¡qué rico!

Nearly sixty culinary stars from across the globe gathered for ¡Qué rico! Celebrating Latino Cuisine & Culture: The 31st Annual Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals on Wheels. These legendary chefs celebrated the rich flavors of Latino cooking as they created dishes for more than 1,000 guests at tasting stations throughout the Rockefeller Center Plaza. The event raised more than $900,000 for Citymeals to prepare and deliver nutritious meals for homebound elderly New Yorkers.

Chefs Juan Manuel Barrientos (Colombia), Carolina Bazán (Chile), Jose Enrique (Puerto Rico), Carlos Cristóbal Márquez Valdés (Cuba), Adrianne Calvo (Miami), Nina Compton (New Orleans), Susie Jimenez (Aspen), Martin Juan Rios (Santa Fe), Douglas Rodriguez (Philadelphia), and Josefina Santacruz (Mexico) flew in to cook alongside hometown favorites Chefs Eric Basulto, Franco Barrio, Jose Luis Flores, Ernesto Hernandez, Mario Hernandez, Julian Medina, Marco Moreira, Roberto Santibañez, Ivy Stark, and Alex Stupak – all known for their exceptional Latino cuisine.

The evening’s dazzling team also included founding chefs Larry Forgione, Alfred Portale, Wolfgang Puck, Stephan Pyles, and Jimmy Schmidt and celebrated chefs Robert Aikens, Jarett Appell, Jonathan Benno, Aaron Bludorn, Hugo Bolanos, Daniel Boulud, Richard Capizzi, Scott Conant, Franck D. Deletrain, Marc Forgione, Sean Forgione, Andre Fowles, Michael Gabriel, Markus Glocker, Chris Lee, Danielle and Salvatore LoBuglio, Ryan Lory, Masaharu Morimoto, Charlie Palmer, Carolina Perego, Antonio Prontelli, Jon Rohland, Joachim Splichal, Bradley Stellings, Jacques Torres, Silvana Vivoli, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten who presented their own interpretations of Latino fare.

Citymeals Executive Director Beth Shapiro explained, “The influence of the Latino world on New York is undeniable. This rich heritage permeates every aspect of city life including our art, music, literature, film, fashion and, oh yes, the food! ¡Qué rico! celebrates this wonderful culture as well as the thousands of chefs and restaurateurs who have committed themselves to Citymeals over the years. Their continued support has helped us create a lifeline of meals and companionship for vulnerable older New Yorkers.”

Nick Valenti, CEO of Patina Restaurant Group, was the evening’s Grand Host. The event was chaired by Beverly and Dan Bartfeld, Ninah and Michael Lynne, Laura and John Pomerantz, Randi and Dennis Riese, and Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch. Event guests included Alison Lohrfink Blood, Samantha Boardman, Katherine Boulud, David Burke, Leon Cooperman, Marjorie Doniger, Colleen Goggins, Aaron and Stephanie Goldman, Gael Greene, Robert S. Grimes, Suri Kasirer, Jill Lohrfink, Zarela Martinez, Margo MacNabb Nederlander and Jimmy Nederlander, Liz Neumark, Bradley Ogden, John Shapiro, Marcia Stein, Bruce Teitelbaum, and Kathleen Turner, among others.

Entertainment was provided by Latin Grammy nominee Mariachi Flor de Toloache, Gregorio Uribe Trio, Noah Bless Music and Latin Explosion All Stars. With the help of beverage chair Audrey Saunders (Owner, The Pegu Club) and wine chair Daniel Johnnes (Wine Director, The Dinex Group), the event also featured signature cocktails from top spirit sponsors and stellar wines from notable wineries.

Official sponsors of Citymeals on Wheels are American Airlines and FIJI Water. Event sponsors included Patina Restaurant Group, The Riese Organization, The M.O. & M.E. Hoffman Foundation, Bedell Cellars, VerTerra, Belvedere Vodka, Citadelle Gin, Courvoisier Cognac, El Tesoro, Novo Fogo Cachaça, Zacapa Rum, ARC Document Solutions, Luxury Worldwide Transportation, Room Mate Grace, Unimac Graphics, and Rockwell Group. Additional support was provided by Brewla Bars, La Newyorkina and the Trade Commission of Peru in New York.

See photos and coverage of the event.