200 Homebound Elderly Dine on Special Meals Prepared by Two Rising Star Chefs

Chef Franco Barrio of Bespoke Kitchen and Chef Shaun Hergatt of Juni Participate in the Chefs Deliver for Citymeals Initiative

(February 10, 2016 – New York, NY) – Two hundred homebound elderly New Yorkers feasted on meals specially prepared by two rising star chefs as part of the Chefs Deliver for Citymeals program. Today, Chef Franco Barrio of Bespoke Kitchen hand-delivered meals to frail aged residents of the West Village, while Chef Shaun Hergatt of Juni brought meals to Citymeals recipients living near Herald Square early last week.

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 and 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.

Today, Chef Barrio used all local ingredients to prepare his menu of braised short ribs with purple potatoes, heirloom carrots and caramelized cipollini onions with a side of orzo salad for 100 Citymeals recipients. Chef Hergatt prepared 100 meals of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, braised carrots and gravy. After the chefs brought some of the meals to their isolated older neighbors, the remainder was delivered to recipients living in Astoria and Ridgewood, Queens.

“With Valentine’s Day on Sunday, many of our meal recipients who have outlived family and friends are feeling even more isolated and alone,” noted Citymeals Executive Director Beth Shapiro. “This month Citymeals was able to spread some extra love with the help of Chefs Barrio and Hergatt who graciously prepared these special meals that were delivered straight to the doors of our vulnerable neighbors who need it the most.”

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 300 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 69,000 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.