The American Cancer Society hosted the 14th Annual Taste of Hope at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York. This years’ Volunteer Host Committee included Alysia Reiner, Danny Burstein, Harry Carson, David Alan Basche, Rebecca Luker, and Clarke Thorell.
Event Co-chairs Mark D. Friedman and Jamie Koff volunteered for nine months to produce this signature culinary, wine, and spirits event that provided the 700-plus guests the opportunity to enjoy bites from New York City’s top restaurants and philanthropic chefs and sips from leading winemakers and spirit brands.
This year’s celebration recognized Culinary Honorees, Chefs Michael Lomonaco, chef and partner of Porter House Bar and Grill; and Ralph Scamardella, chef and partner of TAO Group Restaurants; Otto Cedeno, Founder of Otto’s Tacos as the Corporate Honoree, and Dana Cowin, former editor-in-chief of Food & Wine Magazine, as the Survivor Honoree. CBS News’ Chris Wragge was back to Emcee.
Taste of Hope is the American Cancer Society’s signature culinary, wine, and spirits event, featuring some of New York’s most popular restaurants and beverage vendors. Guests enjoy a walk-around tasting where they can sample signature dishes, premier wines and spirits, and inventive cocktails. Now in its 14th year, the event is hosted annually by the Taste of Hope volunteer committee and has raised over $1.8 million to support the American Cancer Society’s mission and goal of eliminating cancer as a major health problem.
More than 70 restaurants were scheduled to participate, including: A Little Brittle Heaven, Allie’s GF Goodies, Baby Brasa, Ben & Jacks Steakhouse, Benjamin Prime, Bonsai Kakigori, Boulud Sud, Butterfly Bake Shop, Calle Ocho, Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cake Company, Drunken Fruit, Frito Con Cito, FrutaPOP, Hunt & Fish Club, Insomnia Cookies, Java Melts, Jing Fong, Jora, L’angolo Tribeca, L’adresse, LAVO, Loi Estiatorio, LTH, Magnolia Bakery, Melt Bakery, Meska Sweets, Motel Morris, Mr. Crabby’s Craft Kitchen + Bar, Nick’s Lobster House, Nobu Fifty Seven, Ortzi NYC, Otto’s Tacos, Parkway Bakery & Tavern, Patina Restaurant Group, Patrizias of 2nd Ave, Sarabeth’s, Serendipity 3, STK Steakhouse, Surfish Bistro, Sweet Rae’s Cookies, Sweetcatch Poke, Talty Bar, TAO, The Algonquin Hotel, The Kati Roll Company, The Sea Fire Grill, The Smith, The Vegantry, Toloache Restaurant, Tommy Bahama, and Treat House.
Attendees also had the opportunity to bid on silent auction prizes donated from leading organizations, including: Ark Restaurants, Tory Burch, Intersect by Lexus, Levain Bakery, Wine Spectator, Nautilus Hotel, New York Health and Racquet Club, Rebecca Minkoff, Balenciaga, Google, and SoulCycle. Corporate support for this year’s event was received from the following: Murray River Salt – All Access Lounge Sponsor, Eurostruct – Silver Sponsor, Olshan – Silver Sponsor, Glassman Walters Associate – Merrill – Silver Sponsor, UHY Advisors – Silver Sponsor, Citi Quiet – Silver Sponsor, American Freedom Distillery – Silver Sponsor, Gentle Giant Moving Company – Moving Sponsor, Sabert Mozaik – Tabletop Sponsor, Cloud Shop Studios – Website Sponsor, KGI Design Group – Design Sponsor, DJ Spin Diesel – Entertainment Sponsor, Total Food Service – Media Sponsor, 1-800-Bartend – Bar Sponsor, and The Freidman Rosenthal Team at Halstead – Photo Booth Sponsor.
This year’s Benefit Committee included Drew Blumenthal, Jennifer Cayetano, Jill Davison, Gail Eissenstat, Nicole Filingeri, Gayle Greenberg, Melanie Greene, Wayne Margolin, Jeanine Marino, Melanie McManus, Kara Mignone, Lucy Miller, Sari Pollack, Christine Poopatana, Kim Poulos, Scott Sheehy, Melissa Siegel, Brittany Stevenson, Maresca Visone, Dialecti Voudouris, and Rachel Waynberg.
