), Rudi Liebenberg (Planet Restaurant and The Chef’s Table at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town), Thomas Seifried (Blue by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands), Vineet Bhatia (Indego by Vineet at the Grosvenor House, Dubai), Vito Mollica (il Palagio at the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Florence) and Vitor Sobral (Tasca da Esquina Restaurant, Lisbon).

Longtime supporter Alfred Portale (Gotham Bar & Grill, New York), Jonathan Waxman (Jams Restaurant at the 1 Hotel Central Park, New York) and Larry Forgione (Foley Family Wines, Healdsburg, California) will also be participating, alongside notable chefs from across the country including: Andreas Kisler (Chez Philippe at the Peabody Hotel, Memphis), Andy Bennett and Michael Gabriel (The Sea Grill, New York), Anthony Goncalves (Kanopi Restaurant at the The Ritz-Carlton New York, White Plains), Antonio Prontelli and David Buico (Rock Center Café, New York), Cassidee Dabney (The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Townsend, Tennessee), Charlie Palmer (Aureole at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas), Christophe Bellanca (L’Atelier Las Vegas at MGM Grand, Las Vegas), Dale Talde (Rice & Gold at Hotel 50 Bowery, New York), Daniel Boulud and Sylvain Assié (Café Boulud at the Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto), David Burke (Tavern62, New York), Gregorio Stephenson (Nobu Ryokan Malibu and Nobu Hotel Palo Alto, Malibu & Palo Alto), Jacques Torres Chocolate (New York), Jarett Appell and Silvana Vivoli (Stella 34 & Vivoli Gelato, New York), Joachim Splichal (Patina, Los Angeles), Josh Berry (Union at the Press Hotel, Portland), Ken Oringer and Tony Messina (UNI at The Eliot Hotel, Boston), Lena Ciardullo (Marta at The Redbury Hotel, New York), Marc Forgione (MARC FORGIONE, New York), Mathew Woolf (Rainbow Room & Bar SixtyFive, New York), Michael White (Ai Fiori at The Langham Hotel, New York), Michelle Weaver (Charleston Grill at the Belmond Charleston Place Hotel, Charleston), Scott Conant (Fusco, New York), and Richard Capizzi and Shea Gallante (Lincoln Ristorante, New York).

With the help of Beverage Chairs Audrey Saunders (Owner, The Pegu Club) and Daniel Johnnes (Wine Director, The Dinex Group), fine wines and artisanal cocktails will be poured by leading sommeliers and mixologists to accompany the lavish tasting. The Grand Host for the evening will be Nick Valenti, CEO of Patina Restaurant Group. The event will be co-chaired by Alison Lohrfink Blood, Ninah and Michael Lynne, Laura and John Pomerantz, and Randi and Dennis Riese.

Since its’ founding in 1981, Citymeals on Wheels has delivered 56 million meals. Each year, the organization prepares and delivers over 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals for more than 18,000 of New York City’s homebound elderly. Citymeals’ Official Airline is American Airlines and Official Water is FIJI Water. Event sponsors include City National Bank, M.O. & M.E. Hoffman Foundation, Bedell Cellars and the Riese Organization.

In the Hamptons: Chefs and Champagne

On Saturday, July 28, 2018, the annual Hamptons fundraiser and tasting party will be held at Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, New York. Food and drink offerings from more than 35 chefs, beverage masters, and artisanal purveyors will be featured along with flowing Champagne Boizel and Wölffer Estate wines. Funds raised at Chefs & Champagne help support the James Beard Foundation’s wide variety of programming, including student scholarships and the organization’s Impact Programs and women’s leadership initiatives. A silent auction consisting of fine dining experiences, wines and spirits, cookware, and culinary travel packages will also raise funds for the organization.

Lakshmi is an internationally known food expert, model, actress, and best-selling author, as well as the recipient of the 2016 NECO Ellis Island Medal of Honor and Variety’s 2018 Karma award. Top Chef, the Emmy award­­–winning show she hosts and executive produces, is currently filming its 16th season.

“I am excited to be joining the ranks of previous guests of honor such as Julia Child and Martha Stewart to support the foundation’s mission to make America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone,” said Padma Lakshimi. “Bringing attention to JBF scholarship, women’s leadership, and other impact programs align with many of the causes that are close to my heart.”

Among the chefs* who have signed on to fête Padma are: Alex Baker, Yves, NYC; Emma Bengtsson, Aquavit, NYC; Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis, Root & Bone, NYC;  Peter Botros, The Stone House at Clove Lakes, Staten Island, NY; PJ Calapa, Scampi, NYC; Adrienne Cheatham, Sunday Best Dinner Series, NYC;Jessica Craig, L’Artusi, NYC; Suzanne Cupps, Untitled at the Whitney, NYC; Georgette Farkas, Rotisserie Georgette, NYC; Tom Fraker, Melissa’s Produce,CA; Nicole Gajadhar, Saxon + Parole, NYC; Gregory GourdetSage Restaurant Group, Portland, OR; Joe Gurrera, Citarella, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, andSouthampton, NY, Greenwich, CT;  and NYC;  Patti Jackson, Delaware and Hudson, Brooklyn, NY Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau, Shuko, NYC; JBF Award Winner Pastry Chef Sarabeth Levine, Sarabeth’s; NYC; Mina Newman, Sen Sakana, NYC;  Ayesha Nurdjaja, Shuka, NYC; Chintan PandyaRahi, NYC; Angie Ritoand Scott Tacinelli, Don Angie, NYC; Barbara Sibley, La Palapa, NYC; Joseph Smith, Wölffer Kitchen, Amagansett and Sag Harbor, NY; Roxanne Spruance,Kingsley, NYC; Chris Starkus, Urban Famer, Denver, CO;  Hilary Sterling, Vic’s, NYC; Audrey Villegas, 2 Spring, Oyster Bay, NY; Jason Weiner, Almond, NYC;Mathew Woolf, Rainbow Room, Bar SixtyFive, NYC Emily Yuen, Bessou, NYC.

With a long tradition of supporting culinary education, the James Beard Foundation will also announce the recipient of the 2018 Christian Wölffer Scholarship at the event. Established in 2006, the scholarship fund supports students in their study of food and wine. As of July 2018, nearly $8 million will has been awarded to over 2,000 recipients.

The Chefs & Champagne main event will take place from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2018 and is open to the public — reservations are $225 for James Beard Foundation members and $300 for non-members. General admission includes all tastings, silent auction bidding opportunities, and a gift bag. VIP premium admission, beginning at 5:00 pm, is $425 for James Beard Foundation members and non-members. VIP tables of 10 are available for $4,500. The VIP experience includes an additional exclusive reception hour with early access to all tastings, reserved table seating, advanced silent auction preview, gift bag, and access to the VIP after-party. Reservations can be made by calling (212) 627-2308 or at www.jamesbeard.org/chefsandchampagne.