CITYMEALS ON WHEELS RAISES NEARLY $600,000
AT THE 35TH ANNUAL CHEFS’ TRIBUTE TO CITYMEALS

More than 30 of the city’s most notable chefs celebrated the "Neighborhoods of New York" at Citymeals’ annual tasting event in support of New York’s homebound elderly

(June 14, 2022 – New York, NY) – Last night, hundreds of guests joined Citymeals on Wheels and dozens of New York’s most notable chefs for the 35th Annual Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals at Cipriani South Street. The annual event, which returned after a three-year hiatus, raised nearly $600,000 to prepare and deliver almost 75,000 meals for homebound elderly New Yorkers.

For 35 years, Citymeals has gathered the most creative culinary talents to present their singular dishes to Citymeals supporters and guests at Chefs’ Tribute. The theme of this year’s tasting event celebrated the “Neighborhoods of New York,” with notable chefs from across the five boroughs, including Alex Guarnaschelli (Butter, Manhattan), Greg Baxtrom (Olmsted, Brooklyn), Cosme Aguilar (Casa Enrique, Queens), David Greco (Mike’s Arthur Avenue Italian Deli, The Bronx), and Peter Botros (The Stone House at Clove Lakes & Violette's Cellar, Staten Island), among many others. A host of veteran Citymeals’ supporters, including chefs Daniel Boulud, Larry and Marc Forgione, Charlie Palmer, Alfred Portale, and Jonathan Waxman, also participated. 

“Since our founding forty years ago, the culinary community has been an essential support for Citymeals’, helping us fulfill our mission to nourish homebound elderly New Yorkers,” said Beth Shapiro, Executive Director of Citymeals on Wheels. “The return of Chefs’ Tribute allows us to gather, once again, after two of the most challenging years, to celebrate our city and all the ways New Yorkers care for each other.”

“Citymeals is woven into the fabric of every neighborhood in the city,” said Chef Daniel Boulud, Co-President of the Citymeals’ Board of Directors. “Every day, 20,000 New Yorkers get a knock on the door, a nutritious meal, and someone checking in on them. This simple act allows them to age in their own homes and communities, where they want to be,” he added.

Notable dishes served included: Chef Emma Bengtsson’s (Aquavit, Manhattan) Cured Salmon Gravlax Tartar with Hovmästar Sauce, Toasted Seeds, Fresh Herbs and Grated Horseradish; Chef Daniel Boulud’s (Bar Boulud & Boulud Sud, Manhattan) Citrus Marinated Sardines with Spring Onions on a Toasted Baguette; Chef Alex Guarnaschelli’s Artichoke Hearts with Wild Mushrooms, Salsify and Aged Pecorino; Aliyyah Baylor’s (Make My Cake, Manhattan) Pineapple Upside-Down Cake with White Chocolate and Strawberries and Citymeals 40th Anniversary Cupcakes; Chef Peter Botros’ (The Stone House at Clove Lakes & Violette's Cellar, Staten Island) Maple-Gochujang Glazed Chicken Lollipops with Roasted Cashew Béchamel; and Chef Lauren DeSteno’s (Marea, Manhattan) Peeko Oysters en Escabeche, Green Strawberries, Ramps and Mollica.

Participating chefs included the co-founders of the event, Chefs Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto & Jams, Manhattan) and Larry Forgione (One Fifth, Manhattan), joined by son Marc Forgione, as well as: Cosme Aguilar (Casa Enrique, Queens), Greg Baxtrom (Olmsted, Maison Yaki, and Patti Ann's, Brooklyn), Aliyyah Baylor (Make My Cake, Manhattan), Emma Bengtsson (Aquavit, Manhattan), BonBon – A Swedish Candy Co. (Lower East Side, Manhattan), Peter Botros (The Stone House at Clove Lakes & Violette's Cellar, Staten Island), Daniel Boulud, Vincent Cortese & Christina D’Angelo (Bar Boulud & Boulud Sud, Manhattan), Cenobio Canalizo (Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue, Brooklyn), Lauren DeSteno (Marea, Manhattan), David Greco (Mike’s Deli Arthur Avenue Italian Deli, Bronx), Alex Guarnaschelli (Butter, Manhattan), Toya Henry (Pimento, Brooklyn), David Honeysett (Raoul’s, Manhattan), Matt Hoyle (Nobu Downtown, Manhattan), Kings Co Imperial (Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn, Lower East Side), Dan Kluger (Penny Bridge, Queens), Toon Lau (Lil Chef Mama & Thank You Come Again, Manhattan & Downtown Brooklyn), Manish Mehrotra (Indian Accent, Manhattan & New Delhi, India), Patricia Balsamo (Cipriani South Street at Casa Cipriani, Manhattan), Mina Newman & Adan Mejia (Sen Sakana, Manhattan), Charlie Palmer & Harold Moore (Charlie Palmer Steak, Manhattan), Alfred Portale (Portale Restaurant, Manhattan), Joseph Settepani (Bruno’s Bakery, Staten Island), Ardian Skenderi (Taverna Kyclades, Queens), Jacques Torres (Jacques Torres Chocolates, Manhattan & Brooklyn), and Peter Stein (Peeko Oysters, New York).

"Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals is a way to celebrate the city we love with food,” said Chef Ardian Skenderi of Tavernas Kyclades. “There is no place like New York City – and we, as chefs, get the chance to show just how diverse our city is through our food. I am proud to support Citymeals on Wheels’ mission to deliver food to the homebound elderly in New York City, and I am honored to have the opportunity to give back to my community in the same way I have been shown generosity and kindness from the people of Queens and beyond.”  

In addition, fine wines and artisanal cocktails were poured by leading sommeliers and mixologists throughout the evening, including a specialty beer brewed by The Bronx Brewery specifically for the event.

The 35th Annual Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeal was co-chaired by Sabrina and Byron Athans, Beverly and Dan Bartfeld, Alison Lohrfink Blood, and Liz Neumark.

Event sponsors included Citymeals’ Official Airline American Airlines and Official Water FIJI Water. Beverage sponsors included Ancho Reyes, Champagne Lallier, Courvoisier Cognac, Espolòn Tequila, Sipsmith London Gin, and Suntory Whisky Toki.

This event comes as Citymeals celebrates its landmark 40th anniversary. Citymeals delivered its first holiday meal in 1981 and the organization has since become woven into the fabric of the city, delivering more than 65 million weekend, holiday, and emergency meals since its founding. Today, Citymeals is the largest nonprofit meals on wheels program in the country. 

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ABOUT CITYMEALS ON WHEELS

Citymeals on Wheels (citymeals.org) provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to nearly 20,000 homebound elderly New Yorkers. Working in partnership with community-based organizations and senior centers, Citymeals has prepared and delivered over 6 million weekend, holiday, and emergency meals since the start of the pandemic. Last year, nearly 23,000 volunteers gave more than 83,000 hours of time to Citymeals’ mission.

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.