Chef Daniel Boulud, Chef Marcus Samuelsson and Tren’ness Woods-Black of Slyvia’s Deliver Meals to Homebound Elderly in Harlem

(April 18, 2016 – New York, NY) – Homebound elderly in Harlem were in for a special treat when Chef Daniel Boulud of Restaurant DANIEL, Chef Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster Harlem and Streetbird, and Tren’ness Woods-Black of Sylvia’s knocked on their doors with an exceptional meal as part of the Chefs Deliver for Citymeals program. The deliveries coincided with the kick-off of the second annual Harlem EatUp! festival season taking place this May.

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.

The delivery marked the one-month countdown to the Harlem EatUp! festival’s second year. The four-day festival, May 19-22, 2016, will celebrate the food, culture and spirit of East, Central and West Harlem. Proceeds from the Festival will benefit Citymeals on Wheels and Harlem Park to Park. Tickets are currently available to purchase at HarlemEatUp.com.

For today’s special delivery, Red Rooster Harlem, Streetbird and Sylvia’s each prepared 50 meals. Red Rooster Harlem and Streetbird cooked up fried boneless chicken thigh, mashed potatoes and collard greens. Sylvia’s paired meatloaf with gravy, garlic mash potatoes and sautéed green beans. Chef Daniel Boulud provided 150 desserts that accompanied every meal. Each senior received a trio of a pistachio financier raspberry mousse, chocolat fondant, and papaya, mango and blueberries in a citrus vanilla geleé. Boulud, Samuelsson and Woods-Black then personally delivered some of the meals to Harlem residents in need along with Beth Shapiro, Executive Director of Citymeals. The remainder of the meals was delivered to isolated older residents throughout Harlem.

“I am honored to once again be delivering meals with Chef Boulud and Tren’ness Woods-Black to the Harlem community. For the second year in a row Citymeals on Wheels will be a beneficiary of the Harlem EatUp! festival and this day is a small example of the wonderful work they do. I look forward to giving today’s meal recipients and Festival-goers a true taste of Harlem,” said Samuelsson.

“I'm proud to be delivering with Chef Marcus Samuelsson and Tren’ness Woods-Black to kick-off this year’s Harlem EatUp! festival.  Citymeals on Wheels is one of the festival's beneficiaries - each Harlem EatUp! ticket directly supports meals for Citymeals' recipients. Today’s delivery will definitely put a smile on the faces of elderly Harlem residents, and that makes it all even more worthwhile. And we all look forward to the many New Yorkers joining us at the Harlem EatUp! festival,” remarks Boulud, who serves as Co-President of Citymeals' Board of Directors.

“Taking care of our neighbors through food and hospitality is a Sylvia's tradition. We are so pleased to join forces with our longtime friends and partners at Citymeals to share this tradition with them and our valued elderly community,” commented Woods-Black.

“Every day, frail aged New Yorkers are isolated in their apartments away from family, friends and human company. Delivering a special meal and a smile to the doors of these elderly neighbors reminds them that they are not forgotten,” noted Shapiro. “Thanks to Daniel, Marcus and Tren’ness for taking the time to deliver these meals today. I’d also like to thank everyone involved in the Harlem EatUp! festival for their generosity and selecting Citymeals on Wheels as a beneficiary. We are forever grateful!"

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.

###

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.