Chef Meny Vaknin of Mishmish Cooks and Delivers Meals to Homebound Elderly New Yorkers

(February 23, 2017 –  New York, NY) – Homebound elderly New Yorkers in the East Village got a taste of Mediterranean cuisine when Chef Meny Vaknin of Mishmish delivered specially prepared meals right to their doors as part of the Chefs Deliver for Citymeals program. Chef Vaknin will also take part in the upcoming event Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals on Wheels on June 12, 2017.

A Citymeals on Wheels initiative, Chefs Deliver brings together a rotating cast of culinary stars who, once a month, lend their talents to Citymeals – cooking and often personally delivering the meals to the doors of New Yorkers who are too frail to shop or cook for themselves. Chefs Deliver was launched in January 2014 by Citymeals Board of Directors Co-President Chef Daniel Boulud and Citymeals Board Member Chef Charlie Palmer.

The delivery marks the announcement of the theme for the 32nd Annual Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals – Ports of Call Mediterranea: A Culinary Journey. Chef Vaknin will be one of more than fifty chefs gathering on Monday, June 12th to celebrate the flavors of the Mediterranean Coast at tasting stations throughout Rockefeller Center.

Tickets are currently available to purchase at www.citymeals.org/portsofcall.

Chef Vaknin used all local ingredients to prepare his menu of braised chicken with savory Moroccan seasoning and a side of basmati rice. The remainder of the 100 meals was delivered to other Citymeals recipients in Lower Manhattan.

“For many of our 18,000 meal recipients, their meal deliverer might be the only person they interact with all day. Citymeals on Wheels makes sure to provide our frail aged neighbors with both nourishment and human contact,” noted Beth Shapiro, Executive Director of Citymeals. “Thanks to Chef Vaknin for supporting our mission and bringing a smile to the faces of these seniors.”

Citymeals on Wheels prepares and delivers weekend, holiday and emergency meals for over 18,000 homebound elderly New Yorkers. More than 60 percent of Citymeals recipients are over 80 years old; 23 percent are over 90; more than 200 have lived at least a century. All recipients are chronically disabled by conditions such as vision loss, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. Nearly all need assistance walking. It is estimated that 66 percent use a cane, 39 percent use a walker and 16 percent use a wheelchair. Citymeals recipients are also isolated: 57 percent live alone; 40 percent rarely or never leave their homes; 8 percent have no one with whom they can talk. Many are also at risk for malnutrition.

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About Citymeals on Wheels: Citymeals on Wheels (citymeals.org) provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to New York City’s homebound elderly. Working in partnership with community-based organizations and senior centers, Citymeals prepares and delivers over 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals for more than 18,000 of our frail aged neighbors each year. Last year, over 15,000 individuals volunteered nearly 72,000 hours of their time.

Since its founding in 1981, Citymeals has relied on the generosity of its Board of Directors, the City of New York, sponsors and other designated gifts to cover administrative costs. This ensures that 100% of all public donations will be used entirely for the preparation and delivery of meals.